2025 Houses
A little background on the houses highlighted in 2025
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Neilson House
The Neilson family purchased the Sellheim Street property in 2006 after being unsuccessful in finding a larger family home to purchase locally. When their family had outgrown their current home, and needing to expand, the decision was made to buy the large block of land with the small run down miner’s cottage and plenty of room to build their dream.
​​Construction of the new house in Sellheim Street finally began in 2009, with the family moving into a partly completed home in early 2010.
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​The original miner’s cottage was mostly dismantled, leaving only the front two rooms and front verandah, placed on a truck and driven down to the backyard where it stands today. ​
Tall Trees
The Goldfields Mining Homestead Lease 432, which is the block of land Tall Trees occupies, was first granted on 7 July 1889. The original house was built in the traditional style, 4 main rooms off a hallway and detached kitchen out the back accessed by a raised walkway with wrap around verandahs to keep the house cool.
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William Jones was the first occupier and was reported in The Northern Miner as a staunch member of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. He and his family took a leading part in a fine choir that assembled in the nearby Presbyterian Church.
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Tall Trees changed hands several times, and in 1913 became the property of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland who owned it until sold in 1933.
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There is always some magic at every Great House.
On Sunday Mr Claude Risdale visited Tall Trees with his gorgeous granddaughter and his birth certificate. 95 years ago he was born in Tall Trees when it was a midwifery. He had never been inside it since.
