A cribful of fond memories

Bull Creek Lodge is full of happy recollections for owners Ian and Lynley Breeze. PHOTOS: GREGOR...
Bull Creek Lodge is full of happy recollections for owners Ian and Lynley Breeze. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON
The weather-worn exterior and a beach-side souvenir.
The weather-worn exterior and a beach-side souvenir.
The crib offers familiar comforts.
The crib offers familiar comforts.
Looking out to the crashing waves.
Looking out to the crashing waves.
Well-worn boxes of games are ready for a rainy day.
Well-worn boxes of games are ready for a rainy day.

Bad sunburn, the family dog eating the cream-covered pavlova off the bench, dad burning his fringe trying to light the barbecue and your mum laughing until she nearly passes out, are just some of the memories created at family cribs.

For Lynley (60) and Ian (69) Breeze, there are hundreds of them that come flooding back every time they open the front door of their Bull Creek crib.

Mrs Breeze is the third generation to own the historic Bull Creek Lodge.

Built in 1884, it is the oldest crib in Bull Creek and was owned by Mrs Breeze's grandmother, along with about 150ha of surrounding farmland.

The crib is known as Bull Creek Lodge because it had a set of bull horns over the doorway.

It is rumoured the horns came from a wild bull that used to roam the area, terrifying "cribbies" and visitors to the area, Mrs Breeze said.

"I've come out here every holidays for 60 years - since day dot for me.

"We used to come out and see my grandmother in the May holidays, the August holidays and the summer holidays.

"We love this place because it's been preserved.

"The natural habitat has been preserved, there's beautiful bush walks to the waterfall, there's great swimming in the creek, great fishing, and the people who come out here are always happy.

"There's even an annual newsletter for crib owners - it's a very close-knit community.

"And every New Year's Day we have a fun day with sack races, potato and spoon racing - it's a fun place to be."

While there have been a few minor modifications to the crib over the years, like the addition of a log burner and an indoor bathroom, the building remains essentially the same.

Mrs Breeze said it was one of the greatest attractions of the place because it continued to provide a strong connection to past and present members of her family.

"Every time I open the door, the memories instantly come flooding back - memories of my grandmother and other family members."

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