Brisbane, QLD


Friday, December 9, 2016

BUILDING A HOUSE

 I was employed by Queensland Education after waiting for three months for a vacancy. I started work at Mt Gravatt State School as a relief teacher at first but later I was sent to Mansfield State School as a classroom teacher for Years Two and Three composite class. 

We were keen to build a house on our block of land, so every weekend we went looking at display homes. Finally, we decided on a three bedroom boomerang shaped house. It was all a bit scary signing up for a mortgage but we were young, strong and healthy so we took the plunge.


The pegs mark where the house will go

I heard that you could grow pineapples from their tops so I planted some on the block before the house was started.


 Soon it was the day for the bulldozer to carve out a flat space for the house. Bill drives in front of the truck carrying the dozer along Springwood Rd. We didn't have a drive way so we used the neighbours.
 Bill shows the dozer driver where the house should go.

 Not long after the foundations were laid.

 The frame goes up and we are getting excited to see our first home taking shape.

 Bill is installing the electricity cables himself, as he was a qualified electrician. This saved us a some money.

 Almost finished. It was winter by now and we were looking forward to moving in by September.

18 comments:

  1. that is one thing I have never done, build a house. I have never lived in a new house either..

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  2. It must have been so exciting watching it take shape.

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  3. Hello, it must have been fun planning and watching your new home being built. Great photos. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  4. I have built two homes. That is the most demanding and stressful project one can undertake. We have been married almost 45 years which means we must be good partners having survived that!

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  5. A very exciting time - so good to have the photos to look back on and to write the story.

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  6. Such wilderness. I should think your neighbours would find the photos interesting.

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  7. what great photos and memories. i bet it is all built up by now. lovely

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  8. Ah! those were the days, not like that today to tell where you wanted the house put..
    Looks a nice one and yes, it's hard to choose.

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  9. That was special to build a house, amazing to see how it grows to a real house to live in. You must have been very proud to have your own house!

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  10. Your builds over there are so different to ours here! Good to have your own house though. T'other Diane

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  11. This is a good story - my wife's family build a home form scratch, but they dont have pictures like this - shame really.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  12. Enjoyed both current posts -- its great you always took so many pictures and wonderful that you are taking the time to scan them -- and write your story. Congrats on Book 2.

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  13. Great that you were able to build your own house. My parents did the same but I don't think they documented it in photos, unfortunately.

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  14. Hi, You know how much I enjoy reading your 'story'... So glad to read that you have some of it published now... AWESOME.. I'm proud of you --and that will be out there for future generations in your family to enjoy.

    Building a first home is SCARY for young folks... That was neat that Bill could do the electrical work himself. Weren't you THRILLED when you moved into that FIRST home????? I remember those feelings.

    I published a post yesterday --so check it out (if you haven't already).

    Hugs and Merry Christmas,
    Betsy

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  15. Oh great that you took all these photos, so many memories. The house looks great and the environment fantastic

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  16. What exciting days Diane - I'm wondering if you've ever been back to see what the house looks like now.

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  17. This is a nice house story. My husband wrote a book about how he built our home, titled "Will's Guide to Building the $9,000 House."

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  18. I am more than happy to read along even though your life is getting more "normal".

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