These beauties were all listed in The Canberra Times of May 21, 1975.

OLD NORTHSIDE $29,500: Situated in a very quiet cul-de-sac and only a short few minutes from Civic. This three-bedroom ex-Govt home is carpeted throughout and has gas heating. The large backyard has a fish pond and patio and is very private and well established. A carport is also included.

SOUTHSIDE $32,900: Privately built three-bedroom home. Two with built-ins. Large L-shape lounge room. Modern kitchen with wall oven and hot plates. Oil heating, and polished hardwood floors throughout. Fully established gardens with good views back to the City. An extra is a wine cellar with internal access. Your inspection is invited. Phone for appointment.

CLOSE TO GOLF COURSE $36,950: A very attractive three-bedroom home of approximately 16 squares living area, plus garage and spare room under. Big lounge room separate dining room; beautiful kitchen with breakfast bar and pantry. Wall-to-wall carpets, drapes and curtains are all in new condition and the home is in excellent condition throughout. Grounds are fully established.

HACKETT HEIGHTS $47,500: Four-bedroom home with en suite, plenty of built-ins in bedrooms. Big lounge room, good-sized separate dining room. Oil heater and wall-to-wall carpet throughout. Very nicely tiled bathroom and en suite. The large block backs on to parkland. Tandem garage and carport, are included in the purchase price.

HAWKER – 5 BEDROOMS $66,000: Very nice property that is almost complete and featuring five bedrooms, built-in robes, en suite, large lounge, separate dining room, spacious kitchen family room, split-level home, courtyard with two large gum trees on the block, close to shops, schools and public transport.

SPANISH $53,000: 26 squares of glorious living, the home comprises four bedrooms, three with robes, en suite. spacious lounge with timber feature wall, separate dining room, modern kitchen family room with wall oven, hotplates, breakfast bar. timber feature shelves. Private courtyard with a double garage. This home has recently been completed and is well worth your inspection.

COUNTRY FREEDOM $28,000: Delightful 40-acre block with excellent home site only 20 minutes from Civic. Sealed road access and electricity available for connection. Beaut opportunity to establish a hobby farm or retirement property.

The reference to oil heating in the Southside Home may throw some younger readers who don't recall those heady days in the 1960s and early 1970s when it was actually viable to use a distilled petroleum product to heat your home. The oil-burning heaters produced a wonderful level of warmth and relied on large external tanks that were topped up by the fuel company on request.

I recall renting a home in Beechworth in Victoria, one of the colder parts of this country, fitted with such a heater in the mid-1980s and quickly used up the half tank of fuel that had been left behind by the previous tenant.

Sticker shock hit hard when, a few weeks into my tenancy, I rang up and asked what it would cost to refill the tank. The estimate, for enough fuel to last a month, came close to half what I was making per month at the time.

That was a long, cold winter.