On Eighth Street 6
There are five houses but only three
claim a numbered Eighth Street address,
the two at the top opting for Main Street status.
That leaves numbers two, three and four.
There is no number one. Very egalitarian.
Once in Eighth Street there is no way out.
No forward way at least. Go straight on
and you’ll plunge into Doctor’s Gully.
So turn into a driveway at three or four
if you’ve gone as far as the grass verge.
In number two behind the old post office
Laurie remembers when Hepburn houses
had no numbers, only names.
So he would have delivered mail
to Perini House, now number four.
Swiss Italian born Vincenzo Perini
first appeared in the Hepburn region
in the 1850s as a miner, later victualler
to gold seekers, vineyard planter,
publican, guest house proprietor,
and significantly, the first
Caretaker of Mineral Springs.
Vincenzo pegged out in 1915
after fathering thirteen kids
with his wife Anastasia.
The last born was Great War veteran
Bill Perini who had the house built
in 1950 and planted poplars, beeches
and just below the rock pillar letter box,
a massive Turkey Oak.
Local legend has it that the tree
sprung from an acorn Bill brought
back from Gallipoli. In autumn
it is an Eighth Street wonder
and its acorns are numberless.
bw
20.9.23
24.10.23
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