A family never forgets 50 years in Ainslie

A tall bonfire’s brittle branches burning and crackling, sending fiery sparks spiralling into a still winter’s night, and the sweet fragrance of her mother’s daphne wafting through her bedroom window in late spring. These vivid childhood memories bring a smile to Alison each time she thinks of 270 Duffy Street, Ainslie.

It took her dad Bruce Garrard, an accountant, only five minutes to drive home for lunch from the T and G Insurance Company in Civic.

Early of a morning her mother Bev would call out to her: “Be home by dark,” as she breezed down the street on her bike with her friends, or through the back gate with brother Andrew to the life-filled stormwater drain. Here water trickled into a sunlit reed and rock-filled swamp from where they caught tadpoles, or scooped up frog spawn to take home and watch as black specs turned into tadpoles.

Their double brick-and-tile home sits in the middle of an enormous backyard which adjoins the Mount Ainslie Reserve.

Out the front, swollen buds on the port wine magnolia their nanna gave as a house-warming present in the early 1960s are about to blossom.

Bruce passed away several years ago, and the three-bedroom home is listed for sale with Holly Komorowski, principal of home.byholly for $1,200,000.

Alison was a baby when her parents moved into the privately built home in 1963, and remembers a large living room with exposed beams being added in the early 1970s and kitchen and bathroom upgrades.

Large windows open onto garden views that still turns on a spring show thanks to Bev’s plantings years ago of hyacinths, hellebores, Dutch iris and snowflakes.

Andrew used to idle his racing cars through the garage into the backyard, which still has that easy access.

“My poor mum always had her heart in her mouth watching a demolition derby or he would be racing standard saloons,” Alison says.

“I used to show horses, so quite often my horse, a thoroughbred gelding named High Noon would be home before a show, walking around the backyard eating mum’s roses.”

The sunken family room with slow combustion fireplace remains a favourite.

“Sunday nights were soup and crumpets while we watched the football.”

At least 35 children all about the same age would come out like ants from 10 homes in the near neighbourhood at the foot of Mount Ainslie to play with one another.

The Garrards celebrated with friends 18^thand 21^stbirthdays and post-wedding breakfasts in the living areas. Now a new generation of children are moving in and a new chapter of family life ahead of them.

“I was saying to Andrew and mum in the kitchen the other day, between the three of us we have 160 years of memories of this house.

It was such a happy family home. It is ready to make beautiful memories for another family,” Alison says.

From the timber kitchen beyond white Corian stone bench top, large pantry and appliances hutch, are inviting views to the leafy nature reserve and birdlife.

Close to the city and the bush, 270 Duffy Street has air conditioning, seamless connection to the side and rear gardens, high ceilings and a spacious main bathroom with walk-in shower and a beautiful stained-glass window.

Centrally located, the home is an easy walk to Ainslie shops and a short drive to Dickson Shopping Centre and the City.

For an inspection contact Holly on 0434 973 987.