Inset image of house by photographer Jack Mildenhall. The image is part of the Mildenhall Collection held by the National Archives of Australia to document the foundation era (1920s-30s) of Canberra. Photos: Supplied.
For Jeff Knowles, selling his beloved family home is more than a simple sales transaction.
He’s made a lifetime of memories at 61 Empire Circuit, Forrest and is now ensuring the next chapter of his cherished family home is just as loved by its next custodians.
Owned by his late parents, Mervyn and Beth Knowles, who lived in the landmark residence until their 90s when they moved to aged care, this is a home with heart – tenderly nurtured and loved deeply by the family for more than six decades.
Now Jeff is selling his family home, marking the end of an era, with more than a touch of sadness.
“My family has had 61 years at 61. I grew up here, it’s my family home – and it’s been wonderful,” Jeff says.
“It’s a beautiful home. It was lovely to grow up in, and it’s been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to come back to it in the last four years.”
Constructed by renowned architectural firm Oakley and Parkes in 1925 back when Forrest was known as Blanfordia, the graceful centenarian is a rare offering in Canberra’s inner south.
The grand old dame was purchased by the couple in 1963 for 19,500 pounds (with a 500 pound discount from the previous owner due to its lack of insulation at the time), when they returned to Canberra after spending time overseas for Mervyn’s job as an Australian Trade Commissioner.
“We came back to Canberra in 1963 after we spent time away for Dad’s work,” Jeff says.
“Mum and Dad tried a house in Hughes and it wasn’t big enough to fit a piano so they approached a real estate agent and said they’d like to buy a house in Forrest and she just laughed out loud and said: ‘They never come up anymore’. But within two days, we had the keys in our letterbox and we came and had a look.”
Beth then arranged to visit the homeowner, Mrs Watson, a widow who was unwell in hospital, and seven-year-old Jeff followed in tow.
“We walked into her hospital room and her eyes lit up. She was very pleased to see us and Mum and her had a wonderful conversation. They talked about Canberra and they talked about family,” Jeff recounts.
“So, as a seven-year-old kid, I watched something pass from Mrs Watson to Mum. I could see what I was seeing but I didn’t understand it. It was almost physical in terms of the handover and Mrs Watson was quite happy to hand over her home to our young family – and so we moved in.”
Originally owned by the government as a rental for public servants, it was sold to the Watsons in 1953, who held it for a decade before the Knowles’ became the second private owner of the home in its 100 years.
The Knowles’ ingrained themselves in the community, with Mervyn a keen Rotarian, foundation member of the Canberra Apex Club and president of the Canberra and District Historical Society, while Beth founded the Women’s International Club in Canberra.
Mervyn served as the Australian Trade Commissioner to South Africa, Indonesia and Greece and was widely known as Manuka Pool’s most dedicated swimmer, swimming more than 25,000 laps over 89 years.
Set on a landholding of more than 1500sqm, 61 Empire Circuit has timeless heritage and is lauded by locals with its striking curves and rondelles, which cut similarities with Canberra’s iconic Sydney and Melbourne Buildings on Northbourne Avenue.
The home has retained key hallmarks of its era, including timber-lined ceilings, parquetry floors, sash windows and dreamy in-built window seats off the formal lounge room, while Jeff, a sustainable consultant, has improved its energy efficiency with an expansive solar system and battery, as well as ceiling and underfloor insulation.
It also has expansive under-house storage options, a mechanics ‘pit in the garage and heritage toolshed, as well as a floodlit pickleball court, which was installed in the 1980s as a ‘compact tennis court’.
HIVE sales agent Samantha Linsdell says the residence is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to buy in prestigious Forrest.
“There is something very special about this home,” Samantha says. “The light fittings in there are 100 years old, it has a heritage restriction to the front, they’ve added the pickleball court to the rear and it’s got one of those cute garages that shares on four boundaries. All of it is very unique to old Canberra.
“We have already taken some buyers through off-market and most of the buyers attracted to this home are young families wanting to get into the area, particularly for the high calibre of schooling or a desire to centralise their lifestyle.”
Jeff says there are three things he loves intrinsically about the property – the local birdlife, the treescape and leafy neighbourhood, and the feeling of the home itself.
“The birdlife around here is exceptional. Living here is just beautiful being surrounded by trees. It’s just gorgeous. Looking out the window, all you can see are trees…I look at the trees and I’ve always loved them. I drew them as a kid and I drew them the other night.
“The house is lovely to live in. It’s beautiful…It is difficult to sell something that means so much – I love every nook and cranny of this house.
“It’s very hard to explain what it is to be here in this property, but it’s wonderful.
“I’m the guardian so what I need to do is find the right person to be the next guardian and that isn’t a simple task,” Jeff says. “This place is so special to me that it’s important for me to meet the new guardian before I sign a contract.”
61 Empire Circuit, Forrest, is for sale by negotiation. For more information or to book a private inspection, contact Samantha Linsdell on 0402 507 902. Keeping an eye on the market? Check out all the latest listings on Zango.
Original Article published by Nicole Cox on Zango.
