Bengaluru: The legend of Sir Donald Bradman is religion to cricket aficionados.
In a one-of-kind initiative Andrew Leeming shared his experience of restoring Bradman’s childhood home, giving fans an opportunity to get up close with the legend’s early years.
Leeming, a passionate lover of cricket and history, grabbed the opportunity to purchase the house, 52 Shepherd Street, Bowral and took it upon himself to restore it, recreating every inch of the house where Sir Don lived between the ages of three and 16.
He ensured the essence of the house of completely restored, which included the paint on the walls and the fireplace. Leeming wanted visitors to get a glimpse into how the legend lived, how he grew up and the people he grew up with.
Speaking at the event, Leeming said, “If you really want to understand Bradman, you want to start where he grew up. You can start to appreciate how his character was formed.”
Leeming, who researched for four years and furnished the interiors of the house, insisted, “This is not a museum. There’s a lot here you can touch and feel. The idea was to create a unique cricketing and social history experience.”
There is also a library on the premises and an extensive digital archive of Australian history. In conclusion, Leeming signed off saying, “This is not a shrine or a place for hero worship. It is far more layered than that.”
