Just a few doors down from singer Guy Sebastian’s holiday home sits a near-century old house with a rich history.
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“Kooringal” on Stafford Street is one of two private Gerroa residences to open its doors to the public for one day only on Saturday, October 29 – thanks to Gerringong and District Historical Society.
Gilbert Ricketts, renowned for the Sydney furniture business Ricketts and Thorpe, built the giant holiday house on a number of acres in 1929 for his family of six children.
For decades the clan would utilise the lush green acreage backing onto the beach for fishing and surfing, eventually selling off land surrounding the house in later years.
In 1992 Brenda and Garry Langton purchased the home from the family, inheriting a lot of its furniture and history.
Mrs Langton said the house was based on the style of those in Somerset, England, where Mr Ricketts was born.
The furniture left ranged from a pool table, to sofas, exercising dumbells which look like skittles, to cabinets and a pinball-style game table.
Mr and Mrs Langton restored the home and made some editions, but also restored a lot of the antiques.
The couple also have a DVD of converted 8mm film from the Ricketts family showing what life was like in yesteryear – playing ping pong on the verandah, getting ready for church and riding horses along the beach.
They’re not sure how many people will want to learn about the history of the house on Saturday, but if its anything like the time they opened it for the National Trust it could be hundreds.
The house will be open from 1pm until 4pm, with an early fisherman’s cottage at 56 Burke Street on the list. The cottage has been in Diane Fielding’s family since 1970.
“There’s only one or two other houses left in Gerroa from the early 1900s,” she said.
Ms Fielding said her family’s home has been very therapeutic over the years for family members who have recuperated from cancer or accidents in the calming environment practically on the water’s edge.
The house itself also has a claim to fame, being featured in Paul J Hogan’s first film in 1983 (the director of Four Weddings and a Funeral, not Crocodile Dundee), Getting Wet.
“In the opening scene, the car drives up to the house and knocks one of the trees ... dad wasn’t too happy about that,” recalls Ms Fielding.
Entry to the homes is $10, proceeds go to the Gerringong and District Historical Society. For more information phone 0413 967 385.