More than five decades under the same roof

Apart from three years in her twenties, 67-year-old Thelma Booth has lived in the same house she moved into when she was just 10.

She's even brought up her three daughters in the house, which makes her one of the State's longest-term public tenants.

Her mum Clara and dad Alfred were the second tenants to move into the Searles' Housing Commission estate in Toowoomba on 26 August 1947.

Her dad and brother Lawrence were safely back from World War II and happy to be moving into a new home.

Building materials were scarce though and Thelma recalls the “yucky brown colour” the house had been painted in. She also remembers having to venture out to the outside toilet – a scary experience for a 10-year-old.

Despite the outhouse being long gone, some things haven't changed - Thelma still sleeps in the same room she did as a little girl. “I remember the sound of the rattling old louvres as the westerly winds whistled through,” she said.

The house has had a facelift in the last few years though with a driveway, carport and back deck added.

“They've done such a good job – it's really improved the look of it.”