71 Through Street

South Grafton NSW 2460

Clarence House at 71 Through St South Grafton was built by Dr Earle Page and formed part of his medical precinct on the bank of the Clarence river along Through St with adjoining nurses quarters and other facilities at Glenden which still stands opposite.

Opening in 1904, Dr Page assisted by his wife Ethel, a former matron of Manly Hospital was able to make available, never before seen city style facilities with X Ray machines, ambulances and medical and surgical procedures becoming available across a wide area of northern NSW.

Clarence House made medical history when Dr Earle Page (later Sir Earle Page) conducted the first cancer operation outside Sydney and introduced modern medical practices in his quest to provide the most up to date medical services for his regional patients despite the then skepticism and opposition from the local medical fraternity. The building would later be utilised as a maternity hospital for many years before ceasing operation and being converted into four residential units in the 1940's.

On entering federal Parliament in 1919 as the member for Cowper, Dr Earle Page did not ever lose his commitment to rural people and to medicine and science initiating the CSIRO (then known as the CSIR) when federal Treasurer (1923 to 1929) and expanded the pharmaceutical benefits scheme and introduced private health insurance in 1956 as Minister for Health, two of the three tranches of todays universal medical coverage for all Australians.

Earle Page was Leader of the Country Party (now known as the National's Party) from 1921 to 1939, being Deputy Prime Minister in the Bruce Page government from 1923 1929 and Lyons Page government 1934 to 1939 and Caretaker Prime Minister and the 11th PM on the death of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons in 1939.

Needless to say, this property is of vast historical and architectural value not just to our local community but state and national levels as well. Earle Page was arguably one of the most significant individuals in Grafton's rich history.

As the building currently stands, 71 Through Street presently operates as four residential units, fully occupied. Rental returns are as follows;

Unit 1 - $150 per week - Single bedroom and bathroom.
Unit 2 - $160 per week - Single bedroom and bathroom.
Unit 3 - $160 per week - Two bedrooms and one bathroom.
Unit 4 - $160 per week - Two bedrooms and one bathroom.

A combined gross weekly return of $630 per week. You could also undertake some improvements inside and make your investment work better for you financially. The opportunity is certainly there.

The continuation of this imposing heritage building with its wrought iron verandahs and Clarence river views, as either four flats or as a beautiful historic home is awaiting a new owner and inheritor of its unique history.

For further details or to arrange your inspection contact Tyler Marsh 0487 422 229.