Home for sale (with one catch)

THE tiny town of Mummulgum will lose one of its few houses after years of hesitation.

History lesson: The old teacher’s residence at Mummulgum Public School is on the market, after the Government decided it was too expensive to maintain. Picture: Mel McMillan

THE tiny town of Mummulgum will lose one of its few houses after years of hesitation.

The teacher’s residence at Mummulgum Public School is one of the larger houses in the rural village and is currently open to expressions of interest.

As was common in rural towns when the building was constructed in 1926, the three-bedroom house was placed alongside the school to accommodate the principal.

Once sold, the residence can be used to the buyer’s discretion, restricted by only one condition.

The condition of sale of the residence includes ‘re-establishment of the site following the removal of the buildings’.

In 2008, the community rallied together to petition against the movement of the building in fear it would culturally damage the small village and its potential for heritage value.

Two years on and the house has left the hands of the Teacher’s Housing Authority into those of the Department of Education.

It is believed it has since gone unused but has been expensive to maintain.

“The maintenance costs of the building are more then the rent of the building was,” Mike Seymour from NSW Public Works said.

“It was rented out to the private sector after the school principal stopped using it.

“The rent was not covering the cost of maintaining the building.

“When the previous tenant’s lease ended and it went on unused the Government decided to put it up for sale.”

Mummulgum Public School was contacted by The Northern Star but staff did not comment on the sale.

The public school has taken students from neighbouring schools after they were closed down and there was some fear a similar fate awaited Mummulgum’s school.

Pupils and staff can rest assured the sale of the teacher’s residence will not affect the school.

“The residence is not part of the school and the school is not for sale,” Mr Seymour said.

Mummulgum lies 25km west of Casino and has a population of 90 people. 

Originally published as Home for sale (with one catch)