Old home

Last week I downloaded maps on Google and added in the original territory for our first family home in Tawa Street, Hamilton, New Zealand, although possibly not at large as it had been. In the 1950s dad had built the house, and I think it was smaller than many which are built today, but it was four bedroomed, based on flat roofs, concrete and very large windows which are still used today. We had a garage, fruit trees and vines, a chicken area, a garden, a child’s house, a hammock under a lovely tree, a tennis lawn, and down the back was our grandparent’s cottage, with their own driveway on the left side – which would now be through the carpark next door.

Inside it had a lounge with a ranch door going out onto a patio, a wonderful coal fire in the lounge with access to the coal from the outside patio which could be opened inside, a lounge wall which was shelving and on the other side in the dining room became a pull-open desk. The kitchen had cupboard in three corners with circular areas inside them, and a washing area and a hot water cupboard. In the hallway was a phone sitting in a well-made hole in the wall, a cupboard which held a fold-out ironing board, the dirty washing container (which was accessed from the kitchen), the toilet with inside and outside doors, the bathroom and, on the hallway side of the bathroom, a shower. The first bedroom was double (I started in there with my older sister) with a sliding door built-in wardrobe. My brother’s room was next with same wardrobe. Mum and dad’s bedroom was obviously double and same wardrobe. The fourth bedroom was at the end beside a sewing room, but the wardrobes in that bedroom had ordinary doors. There was a back door leading outside.

 

In late 1960s dad had found out from a neighbour that the council was planning on building a road behind Tawa Street. He moved us out and into a property which is only 1.5 km away but down a driveway and can’t be built over. The Tawa Street house was only 20 years old when we sold it, but I think about it a lot now, and remember my childhood which was so good.

I had looked further into the council rates plans and found out that the existing tiny property was now worth $350k+ - dad had received around $70k for it in 1970! It is the only house standing in that area – the five properties between this house and Ohaupo Road were demolished, and the Van Staveren’s property on the other side with their strawberry garden was demolished but this house still stands! I am so pleased about that, even though it’s rather different than years ago. Our garage had also been demolished, and because there was no longer any access to the kitchen door the ramp was cut off and the door was filled in (indicated with the red arrow). Also the front ramp had been cut off and replaced with steps. Dad had built the ramps to both doors so mum could get my brother’s pram / pushchair up, and eventually when Wayne was walking he could access the house.

The windows across the whole front of the house are still there!

It looks on this Google mapping that Tawa Street had been lowered – our house had a bank from Tawa Street down to our front yard which is no longer there.

I am very pleased this property still stands. It’s years since I’ve been to Hamilton, but the next time I go over there I would love to go and knock on the door and have a look through and see if I recognise any of it. It’s now 70 years old, but at least it’s in my memory, and that’s something I haven’t lost.