A book detailing the history of Cape Conran written by Glenys Hammond and Judy Perkins will be going on sale in the coming days.
Titled THE HOUSES – Cape Conran before 1986, the book will be available for purchase and signing on Sunday, April 13, from 3pm-4.30pm at the Marlo Hotel.
Between 1945 and 1957 a small group of Orbost farmers and their mates built 14 small shacks, known as ‘The Houses’, on Crown Land at the beach on the East Cape.
All issues and costs were shared and they had a committee of management creating rules and guidelines for everyone to live by.
The residents co-existed in total harmony, with each other and with the environment.
Through working bees, the men built a bar that served cold drinks among the banksia trees.
They also built bridges, a cellar to store the beer barrels and sourced whatever was needed for improvements including their own electricity supply.
They built a boat shed/hall which hosted New Year’s Eve parties that offered crayfish banquets at midnight, and diving for abalone and catching shark and crayfish at Cape Conran bought many new faces to the area.
In 1960 Cape Conran was reclassified as a Reserve for Public Purposes and in 1977 the residents were advised that their annual leases would not be renewed beyond 1985.
By 1986 all 14 shacks had vanished.
