Occupants of 39 Grand Pde
39 Grand Pde before demolition in 2021
The first known occupants of this fibro home back in the 1950s were Jack and Leila Bennett. There was just one plant in the front yard, a large blue hydrangea bush in the corner near the front bedroom window. Jack was a taxi driver. While living there they gave birth to a son Wayne.
Leith and Madeleine Angelo later bought the home. They were artists, both indoors on easels and out in the yard, and over many years, the property was transformed into an artistic wonderland. They didn’t own a car. They walked and used the local bus. Their garage was converted into an art studio. Their art styles were very different. Leith would be working in water colour on the exquisite detail of a rural landscape while Madeleine might be creating a brightly coloured figure of a woman and her cat or teaching eager art students in their home. Their art pieces densely covered the walls of each room of the house and visiting them was like being in an art gallery. The cushion covers on lounge chairs were multi coloured embroidered squares of old discarded and recycled cotton curtain material. She tore a square off, gave it to me and said, Go for it. Make it rich. And I did, just like hers were.
In the front yard, every space was occupied with plants, flowers, sculptures, woven crafts, pottery. Nothing was left bare. Their home was a creative masterpiece.
Written by a grateful neighbour.
Leith and Madeleine Angelo later bought the home. They were artists, both indoors on easels and out in the yard, and over many years, the property was transformed into an artistic wonderland. They didn’t own a car. They walked and used the local bus. Their garage was converted into an art studio. Their art styles were very different. Leith would be working in water colour on the exquisite detail of a rural landscape while Madeleine might be creating a brightly coloured figure of a woman and her cat or teaching eager art students in their home. Their art pieces densely covered the walls of each room of the house and visiting them was like being in an art gallery. The cushion covers on lounge chairs were multi coloured embroidered squares of old discarded and recycled cotton curtain material. She tore a square off, gave it to me and said, Go for it. Make it rich. And I did, just like hers were.
In the front yard, every space was occupied with plants, flowers, sculptures, woven crafts, pottery. Nothing was left bare. Their home was a creative masterpiece.
Written by a grateful neighbour.
