Cottage museum’s Mothers Day theme
By Tim Howard
Remember When Mother’s Day was a chance to do something special with the most Important woman in the world?
At Waterview Heights, near Grafton, former teachers Lindy and Mike Webb, are offering the kids an opportunity so do just that at their Remember When Cottage Museum.
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The museum, which the couple began as a labour of love more than a decade ago, has become a favourite haunt for people who love to get back to a simpler time.
With Mother’s Day, May 14, drawing near, Lindy has trawled through the collection of night wear, dresses, slips, shawls, petticoats and other examples of fine needlework to put together a stunning collection for Mother’s Day.
“I found these beautiful old things that would once have been part of a glory box a women would have had when she got married,” she said.
“Nearly all of them have been hand sewn and the needle work in them is fantastic. You just don’t see this type of work now.”
To round out the occasion, Lindy and Mike will be doing delicious Devonshire teas until 2pm.
“We like to put on these themed days,” Lindy said. “It’s a chance for us to have a bit of fun with the museum’s collection.”
The collection Mike and Lindy have on display at Remember When is reflection of Australian life going back to the 19th Century.
The humble appliances that were once the “mod cons” Australian homes had to have, are now museum pieces that inspire gasps of recognition from Remember When patrons.
The thunder box – a descriptive term for an outdoor toilet – was a huge part of life for many Australians, even up to the 1970s.
“If I could have $1 for every time I heard someone say ‘I had those at my place’, I would be doing very well,” Lindy said.
The cottage as well as the collection have not come together easily.
Around 2010-11 the couple were thinking what they might do after teaching and the germ of an idea came to them when they spotted a heritage cottage, “with the gizzards already ripped out of it,” in Villiers St, Grafton.
The cottage, which belonged to local midwife, Carol Gill, was ready to demolished when Mike and Lindy took it off “the demolishers” hands for the princely sum of $5000.
There was plenty of drama (and expense) to add to that when a team of house movers from Queensland brought the building in pieces out to Waterview Heights.
“The roof fell apart during the move,” Mike said. “That happens when two pieces fall off going at 90kmh.”
Clarence Valley Council proved another stumbling block for the couple with confusion over building certificate and other development approvals, but their passion for the project carried them forward.
Despite the hurdles they had to overcome, Mike and Lindy believe their timing was spot on.
“Lindy went to garage sales, auctions, deceased estate sales and picked up so much stuff,” Mike said.
“You could find all this stuff so easily and people were wanting to get rid of it.
“Now people are much more aware of its value and retro items are quite sought after.”
Lindy said they also picked up a lot of items from local families and businesses who donated historic pieces.
A typical example was a gas stove and oven that came from a popular South Grafton haunt, Bailey’s Cafe, which operated on the site of the Naked Bean in Skinner St.
While the museum’s number of items and their diversity is remarkable, the thing that keeps people coming back is the sense of fun Mike and Lindy have put into it.
“We had this old lady come here who told us about how she lost her false teeth in the “thunder box” (outdoor toilet) and had to fish them out, wash them and use them again,” Lindy said.
“With that inspiration, we had groups of kids come out and we rigged up a challenge so kids had to use a variety of items from the display to fish a set of false teeth from a toilet pan – minus the smelly stuff.”
The Retro Room, packed with reminders of what an extraordinary period the 1960s and 70s were, is another fun experience.
Hint: look for the box containing the inflatable bra. It’s a hoot.
The Remember When experience extends outdoors as the couple have a pen full of friendly farm animals and outdoor settings to enjoy refreshments they provide.
To get the full Remember When experience Lindy and Mike recommend making a booking.
The museum is at 28 Eatonsville Rd, Waterview Heights. Phone 0423 280 141 to book.
The museum is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rememberwhencottagemuseum/