Memory Lane

Found myself early for something today so decided to make the most of the sunshine and take a walk around a part of Balmain I haven't visited for years. So there I was strolling, when I realised I was in front of a fantastic old house I'd been to a few parties at when in high school, as it was owned a classmate (two actually, as she had a twin brother) and her family.

It was a beautiful, big old place that bordered three streets and overlooked the harbour (still does). It was fabulously shabby with an air of loving neglect and an overgrown garden. I heard it sold for several million dollars recently but, back then, it wasn't prime real estate - just a friend's house.

When I say it overlooked the harbour, that's true, but the view was very different. Ballast Point Park wasn't there yet, so the house was directly in front of the ugly old Caltex industrial site. There was no access to the water and no mothers with prams strolling about like there is now. Just lots of blokes and trucks.

It's been gutted now and, clearly, undergoing renovation. But for a moment today I wasn't walking the back streets of Balmain - I was taking a trip down memory lane.

I found this site showing the interior of the house when it was for sale, should you wish to poke your nose inside.