Capital gains: Character home in Forrest on market after 42 years

Dorothy and Jim Service have lived at 55 Dominion Circuit in Forrest for 42 years, but they’ve lived on the street for even longer.

They lived at number 50 for about five years and at 48 for two.

When number 55 was listed for sale it was the perfect opportunity to expand the home for their family of six.

“It was a good block of land so we put our hand up at the auction and bought it,” Dorothy says.

“It’s got a lot bigger since, we’ve more than doubled it in size.”

Nestled on a 2006-square-metre block, the home had plenty of room to grow.

Designed by Oakley and Parkes in 1925, the home retains its original features, such as high ceilings, cornices and large picture windows, amid the sympathetic extension. A formal lounge overlooking the landscaped private gardens and a separate formal dining room are each complete with their own fireplace.

The Services added a new kitchen and family room, extended the small bedrooms and added a grand main suite.

The main suite is segregated via a long windowed corridor, overlooking internal and external courtyards. The bedroom includes his and hers walk-in wardrobes, which flow to an en suite with spa, double shower and garden views.

Lush, green gardens are one of the standout features of the four-bedroom home and ensure each room has a leafy view.

Dorothy and Jim will be moving out of the street for the first time in about 50 years, but they’re not going far.

The Services are downsizing to an apartment in the neighbouring suburb of Kingston.

Auction: Saturday, July 8 at noon, onsite. Inspect: Saturday, 1.15pm-2pm; Tuesday, 4.30pm-5pm. Agent: Richard and Sophie Luton, Luton Properties Manuka, 0418 697 844 or 0410 750 413.

6 Pedder Street, O’Connor

A 1950s move from Narrabundah to a government house in O’Connor was an exciting time for the Heatons.

The three-bedroom home had more room for Joseph, Betty and their three children, Dennis, Chrystine and Gary, and they loved the location.

“It was ideal and I think [my parents] were pretty happy with the prospect of moving into the house,” Dennis says.

Joseph worked for public transport, Betty worked part-time at the O’Connor shops and they were soon able to buy the house and make it their own.

Dennis has fond memories of trips to Uriarra Crossing to collect the stones that still frame the home.

“We made that a bit of an outing,” Dennis said.

“We had to find stones that were reasonably square, it was a bit of a novel thing. Slowly but surely over the period of a year or so we got there.”

Joseph and Betty lived in the home for the rest of their lives, extending and modernising it over the years.

Once the edge of Canberra, the location is now very central, close to the local shops and within easy reach of the city.

Auction: Saturday, July 8, at 10am, onsite. Inspect: Saturday, 10am-10.45am; Wednesday, 12.30pm-1pm. Agent: David Whittem, Capital First National, 0408 408 603.