A South Dubbo house bought by a mayor-to-be and cherished by his descendants for 60 years has been put on the market.
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Three generations of the Dunlop/ Medley family have raised 11 children at 276 Fitzroy Street where they have created lifelong memories and celebrated weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.
They include the 80th birthday of patriarch Kevan Dunlop, mayor of Dubbo from 1965 to 1967.
In 1958 the late Mr Dunlop and his wife Nancy bought the six-year-old house and filled its five bedrooms.
Children Diane, Carol, Toni, Christine and Paul were raised at 276 Fitzroy Street, nicknamed the “Elephant House” during its construction by people who thought it resembled the elephant enclosure at Taronga Zoo.
When Mr and Mrs Dunlop needed to “downsize” in 1975, eldest and married daughter Diane Medley, husband Allan and their four sons, David, Graeme, Chris and Mark, acquired the keys to the front door.
“It took the boys a while to get used to having a bedroom of their own and were often found asleep on the floor of one of their brothers’ rooms,” Mrs Medley said.
She tells of her sons having “wonderful times” with their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents at the house with “so much yard” and a well-used go-kart and motorbike track. “Our poor neighbours,” Mrs Medley said.
The current owner of the house can attest to the fun and games of his youth.
“Sunday afternoon barbecues with the odd game of football with all our mates was great fun,” Diane Medley’s third son Chris said.
He and wife Michelle, who were married at 276 Fitzroy Street in 2000, bought the property in 2014 to make a home for daughters Ava and Alix.
Mr Medley said it was with a “heavy heart” that he and his wife had decided to sell the property that has been renovated in keeping with its character.
“Our children are nearing adulthood and we are simply downsizing,” he said. Among the many attributes of the house he will miss is its ability to capture sunsets.
“They are absolutely spectacular when viewed from our upstairs front balcony,” Mr Medley said.
An open house is being conducted by Raine & Horne Dubbo on Thursday at 6.30pm. An on-site auction has been scheduled for November 15 at 5.30pm.
