We looked around for at least three years to find an old cottage in Port Fairy that we could buy. 59 Campbell St. arrived and from the day one, shared its own history. The first day we arrived we met the granddaughter and great granddaughter of Elizabeth Margaret Brady out the front taking photos of the building in which she lived as a young teacher. This was spooky and availed us of the really early photos of the cottage we now have.
Last month a lady rang me asking me about the cottage. Her father had always loved visiting “Granny’s” where his grandparents lived and she was interested about the cottage. Subsequent contact with Alan, her father, has surfaced some more wonderful photos and stories of those who lived in this beautiful home we are privileged to share. In fact, I feel he’s miffed about the name we christened the cottage after we bought it. To him, it wasn’t a ‘cottage’, or anything to do with Elizabeth Margaret Brady. It was just “Granny’s.” Fair enough too! So maybe it should’ve been called “Granny’s!”
Either way, how cool is it to have this history follow us. Also I've enjoyed talking to Alan about historical events about Port Fairy.
With that in mind, I hope you enjoy the Photos that Alan Bull has sent me. I am posting them to the blog on his behalf as a kind of archive related to a building many have called home at 59 Campbell St. in Port Fairy; notably the Bull and Brown families. Further to all this … I heard that at one stage, 14 children were born in the cottage. This was, at that stage, a 4 room building with a shed and dairy out the back for the cow. Wow.
If anyone has any more information about our place or Port Fairy, please feel free to post back.
Cheers,
Damien.