Laurel Avenue accolades keep rolling in…

IT SEEMS as if every day, delighted author Nanette Lilley, can report yet more accolades for her recently-published book, Welcome to Laurel Avenue, about Chelmer’s most famous street.

Here’s a sample from ML which really says it all…

What a delight and triumph this book about my old street is! Congratulations! It is certainly amazing and brought back so many memories.

The old photos that JB gave you are terrific. She and I played together all the time when we were little. I knew her house nearly as well as I knew my own. Some nights I still dream I am back in our house or hers, and they are such happy dreams always.

It was also great to learn so much about our house and its previous owners. It will always be a part of me. The same with the camphor laurels in the street which we used to climb and play in so often.

Your book brought all that back to me. Thank you so much for making our street seem so important. I loved living there and now your book has made it so special. What an accomplishment!

Meanwhile, selected photos from the launch are here, courtesy of Brisbane News.

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Book about Chelmer’s premier avenue, launched…

AT a convivial and summery gathering at St Lucia Golf Club, on Sunday 9 November, more than 110 guests were welcomed by Nanette Lilley, and her family and staff, in order to mark the much-anticipated debut of Nanette’s book, Welcome to Laurel Avenue.

Current and former residents, one coming from Tasmania, relished the opportunity not only to renew acquaintances, but also to make new ones. As one attendee said, “We consider ourselves long residents of the area but soon realised how few people we actually knew…”

Another responded, “I loved meeting RT at the gathering, because I had not seen him since we played together as children in Rosebery Terrace, Chelmer.”

Doing the honours was noted Brisbane historian, author, and former alderman and MLA, Denver Beanland. Nanette responded by giving an account of how the book came to be, before presenting copies to several who had played key roles in the book’s production.

Finally, Nanette was presented with a striking arrangement of orchids set within a display of camphor laurel leaves.

More details about the book are available here. Copies of Welcome to Laurel Avenue are available from Victor Scott, 399 Honour Ave, Graceville, (07) 3379 3330, as well as New Farm Editions, Merthyr Village, (07) 3254 2122.

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New book about Laurel Avenue, Chelmer

WHILE Laurel Avenue is best known for its magnificent trees, grand homes and the abundance of space, the thoroughfare once voted ‘Brisbane’s best street’ (1999), will soon have another claim to fame: Nanette Lilley’s new book, Welcome to Laurel Avenue.

Chelmer-Graceville residents will know that Nanette Lilley is a by-word in real estate, since she has matched people to local houses for more than 30 years.

The seeds of this book were planted more than a decade ago. “The historic home known as The Laurels at No. 89 came on the market, so a booklet was prepared to do justice to its interesting history,” Nanette said.

“After the sale of the home, the obvious question arose, ‘Why not expand the booklet to take in the background of more of the avenue’s homes?’”

The result is an attractive and colourful publication which offers a compelling insight into the social history of selected homes in this notable street.

Word about the book has locals excited. “Some have already pre-ordered copies as Christmas gifts, and interest is strong among previous Laurel Avenue owners, as well as current residents,” said Nanette.

Gerard Benjamin assisted with the book’s editing, design and production. Welcome to Laurel Avenue will be available from 10 November 2014.

AT a convivial and summery gathering at St Lucia Golf Club, on Sunday 9 November, more than 110 guests were welcomed by Nanette Lilley, and her family and staff, in order to mark the much-anticipated debut of Nanette’s book, Welcome to Laurel Avenue.

Current and former residents, one coming from Tasmania, relished the opportunity not only to renew acquaintances, but also to make new ones. As one attendee said, “We consider ourselves long residents of the area but soon realised how few people we actually knew…”

Another responded, “I loved meeting RT at the gathering, because I had not seen him since we played together as children in Rosebery Terrace, Chelmer.”

Doing the honours was noted Brisbane historian, author, and former alderman and MLA, Denver Beanland. Nanette responded by giving an account of how the book came to be, before presenting copies to several who had played key roles in the book’s production.

Finally, Nanette was presented with a striking arrangement of orchids set within a display of camphor laurel leaves.

More details about the book are available here. Copies of Welcome to Laurel Avenue are available from Victor Scot, 399 Honour Ave, Graceville; (07) 3379 3330.

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