End of an era as fire damaged Castlecliff home torn down

Heather Hills, Karli Anderson and Jeanette Bailey had previously lived at the property. Photo / Bevan Conley

The Hills family who grew up on Polson St in Castlecliff stood and watched as their childhood family home was torn down on Tuesday, months after it was engulfed by fire.

The Polson St property, which sits across the road from Castlecliff School, was built in 1959 by husband and wife team Bob and Barbara Hills.

Daughter Heather Hills recalled fond memories of growing up in the house, as she watched an excavator rip it down.

"The paddock behind the house was covered in lupins, so all us young kids used to pick the seeds to try and make money.

"It's hard to think of one bad memory in that house, aside from dad passing away in 2003," she said.

The property has gone by different names over the years. First it was simply known as the "pink house" because of its fibrelight colouring.

It later became known as the "Polson St barn" in the early 1990s when a second floor was added to accommodate the growing number of Bob and Barbara's grandkids.

The home as is was in 1959. Photo / Supplied

Heather remembers building the second floor as a great bonding time, with the whole family able to help out and add to what their parents started.

The property belonged to the Hills for more than 50 years, but changed hands seven years ago and was lost in an early morning blaze in August last year.
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Heather's daughter Karli Anderson came across the fire while dropping her daughter at Castlecliff School.

The Polson St home was demolished on Tuesday. Photo/ Bevan Conley

"I just froze when I saw it and stood there for hours watching fire crews put it out," she said.

"There's four generations with memories here so it's pretty hard to see it finally come down."