Once, it was a place of justice, then it became a much-loved private residence and family home.
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Now, Taradale’s Old Court House is on the market, complete with original court bell and county court handbook.
The building was constructed in 1864 and was converted into a private residence in 1932.
Amanda Fennessy has lived there for 34 years. It is where she and her husband raised their children, where she held birthday parties and wakes and where she would invite Taradale on Melbourne Cup Day.
“The whole town would arrive. Everyone would bring their own food and drink,” she said.
“We’d have yabby races and bet on the horses. That went on for years, rain, hail or shine because we could all go inside to the courtroom.”
The courtroom was big enough to shape her children’s youth.
“They learnt to ride their bikes in the courtroom. They learnt to roller-skate there,” she said.
“They were a bit scared of sleeping outside when they were younger, so we set up a tent inside. Not many families can do that.”
Deciding to sell the home had been very hard for everyone in the family.
“My husband passed away 15 years ago, so there are a lot of memories there from when the children were little right through to now,” Ms Fennessy said.
These kinds of properties do not come up very often, mainly because families choose to keep them for generations, Ms Fennessy said.
However, it was time for her to move on to the next adventure.
Ms Fennessy hoped a young family bought it and that it would bring as much joy to them as it had for her family.
“There’s such a warmth about the house – and a wow factor, as well,” she said.
Waller Realty’s Tom Robertson said national interest in the house had been “off the Richter scale”.
There were numerous interested parties keen to pursue the property, Mr Robertson said, but a sale would not be made until after Tuesday 16 October.
The Old Court House’s next inspection date is Saturday, 29 September from noon onwards by appointment.
For more information and pictures visit the Domain website.
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