After 67 years of family legacy, the Winsen children say goodbye to “Mom and Dad’s Home” with a sense of nostalgia, respect, and deep gratitude for the countless memories carved into the walls. It will be.
His daughter Jane Thompson, now 65, looks back fondly on her childhood spent “by the river” with her siblings and neighborhood friends.
“We lived in a glass house surrounded by bushes and we walked everywhere. It was like a country lifestyle in the middle of the city,” Thompson said.
“Both of my parents were artists, but my father was a prominent Brisbane architect and designed this place.
“We’re all still friends with a lot of the kids we played with on the street.”
It was not unusual for Don and Pam Winsen to invite friends over to make pottery to be fired in one of their two gas and wood kilns.
Thompson remembers soirees that lasted until late into the night.
“We grew up in a very creative family that didn’t have rigid ideas about things,” Thompson said.
“My mother was not only a potter but also a quilter, but when that wasn’t enough for her, she decided to become a textile artist and dyed her own fabrics.
“When she finished textiles, she started painting and continued to do so until her late 80s, when her father passed away. Painting was her way of expressing her feelings of sadness.”
Patriarch Winsen left an irreplaceable void in his life, but his legacy lives on in the home’s distinctive split-level design.
“This house really encapsulates my dad’s aesthetic,” Thompson said.
“Mid-century architecture, Danish influence, clean lines and orderly rooms.
“It’s designed to be flexible and usable, and I hope that the next resident will also like the atmosphere.”
Featuring five meticulously designed bedrooms and three fully-equipped bathrooms, the house is set on two 950 square meter blocks along the length of a secluded riverside lane. It spreads gracefully over the storeys.
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Many original features remain, including custom bedroom cabinetry, a raised platform bed in the study-style third bedroom, and terrazzo flooring in the ensuite bathroom.
The home’s northeast orientation creates a light-filled living area with river views from large casement windows throughout.
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There are possibilities for double living and ample storage space, with corners for creative spaces and modern comforts such as air conditioning, modern kitchen appliances and accommodation for four cars.
Giving up a family home can be difficult, but Ms Thompson’s home in the Toowoomba Ranges was also the brainchild of her father, who worked in restoration architecture late in his career.
“Architecture was my father’s passion and he strived towards George Street as his career progressed,” she said.
“I never expected to be so emotional about the house, but I knew we had boom and bust times in this house. The education my parents gave me and the I am grateful for the art and culture that you have shown me.”
LJ Hooker Annaley/Yeronga/Salisbury will preside over the sale of 102 Roma Street South with offers of more than $1,795,000.
For more information or to arrange an inspection, please call Jane Elvin on 0408 344 417 or Joey Elvin on 0457 000 897.