It has been through five generations of the Thistleton family but now it is time to sell.
One of the most tightly held homes in the inner west has come on the market, though buyers be warned: it’s definitely showing its age.
For more than a century the Thistleton family has held on to 35 Richmond Street in Earlwood. Today it could be yours for about $1 million.
The crumbling home is on a block of land the Thistletons bought 125 years ago – 27 years before suburb was called Earlwood. At that time it was called Parkestown.
Bruce Thistleton in his Earlwood family home. Photo: Stephen Claxton
Bruce Thistleton, one of the family members selling, grew up in the home. He and his siblings decided it was time to sell after their mother died last year.
Bruce’s grandfather Walter Thistleton owned the land for some years before building the house in 1914.
“It was one big block in those days, which was subdivided into four lots,” says Bruce.
35 Richmond Street, Earlwood has been in the same family for 125 years.
Bruce had fond memories of the home growing up.
“It was a party house,” he says.
“People used to come and enjoy themselves, place pianos, concertinas, mouth organs – it was such a fun place.”
”Seriously original”, says selling agent Con Economos from Ray White Rockdale.
“In one room there was three boys, in the other room there was two girls, in another room there was the piano and in the other room there was my Mum and Dad.”
“My father used to have trotters here and used to ride them down to Canterbury Racetrack.”
“The area’s changed significantly over the years, in my days there were billy carts being rolled down the street.”
The house was built in 1914.
Earlwood was only bestowed with its current moniker in 1918 – prior to that, it was known as Parkestown and, later, Forest Hill. Richmond Street was also previously known as George Street.
The selling agent, Con Economos from Ray White Rockdale, describes the property as “seriously original”.
“There’s just been a couple of repairs down the side to keep the wind out.”
Despite the condition of the home, Economos says not all buyers were looking to knock it down.
“It depends on the person – it could be renovated,” he says.
“It wouldn’t be easy, but the bones are there.”
Bruce agrees, adding “If someone wants to restore it … it would obviously delight us most, but these days I think everyone has their own options.”
It had been put up for auction just over a year ago and passed in at with a vendor bid of $810,000. The property has its first open home this Saturday at 11am.