It will be the end of an era for Legacy House on East Market Street, Richmond when it is auctioned on March 10.
Bought by Legacy in 1978 when it was a dentist’s rooms with residence behind, it’s dispensed clothing, assistance and love to the Hawkesbury’s war widows for almost 40 years, but it had come to the point where the cost of keeping the building was greater than the need for it.
Chair of Hawkesbury Legacy Eric Easterbrook said “as our widows have aged there are less using the facilities”.
Hawkesbury Legacy now has 180 widows to look after – 106 less than the previous year due to some passing away and others moving out of the area or into facilities where they no longer needed the help.
The sale is part of the plan by Legacy to sell off all its buildings in divisional areas, as it considered the capital would be better used providing for senior widows and the younger families now reaching out for help.
Mr Easterbrook said Richmond Club had looked at buying it but it didn’t eventuate so they will go to auction through Ray White.
“We found out today there are five major groups interested in it,” he said.
While numbers of widows have dropped recently, they are expected to build again as St John of God hospital at North Richmond has agreed to include information about Legacy’s help to veterans who go to the hospital for treatment.
He said younger families who come to Hawkesbury Legacy often still have their veteran family member with them but they are “not functioning in a way they can support their families”.
“We are paying education expenses for children in these families and giving daycare support,” he said.
He said they wanted to assure all widows and families they are currently helping that it would be business as usual, and alternative venues have been found for the groups which met weekly at the Richmond premises.
The widows’ group will now meet at Richmond RSL Sub-branch in West Market Street, the Legatees will meet at North Richmond Panthers and the Torchbearers will meet at Richmond Club.
Mr Easterbrook said they will ask the new owners of the building if they couldlease the front part for the op shop, but thought it unlikely and so they would have to forego that useful revenue stream.
Richmond huge final sale
Legacy’s massive sale to clear out the premises is on this Saturday, February 11, 9am-3pm on site at 10 East Market Street, Richmond. There will be bookcases, desks, chairs, a piano, fridges, microwaves, china, and glassware.
The metres and metres of clothing racks will be up for grabs with most well under $5. There is also fabric, dressmaking patterns, costume jewellery, books and household bric-a-brac. Torch Bearers for Legacy will hold a delicious sausage sizzle for visitors as well.
