‘Our happy place’: Timewarp Queanbeyan home hits the market after 50-plus years

Happiness is homemade and for the Cuschieri family, that couldn’t ring more true as they bid farewell to the Queanbeyan property that they’ve called home for more than 50 years.

The charming residence at 3 Woodger Parade, on more than 600 square metres of land, has served as the Cuschieri family home since 1970.

“My parents actually bought it half-built at the time and went about getting it all ready before we moved in,” said Tracy Cuschieri.

“My mum, Sheila, already had my older sister, Kellie, at the time and was pregnant with me when they bought it. A few years later, my younger sister Jodie was born … we were all raised in that home.”

The house forms part of the now-established Queanbeyan suburb but for Sheila, it wasn’t always the case.

“When we moved here, this was the last housing area. There was nothing beyond this. It was like living in the middle of the bush because all that was there was dirt and trees,” she said.

“Gradually, we’d seen the landscape and neighbourhood change over the years and welcomed more people into the area.”

The long-time residents have seen the rise of new homes and developments in and around the cross-border region but they’ve also seen their own home transform over the years.

“Mum and dad were always working on the house. They did so much work on the garden, they spent many days pruning it. Everything you see in the photos from the wells, individual sitting areas and pavements — they did it with no help from landscapers,” Tracy said.

“Both Kellie and I held our wedding photos there. It’s just a beautiful oasis, a beautiful escape right in our backyard.”

Walking inside the home is like stepping back in time with its well-preserved original kitchen that has been updated to include stainless steel appliances. The bedrooms and living room all feature the original carpets, Austrian blinds and decorative corner trims.

“We created so many memories while living there,” Tracy said.

“Growing up, all of our Christmases and all the festivities were pretty much spent in the garage. We had a three-car garage that had a rumpus [room] off to the side and a bathroom … everything was there, so we didn’t need to go upstairs a great deal.

“We’d set up a big table downstairs and all the aunts, uncles and cousins would gather around and eat. Afterwards, we’d ride our bikes up and down the straight. It was a great time to be a kid.”

The rumpus room has now become a man cave but initially, it was the billiard room, then a room to store their motorcycles and then a place to store their speed boat.

“That room changed as our interests changed and my dad always tweaked it as it changed like removing the carpets and billiard table to make room for our bikes,” Tracy said.

“Then when we all left the nest, it then became a man cave with its own lounge, TV and a collection of antique whisky water jugs.”

With remnants of their childhood and the past 50 years scattered around the home, Tracy and Sheila said the decision to part with the home did not come easily.

“We’ve loved it. This was our happy place but it’s time. It’s time for someone to come in and make it their own, make their own memories and love it as much as we did. There’s something for everyone,” Tracy said.