The Walford House in Opal Street was built in 1909 for Phil Brady, Opal Buyer from White Cliffs.

The first ‘real’ house in Lightning Ridge was occupied from December. Built of corrugation and cypress pine, this house still has remnants of a canvas dividing wall. The corrugated verandah and trimmed in Federation lace of cypress was added after the first summer.

The Phil Bradys moved up to southwest Queensland, then to Sydney by 1920, where they set up opal cutting workshops in Carrington Road, Randwick. In 2009, the grandchildren live in Sydney and have thoroughly documented this building, today known as the Walford House.

Jim Field, fencer and miner from White Cliffs, and his family were resident in 1921. Mrs Field was the local midwife. Si Morris and family occupied the house by 1927, his wife was a Walgett girl and served meals to the local constabulary. Ernie Ward sold the house to Percy James about 1930. Mrs James ran it as a boarding house in the 1930s. Ward lived there until about 1961.

Mrs Veronica Cumming took in laundry when Albert Walford bought the residence in 1963. He pointed out the gap at the apex of the western gable, where a cross had fallen away. The room at the left was used for Roman Catholic services sometimes until 1947 when families met at Lorne Station. Our Lady of Fatima was built in Morilla Street, 1956.

The Walford house stands vacant and in need of a ‘facelift’ in 2009. Efforts are in motion to make it presentable – cypress window/door surrounds, verandah posts and trim and glazing in perspex – for visitors to photograph and locals to respect in this age of heritage tourism.

Updated Sept 2009 by Lightning Ridge Historical Society

Very few of these vernacular, galvanized houses remain in Lightning Ridge. A sophisticated structure for its time, its design mimics suburban houses constructed in cities across Australia during the 1920s. Definitely at risk. More information on the property would be most welcome. Please contact the website.