Neighbours for 50 years in Melville St

Neighbours, friends, and "original" residents of Melville St, Mosgiel, three couples are this year celebrating 50 years in the same street.

Betty and Norman Ellis, Maureen and Fred Sproule and John and Mary Thomas all married and moved to the street within a few months of one another 50 years ago.

Mr and Mrs Ellis celebrated their golden anniversary last October.

They moved into their home in December 1959.

Mr and Mrs Thomas celebrated 50 years' marriage this month, the Sproules' anniversary is in July.

Both couples moved to the street in 1960.

All moved to brand new houses built by the same builder under the government's 3% interest scheme.

The three-bedroom permanent material houses, on sections just under a quarter-acre, were modest but more than adequate.

The Sproules live next door to the Thomases, while the Ellises are directly opposite.

Mrs Ellis (71) said she was so happy to get into her new house, the first six months without a washing machine, or wallpaper, was not a hardship.

People expected less then, and were prepared to save and pay for things one by one, she said.

Mr Ellis (77) said his wife did very well washing his clothes every day without a machine.

Mr Thomas (73) said many "original" inhabitants of the late 1950s homes had moved to bigger properties.

However, with a few alterations over the years, the houses had been big enough for the three couples.

Melville St, with just 11 houses, had 33 children at one stage.

The three couples had nine children between them.

Back then, children played freely in the streets.

Over the years, the couples' interests broadened; the Thomases extended their involvement in rowing administration, while bowls, golf and Pilates were taken up in latter years.

The Ellises owned Mosgiel's Monte Carlo Milk Bar for a time in the 1970s.

All attended one another's family parties, and enjoyed frequent morning teas together, but did not "live in one other's pockets", Mrs Ellis said. - Eileen Goodwin.