TheFuturoHouse.com | Latest Site News & Updates
- Location | High Wycombe, Perth, Western Australia, Australia (Vicinity Only - Exact Location Withheld)
- Lat/Long | Exact Location Withheld
- Previous Location | Collier Home Expo & Glennon Park (at the intersection of Karel Avenue and Leach Highway)
- Previous Lat/Long | Unknown
- Image By Peter | 110217
- Google Maps | 110317
- Latest Confirmation | 110722
Information Update History
Over the years we have heard many folks express a wish for someone to renovate this Futuro. We understand that and feel the same way but at the same time we also know what an incredibly expensive proposition that can be and not everyone is in the position to undertake such a project. Indeed we have had several opportunities to get our hands on a Futuro since first becoming interested in them but the cost of acquisition, transport and renovation has ultimately led us to shy away from such a purchase no matter how much the "heart" wanted to go ahead.
All of that said we are pleased to report that an attempt is being made to raise funds to do work on this Futuro. A "gofundme" has been started and we encourage everyone who has ever asked that this Futuro get some attention check it out and, if you are able, make some sort of contribution. The fundraiser can be found
here and a Facebook page, good to follow for updates, can be found
here.
Shortly following the previous update we were contacted by Anthony Tran who visited the site at 32°09'13.2"S 115°46'31.6"E. Anthony sent us photographs which clearly showed a disassembled Futuro.
However based on the known history and in particular the known locations on specific dates of the various Futuros in Australia along with some information we think it right not to share at this time we are now certain this unit is not the High Wycombe unit, that unit remains at the same location. In fact we have concluded that this is the unit previously located in
Lorne which will at some point be restored and reassembled at a new location.
In a comment on a recent Reddit post titled "
I miss the Futuro House that used to be on the corner of Leach and Karel" it was suggested that this Futuro was located at 32°09'13.2"S 115°46'31.6"E and there are certainly objects that appear similar to Futuro shell segments at that location as of 111318 (dated by Google Earth satellite imagery).
We however have our doubts as to whether the object(s) visible at the location are even a Futuro and, furthermore, if they are we doubt that the Futuro is this one.
The objects seen in the satellite imagery do at first glance appear to be very like the shell segments of a Futuro. However when looked at more closely we find several reasons to doubt that what is seen is a Futuro.
- Not all of the objects appear to be the same size
- The objects appear to have an angular component rather than the smooth ellipsoidal section of Futuro segments
- None of the objects appear to have windows
The satellite imagery when at high zoom, as seen below;
is not the clearest so we cannot be 100% sure about any of the above (and in addition the "ruler" tool in Google Earth is not exact so we could be wrong about the size differences) but on balance we do not believe we are seeing the segments of a Futuro at this location. That said we could easily be wrong and we would love to hear from you if you are able to confirm this is a Futuro (and if so maybe even share photos); if you are able to help please
let us know.
Now, if we assume for a moment that we are actually seeing a Futuro is it the one referenced in the Reddit post that was previously located at Leach & Karel?
We know with 100% certainty that that unit was located in High Wycombe in November 2017 and had been there for several years; the Futuro
was photographed at that time and its location pinpointed in Google Maps. Furthermore Google Earth historical satellite imagery confirms it had been there for many years and was still there as late 111318.
The Henderson location and the objects seen there can be seen in Google Earth from sometime in 2016 (perhaps earlier but imagery becomes increasingly unclear as you back to older imagery in Google Earth) through 111318. Interestingly both locations show the objects on 111318 which to us conclusively proves that they are not the same objects; Futuros are awesome but even a Futuro cannot be in two places at once.
So, our opinion, not a Futuro and, if it was, not the one previously located at Leach & Karel. Love to hear from you with opinions or additional information; just
let us know.
This past week we received an interesting email from Peter in which he confirmed that this disassembled Futuro is still in a High Wycombe back yard.
Owner Luke had allowed Peter to photograph the Futuro sections and he also agreed to those photos being forwarded to us to be added to this website. In his email Peter told us Luke had indicated that his father had purchased the Futuro with the intention of restoring it but sadly passed away before having the chance to do so. Luke himself is passionate about restoring the Futuro at some point.
Peter's photos can be found below. Our thanks to Luke and Peter for sharing.
One thing we have learned over the last several years of building and maintaining this website is that despite our best efforts sometimes we get it wrong and that has turned out to be the case regarding the early locations of this Futuro.
Based on all of the information and photos we have been able to gather we had concluded, despite some reports that it moved only once, that this Futuro had likely moved from its original location to the intersection of Karel Avenue and Leach Highway and then again to Glennon Park.
This week we received an email from Robert Whyte who lived in Willeton for many years. Robert wrote:
"
It was only moved the once to the little green triangular Park on the corner of Karel Avenue and Leach Highway ..."
The mention of the park on the corner of Karel Avenue and Leach Highway finally prompted us to "put 2 and 2 together" as we should have done quite some time ago and recognize that Karel Avenue and Leach Highway and Glennon Park were in fact one and the same location. A quick search returned several sites that confirmed this (one example can be found
here).
So, to correct our earlier "history", this Futuro was originally located at the Collier Home Expo and then moved to Glennon Park at the intersection of Karel Avenue and Leach Highway. After Glennon Park the details remain as recounted previously on this page.
Our thanks to Robert who caused our brains to start to function again!
Facebook hosts many pages where local groups gather together and preserve history and recollections of bygone times in their area. One such page is the
Lost Perth page and on
081014 we added the photo above left, found on the Lost Perth page, to this page.
Several of you indicated to us at the time that it looked photoshopped but, given where it came from and the absence of comments suggesting this from "the locals" we concluded that it most likely showed a previously undocumented past location for this Futuro. As are we all we are prone to make mistakes from time to time and it is now clear to us that such was the case here.
Being the highly observant human beings we are (OK - we lie) we failed to notice the comment accompanying the photo which reads:
"
Wouldn't it be great to see it back where we remember it?"
That comment of course clearly suggests the photo is a "creation" and it also explains the lack of comments suggesting that such is the case; obviously those who frequent the Lost Perth page are more observant than we are!
Our thanks to Blocker who sent us an email pointing out this comment. In the same email he also suggested that a Facebook search for the phrase "Lost Perth Spaceship" might yield some interesting results. It certainly did and below there are several photos from the Lost Perth page relating to this Futuro that we have missed in the past. Our thanks to everyone over at Lost Perth for keeping "their own" Futuros memory alive and kicking and for providing the forum for all those who shared their photos and recollections (Lost Perth, Lou James, Lesley Thompson to name a few)
This first photo from Lou James shows the Futuro in its original location; it is actually a very similar photo to the photos featured further down this page from the State Library Of Western Australia (the original facebook post can be found
here).
This very cool aerial photograph clearly shows the Futuro in its original location (the original facebook post can be found
here).
These next two photos show the Futuro later in life most likely at the Glennon Park and Leach Highway/Karel Avenue locations respectively (the original facebook posts can be found
here and
here).
This is another wonderful old aerial shot this time showing the Futuro during its time at the Leach Highway/Karel Avenue location (the original facebook post can be found
here).
Finally we have a photo shared by Lesley Thompson which shows some old drawings and a press clipping. Hard to make out any detail but very interesting nonetheless (the original facebook post can be found
here).
We recently came across the photo below on the
Lost Perth Facebook Page which appears to be a photo of this Futuro at a different location than that depicted in all the other photos we have seen of this Futuro.
Almost all of the photos of this Futuro depict it at its original "lake" location and there is little doubt that it started out life there. After that there are various locations mentioned; Karel Avenue and Leach Highway, Aspley Road and Glennon Park. Mention of these locations comes from various sources and the sequence is unclear. Furthermore we cannot quite figure out if the original "lake" location was one of the aforementioned three locations (we have seen references that suggest it was Aspley Road and others that suggest it was Karel Avenue and Leach Highway).
Despite the sometimes conflicting and confusing references what is clear to us is that there were at least three locations based on the photographic evidence. The original "lake" location is illustrated in almost all of the photos we have come across. The other two can be seen in the new photo below and this
State Library Of Western Australia photograph. These two photos, to us at least, show clearly distinct and different locations.
We believe the "new" Lost Perth Facebook Page photo shows the Futuro as it was in Glennon Park (based on nothing more than the fact that it "looks" like a park).
The plaque illustrated below indicates that from Glennon Park the Futuro was donated to the Barking Gecko Theater Company in 1996 and we believe from there it eventually ended up in its current storage location. This suggests that the 1975
State Library Of Western Australia photograph (described as being "Willeton") depicts a location at which the Futuro was located sometime between its original location and its being moved to Glennon Park; we cannot be certain whether this location was Aspley Road or Karel Avenue and Leach Highway.
However, based on everything we have seen, we think the most likely history of this unit is that it started out at the "lake" location (which we believe is the location described as Aspley Road). It was then moved to Karel Avenue and Leach Highway (shown in the
State Library Of Western Australia photo) and later to Glennon Park (shown in the "new" Lost Perth Facebook Page photo below). Based on the
The plaque it was then donated to the Barking Gecko Theater Company and finally came into the possession of the current owner.
As always if you are able to clarify or correct please
let us know.
This very cool photo of this Futuro at its original location shot from the other building that was constructed on the lake was taken by Adrian Butcher's late mother Joan Butcher. The photo is actually a scan from a 35mm slide which Adrian still has.
In a
112413 Post on the
Lost Perth Facebook page Catherine Cornish Prins shared this photograph; the only one we have seen of the interior of this Futuro back in its Willeton days.
Stu, who authors the blog
Yelpar referenced a couple of times on this page, was kind enough to send us these two photographs of the Futuro as it lies in the back yard in High Wycombe. The pictures are undated.
The photod below are displayed with the permission of the
State Library Of Western Australia. The first shows the Futuro as it appeared 090975 in Willeton. The remaining are shots of the Futuro at its original location.
We still cannot quite seem to get our heads around exactly what the sequence of locations was in the early days for this Futuro; though much information is in accord there also seems to be a little conflicting evidence and commentary; in particular about the dates.
The Plaque shown below indicates the Futuro was erected in 1971 and used to advertise the new sub-division of Burrendah. Then in 1971 the unit was moved from this location (Aspley Road?) to Glennon Park.
Judy Carroll in her post on the
Bring Back The Leach Hwy/Karel Ave Spaceship Facebook Page (Dead - see pdf
here) tells us that in 1970:
"
It was set over a lake and open on the weekend for inspection. The building behind it was the sales office and the company responsible was Development Underwriting"
and Judy goes on to tell us that:
"
After the estate was fully sold the "spaceship" was moved to it's last location on Leach Highway."
Judy also tells us that she was the land sales secretary and responsible for furnishing (with accessories) the Futuro home so her information is based on personal experience which, in our opinion, gives it a great deal of credibility.
The notes that accompany the
State Library Of Western Australia photos seen above read as follows:
"
Futuro House was designed by the Finnish architect, Matti Suuronen in 1968. Ninety six of these plastic spaceship houses were built around the world. The houses were almost 9 metres wide and 3.6 metres high inside. It contained one bedroom, a bathroom, living room complete with fireplace, dining room, kitchen and retractable stairs for easy access to the house. The Futuro House was in Perth as part of the Collier Home Expo. It was built near Karel Avenue and Leach Highway as part of the sales office for the new Burrendah Estate (now Willetton)."
All but one of those images is of the Futuro located adjacent to a lake which would suggest the location was the original one referenced by Judy Carroll but they are dated 1972; the plaque on the other hand suggests the unit was moved from this site in 1971.
Taking all of the various pieces of evidence and after checking out the various locations referred to in Google Maps/Google Earth it seems to us that the photographs dated 1972 are definitely of the unit at its original location. Whether it was erected there in 1970 or 1971 remains unclear.
In 1972 (sorry Judy I know you said 1971 but it was over 40 years ago and the photographs are well documented with original notes on the negative envelopes) it was moved to its second location as shown in the 1975 photograph. Which was of these was Glennon Park, Karel/Leach or Aspley Road we are still not sure (we cannot find Glennon Park and there does not appear to be a lake at Karel/Leach or on Aspley Road; at least not any more) though it seems likely that Aspley Road was the original location and that Karel/Leach was the second; either could have been Glennon Park though we tend to think that was Karel/Leach.
If anyone can clarify please
let us know.
The Australian TV show
Today Tonight: 7 Perth aired a feature on this Futuro 082113. A "teaser" video for the show can be found on the
Lost Perth Facebook Page. In the short video we hear that the Futuro is still located in a back yard and the background to some of the footage suggests it remains in a disassembled state.
We have not been able to find video of the feature online as yet; perhaps it will appear on YouTube - there is a
Today Tonight YouTube Channel. We have also contacted the station to see if there is any way to get either a transcript or a video. In the meantime if anyone saw this or knows where the video might be available please
let us know.
The page
Lost Perth is a cool Facebook Reference page where people can post information and photos related to the history of Perth.
Adrian Butcher recently posted the great photo below showing this Futuro at its original location.
The image below is of a plaque commemorating the Futuro that dates this unit as being on various sites in Willeton from 1971 until 1996 when the trail seems to grow a little colder. The image of the plaque is from the
Bring Back The Leach Hwy/Karel Ave Spaceship Facebook Page (Dead - see pdf
here) and was posted by Geoff Vivian.
In that same group Judy Carroll provides some interesting historical commentary based on her personal recollections:
"Futuro Home - Burren-Dah Estate 1970. The "spaceship" was brought over from NSW on a truck. It was set over a lake and open on the weekend for inspection. The building behind it was the sales office and the company responsible was Development Underwriting. I was the land sales secretary and responsible for furnishing (with accessories) the Futuro home. All the other furniture was built in - ent...irely made of fibreglass. We would have hundreds of people through the home on a weekend and I'm still looking for the person who stole the plastic grapes out of the bowl!! After the estate was fully sold the "spaceship" was moved to it's last location on Leach Highway. The last I heard it was looking very sad stored in some warehouse somewhere......I would love to see it restored to it's former glory."
Though it is the far side of the planet for us we do hope the group is successful; every Futuro deserves to be looked after and above all else "seen". If you happen to be from around Willeton why not hook up with the group; you never know - with enough support anything is possible.
Original Information 071512
On a first run through the various reports and websites that discuss this Futuro it seems like it could be included in the list of confirmed Futuros or placed in either the "lost" or "
demolished" categories; there are articles online that would support any of those classifications. However when all of the various reports are assessed and then weighted based on reliability (and yes that is our opinion of reliability) we are forced to conclude that this should be classified as a confirmed Futuro that is currently located in a back yard somewhere in
High Wycombe,
Perth,
Australia. If you know differently
let us know.
What appears to be the best information on the Futuro is posted in the Facebook Group
Bring Back The Leach Hwy/Karel Ave Spaceship (Dead - see pdf
here). In particular a comment there by Geoff Vivian includes the text of an article he authored which was published in the
Canning Examiner, a local newspaper, 251108. In that article Vivian reports:
- Property Development company DUL originally used the Futuro as a sales office in 1971.
- The Futuro was located on the Leach Highway/Karel Avenue site for some 25 years.
- The Futuro was removed by the local council in 1996. The removal was precipitated by a vandalism incident when a fire was lit inside the Futuro.
- The Futuro is currently located in the back yard of a home in High Wycombe.
- The current owner has started some restoration work and has indicated it will need very extensive work (articles elsewhere suggest the Futuro is currently in a disassembled state).
In 2010 the Futuro was offered for sale by the current owner in a local newspaper ad. The text of the add went like this: (a scan of the ad can be found
here)
"SPACESHIP from Willeton, cnr Leach Highway & Karel Ave, approx 6m dia, needs f/glass repairs $10,000. High Wycombe."
There is no evidence we have been able to find to suggest that a sale has been made and the assumption is the Futuro has not moved and may well be still for sale.
This Furturo has not only been the subject of many internet articles but it has also made a couple of less typical mentions including:
- Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton, members of the band Jebediah, used an image of the Futuro on the cover of their first album "Slightly Odway".
- Ethan Marrell made a slightly "Tongue in Cheek" film "The Willeton UFO Conspiracy Theory" in 2002 which explored the "conspiracy" behind the disappearance of the Futuro from the Leach Highway/Karel Avenue site. Interestingly our two Jebediah members Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton appeared in Marrell's film. The video can be found below.
It seems the Futuro is garnering a great deal of interest in the local community and the Facebook Group
Bring Back The Leach Hwy/Karel Ave Spaceship (Dead - see pdf
here) is spearheading an effort to get the Futuro restored to it's former glory and location. We wish them well in their quest.
This photo from 1972 is displayed here with the permission of the
State Library Of Western Australia. The image accompanies a 021409 post in the
Skyscraper City Forums which includes a little commentary.
we believe this shows the Futuro at it's original location. There is a suggestion it was at one time located on the corner of
Burren Gate and Apsley Rd (Facebook comment by
Jodie Porter) before it was moved to the
Leach Highway/Karel Avenue site where it spent some 25 years. Jodie Porter was unsure about the actual location and a look at Google maps for the intersection of
Burren Gate and Apsley Rd does not show any water or lake in the area that could match the images above so maybe it was at that location at some point maybe not - we cannot be sure.
This image was also
Skyscraper City Forums post mentioned above. It was is clearly not taken at the "original" location as seen above and we believe this is a shot of the Futuro as it was at the
Leach Highway/Karel Avenue site. This is a very low res image so apolgies for the grainy appearance.
Finally, as mentioned above, here is the Ethan Marrell video, "The Willeton UFO Conspiracy Theory"
None currently known.
Personal correspondence 110722.