A house filled with history, memories

KEVIN and Bev Dinneen’s relationship with their house goes back a long way. Bev was born in it, Kevin used to give haircuts in it, they even lived in the bungalow next door for around three years, but now it's time to move on. After over 40 years Kevin and Bev are selling the former Myrtleford Bush Nursing Hospital, having gradually renovated the impressive Federation era building to an elegant home that retains its sense of history. The pair purchased the house in 1978, but had lived in the former nurses’ quarters on the property for around three years in the 1960s. At the time Bev didn’t think much of the old hospital. “The only vision I had at that time was to get out of the place and away from this dreary old house and build a three-bedroom brick veneer,” she said. They later moved to Rose Court, until their burgeoning family meant they needed to look for a bigger home, and when the former hospital came up for sale Bev started to look at it with different eyes. Despite having seen the house before, Bev said she fell in love when she inspected it again. “Even though I'd seen it as a younger person it meant nothing to me, but 10 years on, you've matured more,” she said. “You've got more of an idea of history and then it just blew me away, and I fell in love with it right from that moment.” They have gradually worked on the five-bedroom property since its purchase, including extending the house in 2002 and having a pool installed, making it into the sophisticated home it is today. “It was a pretty sad old lady when we bought it, and so were the surrounds as well, but we just did it bit by bit,” Bev said. According to John Taylor, of the Myrtleford and District Historical Society, the hospital began operating at 18-20 Smith Street in 1920. In 1945 The Myrtleford Bush Nursing Hospital was founded at the hospital and was renamed the Myrtleford District Hospital five years later. It continued to operate at that site until the new Myrtleford and District War Memorial Hospital was opened in 1959. Bev can name each room from its time as a hospital, including the maternity ward, the operating theatre and the nurse’s sitting room, which now houses an impressive bookcase. Once it stopped being a hospital it was used to house three families, with another residency in the nurses quarters, the pair said. The large house has been a perfect site for their six kids (plus partners) and their 20 grandkids. “The favourite memories are really the birthday and Christmas celebrations with family,” Bev said. “With the pool it was big enough to entertain the young ones and have a big family gathering once or twice a year.” “It’s served itself well as a beautiful old family home.” As for why the pair are selling, they said it’s time to move on. “It's a big home now for two people, even our grandchildren have grown up and moved away,” Bev said. “We've still got family in town, but a time comes when you've got to think, well, maybe you should pass it on while you still can.” The house will be auctioned on May 25 unless sold prior. Ray White Myrtleford estimate the house will be sold for between 1.6 -1.76 million dollars.

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