The house where Australia’s premier cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman honed his cricket skills as a child, has been honoured in the 2013 NSW National Heritage Trust Awards by being named joint winners with St Josephs Church, St Albans under the category of conservation built heritage – community/individual.
The current owners purchased the Victorian-era property in 2008 and embarked upon an enormous project to carefully restore Bradman’s childhood home to its former glory.
Fastidious documentation and craftsmanship went in to restoring the property to its 1911 state when Don Bradman and his family first lived in the house, including a faithful recreation of the famous tank stand where young Don hit a golf ball against the tank’s base with a cricket stump.
The Bradman Foundation congratulates the owner of 52 Shepherd Street and the team that undertook the restoration – heritage architect Ian Stapleton, of Clive Lucas, Stapleton & Partners and Lenarduzzi Builders of Moss Vale.
Visitors to Bowral can externally view the property as part of “The Bradman Walk, Bowral” and can follow in Sir Donald’s footsteps by practicing their cricket skills on the full scale replica tank-stand in the nearby Museum’s Bradman Gallery.
