9 Jenolan St Oberon

 

 

This home full of heart could be yours...

This is my Mum’s cherished home. She has lived here, enjoying the beautiful view over Oberon and surrounding farms, the tranquillity of the nearby bush and birdsong for the past 20 years.

The beautiful bush nearby is full of walking tracks around the Oberon dam, and birds and wildlife can be seen and heard from the house. Kangaroos visit the grassy parklands below the houses. It's a very quiet street with not much traffic, being on the edge of the town, but still walkable to the shops or a short drive. Playgrounds abound for children's delight just a short walk down the road. These photos are ones I've taken over the years on visits to Mum's place with my children.

Kay’s father moved the family to Jenolan St in Oberon as he was one of the carpenters building the dam in the 1940’s. Kay, then about 7, along with her 6 brothers and sister (some born after her) were known as ‘the dam kids’ by the other children at the Oberon school. Kay lived most of her childhood with her family in one of the ‘dam houses’ in Jenolan St, until she married and moved away.

Kay's happy childhood memories include fishing for trout, catching rabbits, picking blackberries for jam-making, roaming the nearby bush and helping with chores alongside her siblings.

When Kay’s circumstances changed about 20 years ago she returned to her home town and bought one of those dam houses several doors away from her childhood home, where she has enjoyed the past 20 years.

Since buying the house, Kay has done much to improve its comfort and looks. She had cladding added to the outside, with insulation between to help retain heat in winter and cool in summer. This means also that painting maintenance is kept to a minimum. She added more insulation to the roof cavity, and had the gorgeous wide pine floorboards throughout the original house uncovered and lacquered. The sunroom/loungeroom floor was given a new floor of Tasmanian Oak, and she repainted the house inside. It’s well laid out, and the renovations have opened it up making it easy to live in.



The roof was replaced with new Colourbond, which is much safer in a bushfire than tiles which can allow embers between the tiles into the roof cavity.

The front entry hall is big enough for several pieces of furniture which increases storage space in a pleasant way. Note the high ceilings giving a sense of airiness.

The bathroom was renovated in Federation style and features a traditional claw bathtub with a shower, and a large skylight gives it cheap and lovely light by day, so indoor plants flourish there.


 

High ceilings, picture rails and 3 large bedrooms make this home very comfortable to live in. It stays cool in Summer with the help of a large ceiling fan in the main living area, and the fire heats most of the house in Winter. With high quality hand made curtains with linings on the main windows, the house can be managed to stay warm or cool as needed.

The Lounge room/sunroom is a very large living area which can be used for various activities, all with a wonderful view past the verandah.


 

The wood fire is the best I’ve come across, burning brilliantly but very controllable and efficient. Easy to light, even on the coldest nights it’s cosy and warm with the blaze crackling safely behind glass.


 

The large solid timber formal dining table and 6 chairs in the sunroom/loungeroom was used for large family occasions like Christmas and birthday parties. It’s in original as new condition, and has a matching sideboard and hutch which fit the room beautifully. These are for sale separately to the house. The oak coloured dining table and chairs are $1995 and the hutch for $995.

 

Last year we helped Mum to put in a new IKEA kitchen with plenty of storage. The kitchen is big enough to have a four-seater table and extra kitchen furniture like the antique kitchen dresser in the kitchen, which is so cosy and has a ‘family’ feeling.

The Westinghouse fridge is for sale separately and works perfectly, for $300. The washing machine is also available, a very new and efficient front-loading Miele for $450. Also a small deep freezer for $150. Great for first home buyers, young families, retirees or even a well-appointed country getaway!

A large double-car sized shed on a concrete slab was added at the back of the house for storage and a craft work area, as well as an extra car parking space apart from the carport if needed. The shed is already set up with strong and efficient storage shelves. A rainwater tank there is handy for watering the garden. (That mess at the side on the gravel has been cleaned up now!) That's snow on the roof, by the way, it is new blue colour bond so it doesn't reflect sun flashes.

Next to the established vege garden is a great wood storage shed, as well as an area under the deck out of rain for more wood storage or outdoor furniture storage, wheelbarrows etc.

The sturdy gate at the front allows secure car storage, and the hand-crafted large steel letterbox (my brother welded it) will last forever. Actually the gate has been replaced with a better one since this photo was taken.



Facing North East, the covered verandah attracts the morning sun and it streams into the living area too, making it a cheerful room, with a sensational view over the town and countryside. Sheltered from the wind, the verandah is a lovely place to sit with a cuppa any time. Both front and back deck/verandahs are full length across the house, giving extra covered living spaces at front and back, and great for plants that need some shelter. The back deck even has a childproof/pet-safe gate.

The view changes with the seasons and the weather...

This sunrise was filled with the sounds of the bushland dawn chorus...


 

The back stairs were recently replaced and a safety railing added to the sides, and there’s plenty of storage room under the back of the house for garden tools etc.

 

Kay has always loved her garden, and it’s one of the prettiest in the street, especially in Spring. The garden is planned well, with easy care plants and not too much lawn-mowing. There are many coloured irises and bulbs to surprise, and something to put in a vase all year round, as well as a useful vege garden to supplement groceries. There’s even a lemon tree in a position to survive the snow. The hard work has all been done here.

 

 

This house is a home that has been well-loved and well-looked after. It has a friendly atmosphere and a happy history. Many grandchildren have built snowmen and roamed the bush with their wonderful Nana Kay. We will miss coming here to stay so much.

 

If you're interested in this great home, please contact:

Lisa Behan, First National Oberon, ph 0448 313 585
 

Go to the Domain House Listing

 


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Created 14/12/2019