The final transfer on the Certificate of Title Vol-Fol 1932-197 available on the NSW Land Titles historical viewer is recorded on 10 October 1985 when Marie Jane Perkins sold to the little cottage to the next door neighbours Jean and Arthur Bultitude who owned the original James Ryall bakehouse property at 2 River Street. This brought the property back to when the same people owned both 2 and 3 River Streets.
From this time forward the property was rented, originally well kept but as it progressed through owners since that time, the upkeep has gradually declined. Over the years family have taken photos of ‘Grandma’s place’ documenting the decline and neglect. Gone are the front picket fence and gate, the original side small neighbour friendly paling fences now replaced by colourbond fencing. It is now known as the ‘little blue house’ after it was painted a bold blue.
Property data online indicates it was sold in
- 7 September, 1998 for $103,000
- 7 February, 2007 for $390,000
- 5 October, 2011 for $750,000 (with a note that states this may not reflect the value of the property may include 2 River Street)
- 3 August, 2015 for $287.500
- 26 July 2022 – 2 and 3 River St Yamba combined $1,100,000
- 13 April, 2024 – 3 River St Yamba sold indecently from 2 River Street, but this time it was not sold to a developer. It sold for $770,000 https://www.realestate.com.au/property/3-river-st-yamba-nsw-2464/
Below are a few photos over the years of the cottage at 3 River Street until 2025. The deterioration in the roof and external fibro cladding without any significant remediation can be seen in photographs over these 24 years from 2001 until 2025.
On September 7, 1998 the cottage was sold for $103,000, it had been rented from 1985 until 1998. The photos below show the cottage on 18 August 2001 when my Dad, Colin Perkins seen in the second photo visited. The cottage roof and fibre although deteriorated in almost 30 years, was still in reasonable condition.
The decline in the integrity of the exterior iron roofing resulting in leaks could be seen on the exterior easter wall as well as the interior ceiling of the easter front bedroom two.
Unfortunately by this stage these roof water leaks would have extended through the original hardwood timber and into the framework.
In total the cottage was rented for 40 years from 1985 until 2025.
On 15 August 2011 the decline in both the frizz and beginning int he roof was obvious, This is almost 40 years after Dad’s renovations in 1973.
By 18 January 2014, just 3 years later the house become the deep blue colour which it remained until 2025. The house came on the market again
Although some remedy was applied to the small gully section of this front easter side, it was obvious this roof failure had begun well before 2014. The roof which was new in 1973 was 21 years old.
In 2021 the cottage was still standing and the local historian John McNamara at the Port of Yamba Historical Society documented the houses at 2 and 3 River Street as being the two oldest cottages left standing in Yamba.
References – 1927 Photo courtesy of Beverley Knox nee Gray – ‘Happy Home at Yamba 1927’ Percy & Edith Gray with mother (Francis) May Gray nee Richards and Emma Gray
A Cottage By The Sea 