But our memories live on

By Warren Nunn

In several trips to Boolburra over the years, I’ve photographed the site where my grandparents Alex and Bella Dobbs onced lived.

In about 1995 my uncle, Jim Dobbs, had the house removed from the site and relocated to Avondale, about a mile away. All that remained were the shed, some tanks, the slab on which the house stood and the dairy.

The dairy was the victim of a grass fire and the shed has, of course, steadily fallen into disrepair.

The cab of Uncle Jim’s International truck sits rusting away on the bank of the creek, the tennis court roller that Uncle Ray made stands, unmoved, nearby, a couple of water tanks remain, as does the septic tank that Jim, Pop and others, including my brother Don, put in place back in the 1960s.

The photos are a reminder that although time takes its toll on the physical world, nothing can wear out our memories of the wonderful family times we spent at Boolburra.

Boolburra shed 2000


Looking towards the Boolburra house site and shed in 2000.

 

Looking towards the Boolburra house site and shed July 2020.


The Boolburra house site and shed July 2020.

Uncle Jim plaque Boolburra


Plaque in Uncle Jim’s memory at Boolburra. Picture taken July 2020.

Burnt-out dairy shed at Boolburra


The burnt-out remains of the dairy shed at Boolburra in 2000.

Area near Boolburra racecourse


Area near where Boolburra Racecourse was situated, not far from Dobbs house. Picture taken July 2020.

Inside International truck cabin Boolburra


Inside International truck cabin Boolburra July 2020.

Truck cab in 2017


What remained of Uncle Jim’s International truck at Boolburra, November 2017.

Inside shed 2017


Inside Boolburra shed November 2017.

Avondale 2020


Avondale, Boolburra, to where the Dobbs house was relocated. Pictured taken July 2020.

Swimming hole Dawson River Boolburra


Swimming hole Dawson River near Boolburra Railway Bridge in July 2020.

Railway Bridge over Dawson River at Boolburra


Railway Bridge over Dawson River at Boolburra in July 2020.

Boolburra tennis court roller that Uncle Ray made


The tennis court roller that Uncle Ray made. Picture taken July 2020.

Looking from house site to shed 2017


Taken from Boolburra house site looking towards shed November 2017.

Boolburra front gate 2017


Front gate of Boolburra house site, November 2017.

Boolburra house site 2017


Looking towards Boolburra house site November 2017.