THERE’S that one house on the street, the faded, dilapidated property. It looks a little bit sad; it’s been neglected and left to languish. There’s peeling paint, perhaps some cobwebs gathered in the corners of the front windows, an unkempt garden.
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Some people would insist ‘the dump’ be bulldozed down, make way for something new and fresh, but all Trish Stradwick and her daughter Fenji see is potential.
This house could be their next renovation project, the fixer upper that consumes their lives for hours, days and months on end before it’s lovingly restored to their satisfaction and sold off. Then, it’s on to the next one.
The Stradwicks have been doing this for years and have put their mark on eight properties, many of them in their hometown of Queanbeyan. One project, 4 Hirst Avenue received a Queanbeyan City Council heritage award for its impressive restoration.
It all started with a 1920s cottage in Yass, the pair still visit it whenever they’re in the area.
But Trish and Fenji’s latest project, their ninth house located at 22 Park Street, may well be their most ambitious and radical.
Macedonian migrants, Libe and Helen Chacos, called that property 'home' for at least five decades. But once the late Mrs Chacos died, aged 100-years-old, the house was sold off.
"There’s a mental map of old houses in Queanbeyan that you see them and think ‘I’d love to do that one’," Fenji said.
"Park Street is one of them and that house is different, we haven't done that style before. It's from the early 20s."
It’s a real partnership between Trish and Fenji, they do the bulk of the work themselves only calling in tradesmen like plumbers and electricians to help out when necessary.
"Trish is great with choosing colours, making soft furnishings, researching potential products, painting and small repair work,” Fenji said.
“I am the one who will do carpentry, polish floors, paint, build, demolish, insulate and tile.”
They admit it’s hard slog particularly as Fenji juggles full time shift work as a paramedic. The busy pair also volunteer as foster animals carers for the RSPCA.
"You get very tried, you're fitting it in with your other life," Trish said.
"We haven’t had a holiday in eight years because every bit of down time you have from that, you’re working on things for the house."
But, the Stradwicks love the challenge and problem-solving required to restore these homes and of course getting to that end result.
They put a lot of thought and consideration into the work they do. That means not only hours of physical labour but also hours of research into the house as well as its the former occupants.
Trish and Fenji also often go to local open house inspections to scope out the interiors for a bit of inspiration and also to see how owners have approached particular problems.
“It’s not just about owning an old house, it is about being a custodian of our heritage houses and breathing new life into them,” Fenji said.
“Quite often we’re taking back the layers of changes that have been done over decades, to reveal the 'bones' of the house and restore, renovate and improve to modern standards, whilst respecting the integrity of the house”.
The Queanbeyan residents said the town is a real goldmine for older houses especially compared to Canberra. And not only do they love living in these historic buildings but take pleasure in the town’s village-feel.
“There is a real community here. Stopping for a chat, swapping fruit, veggies, plants, eggs and mowing nature strips. Being able to help the older neighbours who don’t have a car,” Fenji said.
“Learning about the history of the town through the older neighbours’ eyes and imagining what they saw the town looked like.”
“We’re not just living in our little boxes and not interacting with the people around us.”
