A FORMER Leeton shire police officer has recalled his memories of Yanco’s police station, which is now on the market.
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The station, which was also a residence for police officers and their families, is up-for-sale and it’s gotten many in the community talking.
Phil Gray never lived or served out of the station, but when he first came to town as an officer, he lived just a few doors down in Yanco.
He said at that time, the community was still up in arms about having lost their permanent police presence.
“I did offer to live there when we first moved to the area, but it was knocked back,” Mr Gray said.
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“I guess they didn’t want people to think they had the official police presence back because if it was approved I would have been just living there, not working there.
“It’s a great building. I think it’s really interesting to still have the cell area out the back and the little bit at the front where the officer worked from.”
Mr Gray said there were times while he was living in Yanco where people would knock on his door with police matters.
“It was a pretty interesting time,” he said. Located at 37 Main Avenue, the home still has many remnants of the former station, including the cell as Mr Gray mentioned.
The flag pole is also still located out the front.
The stationed was opened in 1923, but it was decommissioned in the 1990s.
Mr Gray recalled having to check in on the building every so often.
“For about two years we had to do regular inspections of the building,” he said. “There was paper work we packed up and sent away, I think it’s in Sydney now.”
He said it was interesting having to maintain the building and was hopeful a new owner would come along and undertake some renovations inside. Current owner Colin Croft has leased out the property since he purchased it in 2006.
The outside of the building is heritage-listed, but the inside isn’t, which means it is open to renovations and makeovers of the new owner’s choosing.
“There’s a lot of history there and it’s a good, sound building,” Mr Croft said. “That’s what drew myself and my wife to it.” An open home for the property was held on the weekend.
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