Modern home filled with treasures
BY ALEX TIGANI
When visiting Arcadia Ridge on Muswellbrook’s Ironbark Road we stumbled across a treasure which was simply filled with treasures.
Home of Upper Hunter Motoring Association members Steve and Paula Adnum, and daughter Karen, one feature stood out as the sun made its return to the region on Monday morning.
The Adnum’s iconic 1932 Ford Tudor was proudly parked in the front driveway.
Though it was purposely displayed for our visit, there was a heightened sense of excitement displayed by each driver passing by on Monday morning.
“It was built as a show car around 2006 and 2007 and we’re the fourth owners of it,” Steve explained.
“It was built left hand drive to take to America but it never went there.
“We have changed a few things on it, had the extra pin stripping put on the back of it.”
The car made headlines a week earlier when claiming the Car of the Day title at Tamworth’s Rods on the Peel event held at the Austin Tourist Park.
“We have been up to Tamworth in it, down to Wyong and Newcastle,” he added.
“Three of us (couples) went up, all each had Hot Rods and ours finished fifth overall.”
For Steve and Paula, who first met as Muswellbrook High School students in 1974 before marrying in 1979, cars have been their second love for as long as they can remember.
They are even members of the Phoenix Hot Rod Club in Newcastle.
Therefore when they came across this new home, which featured a 12x7m shed to cater for their other treasures including their HQ panel van and 1949 Austin A40 Devan, they had found their new home.
“There’s still plenty of work to do,” Paula insisted as she surveyed the front yard.
“We moved in on Easter Saturday and we have two water features. One is manmade, that fountain, and the other was natural,” Steve playfully added.
When asked if the walls of their new home could speak, modesty remained the theme.
“It has seen a lot of people in there in our first year,” Paula said.
“We’re hoping to get it how we want it,” Steve concluded.
“Car is probably the same.”
As we bid farewell, Steve set south down the street in his prize-winning vehicle.
The modern road itself enjoys a country lifestyle with the convenience of town living.