Killara: Woodlands new owners Albert and Eva Lim to share Ethel Turners former home

AS Albert and Eva Lim wait to settle into their new home in Killara, they are already drawing up grand plans on how to share their house, where Ethel Turner wrote Seven Little Australians in 1893.

AS Albert and Eva Lim wait to settle into their new home in Killara, they are already drawing up grand plans on how to “share” their house, where Ethel Turner wrote Seven Little Australians in 1893.

The couple, who have been looking for a new home since they received their permanent residency two years ago, were “elated” to secure the State Heritage-listed Woodlands, at 1 Werona Ave, almost three weeks ago through McGrath Lindfield’s Sarah Davis and Brent Courtney, paying some $5.5 million.

Before viewing the home, the Lims, who plan to start a family there, had no idea the house was where one of Australia’s most famous children’s authors wrote her most successful novels.

“After doing research on Ethel Turner, I told myself I want to use this house, not just for my own but to have it as a place of inspiration for young Australians,” Mr Lim said.

Ideas of opening up their house for museum events, libraries, schools and performance showcases began to fill Mr Lim’s head, after he was disappointed to find that few of his Australian friends had heard of Ethel Turner.

“The whole point of doing all this is to create a greater awareness of Ethel Turner among Australians,” he said.

Having come from Malaysia, the character and heritage behind Woodlands was something Mr Lim could not find overseas.

“The houses we purchased overseas are basically all new, modern homes. They’re beautiful but they’re modern. In Australia, it is different,” he said.

“To get a property that has its own character, that is unique and has history behind it, that’s really a jewel, you can’t get that anywhere in the world.

“When we saw Woodlands, it just blew our minds away.”

The businessman, who heads pole and tower company Alupole Australia, described the renovation work of vendors Peter and Carol Himmelhoch as “magical”.

“They really did put a lot of effort, they didn’t take shortcuts in any part, everything was spick and span and very well-done.”

Turner also wrote The Family at Misrule and The Story of a Baby at the Killara house.

Seven Little Australians has been in print continuously for more than a century and has sold more than two million copies in English. It has been translated into 11 languages.

Originally published as Killara: Woodlands new owners Albert and Eva Lim to “share” Ethel Turner’s former home

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