In praise of fibro public housing

Owner Garry Legge has not only embraced the Housing Department culture he bought into 18 years ago but he has done it with good humour.

"I've never had a problem with public housing because the original straight-laced design makes it easy to adapt to taste and needs," says the retired Roads and Maritime Services Department formerly Department of Main Roads worker.

He and wife Carol bought the three-bedroom fibro home for $112,000 and have modified it with cladding, three garages, a front veranda and a busy backyard.

"Like most early Housing Department stock, it has a huge backyard but it was overgrown with weeds so I cleaned it up and put in a waterfall and chook pen," he says.

The first homes by what was then the Housing Commission of NSW were built in the Illawarra 1942 at Port Kembla.

The scheme, which involved offering discounted rent to low income earners who were given the chance to buy after a probationary period, was well under way by 1945.

This stand of typical early Commission homes in Maynes Parade (see inset) where the Legges live is a novelty in that they all retain all or part of the original design and over-sized backyards of that era.

Legge says price, location and solid build were the factors he liked most when he first inspected the house.

"I've got fantastic neighbours who mostly take great pride in their homes so I don't feel there should be any stigma in living in public housing."

Since 1996 he has bought and sold two neighbouring houses.

"They were only on the market between six and eight weeks so it goes to show that they are in demand."

Illawarra identities who salute public housing

• MARTY HAYNES, breakfast announcer with i98 FM, who grew up in public housing in Dundas in the 70s: ‘‘Life was simple but good. We played outside with a whole bunch of great people, some of whom I’m still friends with today.’’

• CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU, assistant secretary of Unions NSW, who lived in public housing in Berkeley in the late 60s: ‘‘I was seven and after living above a shop in Crown St, it was great because I had my own room, a huge backyard and lots of other kids to play with. We lived  there for seven years and they were very happy times.’’

• MARIANNE SALIBA, Shellharbour Mayor, who lived in Warilla from 1967 to 1981: ‘‘Our family of seven children moved into the four-bedroom house with its pan toilet out back when I was seven, and they were happy years. I’ve heard of countless high-profile people who grew up in public housing so you should never judge.’’