On the 21st December 2001, the top floor of
nethouseII (aka netmansion) was gutted by fire. 

A wake/party was held on 5th January 2002.
Thankyou to all who attended. 

nethouse had existed since 20 February 1996.
Founded by Neil Symons, Matthew Hawkins, and Ben Trinder.

Survived by Steven Johnson, Vaughan Barry, Matthew Mayoh,
Zeb Holt, Brendon Smith, Connor and Beth.
(and of course, all other ex-residents)

A Eulogy

Nethouse, otherwise known as 2 Nanson Place, Florey, burned yesterday. The fire started at 3 in the afternoon in an upstairs bedroom left of the landing. It is believed an electrical fault started the fire, which spread to the roof that then collapsed, eventually consuming the wooden structure of the entire top floor. This was where the residents bedrooms were, and nearly all of their personal belongings.
Only one of the residents has family in Canberra, and he was also the one resident with a downstairs bedroom, so all of his belongings survived. None of the residents were injured.
My good friend Steve Johnston has lost everything he owned. At the age of 29, he has nothing but the clothes on his back and a few Christmas presents for people that he hadn't taken up to his room. He is now staying with us until the real estate agent the house was leased from find interim accommodation.

Nethouse was a welcoming place from the moment you stepped through the front door into the entry hall (complete with pool table). I always felt at home there, which I had never felt anywhere else. When I lost my job and had no money and really nowhere to stay, the residents let me stay on rent free until I could pay them a minimal contribution. I am forever indebted to them, and to the house, for the kindness showed me when I needed it. The house and its residents gave me a home during what was the most troubled and difficult time of my life so far. And that was only a fraction of its nearly 6-year history.

Many people have memories of Nethouse being a party house, always a mess, with an endless supply of Coke, and of the welcoming feeling I experienced from when I first came to the house. The death of Nethouse is a pivotal moment in so many lives, and in so many personal histories.

So I close with some lines from Talkin' Canberra, that I wrote just before Nemo and I moved out three months ago. I think they fit.

 This place I live, its a bit of a dive
 I really don't know how I survive
 With a geek, a frat boy, an actor and a bloke
 And two others and a fridge full of coke.
 Its not so bad if you don't mind the mess
 And the coke and the computers and the people I guess ...
 So see you later house of Net, I don't think I'm ever gonna forget...

So long and farewell, Nethouse. It was a blast.

Terri Warner, 22.December.2001

nethouse version log