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The flat roofed home in Waratah Road - Berowra
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DescriptionComing to live in Berowra in the late 1940’s the Cavanough Family, Fred and Lila and their 3 boys (Victor, Noel and Gary) moved into a “Nissen” hut on their block, 43 Waratah Road. This was a one roomed dwelling with a stove in the middle, beds towards the back and kitchen near the north front door. The nearby laundry tubs and copper were in the open, which didn’t matter as you’d never wash on a wet day!
Fred Cavanough after his day’s work made concrete bricks, in a press, one at a time and dried them before laying them into their new home.
Coming to live in Berowra in the late 1940’s the Cavanough Family, Fred and Lila and their 3 boys (Victor, Noel and Gary) moved into a “Nissen” hut on their block, 43 Waratah Road. This was a one roomed dwelling with a stove in the middle, beds towards the back and kitchen near the north front door. The nearby laundry tubs and copper were in the open, which didn’t matter as you’d never wash on a wet day!
Fred Cavanough after his day’s work made concrete bricks, in a press, one at a time and dried them before laying them into their new home.
Willing neighbours such as the Lambs, Olsons, Bullocks, Pearsons, Butlers and more, came to help do the “Big Pour”. Some mixed concrete which was then put into a wheelbarrow and winched to the roof where others spread it, while the next batch was being mixed. And so the job was done with the neighbourhood women and children being entertained all the while and no doubt supplying the needed food and drinks to the workers.
he Cavanough home now has a pitched roof so it’s lost its unique look.
Oh, and by the way a lovely separate laundry (in earlier image) was built behind the new home so Lila could now, at least do her washing in the shade!
Shirley Collins with thanks to Gary Cavanough for input and images.
Physical FormatBerowraDimensionsBerowra Living History
Fred Cavanough after his day’s work made concrete bricks, in a press, one at a time and dried them before laying them into their new home.
Coming to live in Berowra in the late 1940’s the Cavanough Family, Fred and Lila and their 3 boys (Victor, Noel and Gary) moved into a “Nissen” hut on their block, 43 Waratah Road. This was a one roomed dwelling with a stove in the middle, beds towards the back and kitchen near the north front door. The nearby laundry tubs and copper were in the open, which didn’t matter as you’d never wash on a wet day!
Fred Cavanough after his day’s work made concrete bricks, in a press, one at a time and dried them before laying them into their new home.
Willing neighbours such as the Lambs, Olsons, Bullocks, Pearsons, Butlers and more, came to help do the “Big Pour”. Some mixed concrete which was then put into a wheelbarrow and winched to the roof where others spread it, while the next batch was being mixed. And so the job was done with the neighbourhood women and children being entertained all the while and no doubt supplying the needed food and drinks to the workers.
he Cavanough home now has a pitched roof so it’s lost its unique look.
Oh, and by the way a lovely separate laundry (in earlier image) was built behind the new home so Lila could now, at least do her washing in the shade!
Shirley Collins with thanks to Gary Cavanough for input and images.
Physical FormatBerowraDimensionsBerowra Living HistoryLocation
Berowra
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The flat roofed home in Waratah Road - Berowra. Hornsby Shire, accessed 28/04/2026, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/3205