Comedian Rob Shehadie’s childhood home goes under the hammer

CREATOR and star of the surprise ratings hit Here Come the Habibs, Rob Shehadie returns to the home he grew up in and admits it inspired his unique brand of comedy.

• Boulevard of dreams for Parramatta CBD
• Aussie swim icon launches Islamic range
• Pooches needed for Parramatta River shoot

THE house that raised one of Australia’s most loved comedians had to be sturdy.

Rob Shehadie is no small fry and, growing up, mum Marie and dad Elie contended with Rob, brother Nick and a lot of rowdy friends at their three-bedroom Oatlands home.

“I have so many memories here,” Mrs Shehadie said.

“All the events, the graduations, the Amway parties and tupperware parties, all in this house.”

Rob Shehadie at his family home with his parents Marie and Elie. Picture: Justin Sanson

Shehadie said he developed ‘Lebanese back’ mowing the large backyard as a teenager.

Shehadie left the family home in 2010, but he still feels connected to the house.

“We grew up here, there’s so many good memories — my brother and I playing Jonah Lomu Rugby on the Sega, lying on the lounge room floor with our homework spread out around us, pretending to study.”

Shehadie said he used to dance in front of the lounge room mirror, with dreams of becoming a boy band member. He and his brother also used to play indoor football.

“I would move the coffee table and play rugby inside.”

Mrs Shehadie said she “thought the house would collapse”.

Shehadie spent many hours ‘flexing’ in front of the mirror in his boyhood bedroom.

Shehadie reminisces with his mother Marie about growing up in Oatlands alongside his brother.

Shehadie also confessed to learning how to sneak into the house without waking anyone up after a night out clubbing.

“The floor does creak, it’s a bit like The Matrix, I knew how to dodge.”

The mix of fun, rowdiness and tradition inspired Shehadie’s family-style sitcom comedies.

“I would sum it up as a life of happiness and laughter and a close bond, learning good values from my parents,” he said.

“There was a lot of laughter in this house between the four of us, that’s a pretty special thing to have.”

The house that the family bought more than 35 years ago will be back on the market this week, after the family decided to downsize for their retirement.

“The yard is too big for us to look after,” Mrs Shehadie said.

“My husband, he doesn’t come out to the garden. I will have a place much smaller, just for us.”

Shehadie left the family home in 2010 but still lives nearby in Parramatta.

Marie and Elie Shehadie are downsizing now that their sons have left home.

The 40-year-old actor from Channel Nine’s Here Come the Habibs has stuck to his western Sydney roots since leaving home and is keen for a new family to settle in to the home.

“It’s got a great sized backyard and they can have lots of great parties ... but it’s more likely they’re going to flatten the lot of it and build a thousand units,” Shehadie said.

“They can concrete the whole lot.”

The 1012sqm home at 7 Lind Ave will go under the hammer on May 13, with Ray White Parramatta.