Iconic home sells at auction

An iconic Port Hedland home was sold at auction late last month.

Since 1972, 58 Lukis St, which is better known as 58 Sutherland Street, has been owned by John and June Van Uden.

Most locals would recognise the home for the numerous and very unique artefacts that could be found in its front yard.

Originally built in 1966 as a display home for Bunnings, Mr Van Uden said over the decades the couple collected hundreds of artefacts from the oceans around Port Hedland.

“I spent many years underwater here as basically the only diver in the port,” he said. “Much of the gear was picked up from underwater while we were doing various salvage or recovery jobs or as we cleared the area prior to dreading.

“Later on I went into processing of semi-precious stones so as we travelled through the bush and found abandoned mine sites and abandoned homesteads, if (something) took our fancy we collected and cared for them.”

Mr Van Uden said the couple’s collection often caught the attention of passersby.

“We thought it was something a little bit different and created an interest for people going past,” he said.

“Many people used to stop and take photographs or come in and ask what they were or where they came from…it was a great conversation piece both for the public and for our personal visitors.”

Mr Van Uden, who moved to Hedland from Onslow after meeting his wife here, said it was difficult to choose the collection’s most unusual piece. “One was the original winder motor that was installed at the Port Hedland Port Authority tower in 1967,” he said. “There was also a gas producer from the second world war that was used to power motor vehicles.“We have taken some of them with us and others are in storage at present.”

Mr Van Uden said it was “bloody awful” to have to sell the property, which includes the largest private pool in town and a unique stone pool house. “It wasn’t a house, it was a home with many, many happy memories,” he said.

“My wife said the summers are getting too hot and she wanted to move to Perth.

“The character of the town has changed all together and it was time for us to move on to go somewhere where people care about their area again.”