Thank you

For entrusting us with the house your father built. We know ours was not the biggest offer on the table, in a world ruled by dollars; we don’t take it lightly that we have been lucky enough to get the keys to the Butterfly. We will restore her to her brilliance and make so many memories at 6 Conjola, for many years to come.

Lisa’s father was in the Royal Navy in the UK. While Lisa has not inherited his sea legs, she grew up by the ocean in a place called Redcar, near Middlesbrough. Lisa moved to Australia in 2003, visited Currarong for a weekend away 10 years ago and fell in love with it immediately. Her Labrador Leroy Brown would always accompany on these trips as hurray – the beach is dog friendly! Leroy loves the water & fetching the stick from the surf.

Lisa has a couple of friends who also own property in Currarong (on Nowra Street & Crookhaven Parade).

Jewels’ father Lance has been coming to Jervis bay fishing & boating since the 1970s. He volunteers for Marine Rescue, (formerly The Coastal Patrol). Lance, Kerrie, Ray & Jewels spent countless holidays camping both at Currarong & Green Patch and would often day trip to Currarong onboard Lances boat.

Above: Lance’s brother Kim Robb (aka Nobby) spent lots of time in Currarong with his good mate Steve (aka Hairy).

Jewels & Lisa have continued the love affair with Jervis Bay, bringing their girls, Scarlet & Audrey camping at Green Patch, and for the past 3 Christmases to Currarong. We were here Christmas 2019 when it was raining black from the sky, very scary.

Christmas 2021 we stayed on Walton Way in the lead up to Christmas day – the town/beach is blissfully quiet at this time…

Last Christmas, Lance brought the boat down and we stayed at a holiday rental on Nowra road. He took Lisa & Jewels out to see Drum & Drumsticks and all of the seals (Labradors of the sea!). Lance set out a stack of trawling lines up & down the coast, but much to his dismay, there was no fish for dinner. Fortunately the following day, Scarlet & Audrey caught some at Greenwell Point.

On each trip to Currarong, Lisa and Jewels would stay in a holiday rental and discuss endlessly how much they would like have a place of their own. On their walks with Leroy and the kids, they would point out their favourite houses. The butterfly house was of particular interest to the girls as they imagined riding their bikes/skates up & down the ramp – and to Lisa & Jewels as it was so unique and quintessentially Australian.

Dare we even dream?

To think that the HOURS of discussing potentially buying a place in Currarong could cultivate into what has come to be over the weekend, is actually still difficult to believe. To be the custodians of such an iconic landmark in Currarong is beyond our wildest dreams. We plan to restore the house completely – paying particular care to the windows and roofline… they truly don’t make them like this anymore!

Downstairs we even out the slab, change the roller garage door to accordion doors which have similar glass panelling as the top floor does. A couple more bedrooms and a second living space, which opens out both to the front & rear. We have architect friends who cannot wait to share with us their ideas and we are so excited to see what we come up with together.

We would love, if you have some photos you can share with us, to have some pictures of the butterfly house throughout its life. Jewels has found some great imagery from the state library and we will frame some of this around the house – it would be fantastic to add some of your photos in the mix:

Leroy Brown turns 15 next month! He has arthritis in his back wheels, so its very fortunate the ramp is here so he can get into the house easily.

Lance is keen to buy a bigger boat – his wife Kerrie told him many years ago; you can only buy a boat that can fit into the garage. BUT… she didn’t say which garage! Kerrie is the green thumb of the family and will be tasked with coming up with a garden which includes native plants and trees to encourage visits from the birdlife to the yard.

Babs & Brian, we will keep you updated on the restoration journey – there will be lots of pics we would love to share with you.