Take a look inside the home of Australia's largest personal Dr Seuss collection
Marilyn Culpitt's home in Hendra is not just a dream house for entertainers – it's also home to one of the largest personal Dr Seuss collections in the country.
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom house at 28 Blaikie St was bought in 2009, and has since become home to 29 original artworks of the famous children's artist: from limited edition prints to even some of his taxidermy.
'I was in San Francisco and went into a gallery there, where I noticed a Dr Seuss print,' Ms Culpitt said. 'Having four children, I was very well aware of the Dr Seuss books, but I had no idea he was such a prolific artist.'
'[Then] I was down in Sydney one day, and happened to walk into a gallery that was displaying 'Green Eggs and Ham', and that was my first piece that I bought.'
Ms Culpitt, a renowned dance teacher in Ascot, was also a fan of artist Gerard Manion's work, and already had an array of his pieces by the time she started her new collection.
'I think my if you compare my Seuss to my Manion collection, I think my children thought I'd lost my marbles,' she said. 'There's a hidden meaning in just about every single one of [Seuss'] paintings, or his prints. But they're a lot more simplistic, very colourful, – they just are what they are. They're there to give you joy.'
Fortunately, the house had plenty of room for both collections. With four kids and 12 grandkids, Ms Culpitt's house needed to be big enough to hold everyone for regular gatherings.
'There would be very few weeks that go by that I'm not cooking for somebody,' she said.
Place Ascot agent Tanya Mitchell said she'd seen some of the events Ms Culpitt had put on, and members of her community were paying attention when her house went up for sale.
'She ran the Ascot School of Dance for decades – she's a well-known figure in the community,' she said. 'I've had people on social media respond, 'Oh, it's Marilyn's house!'.'
Ms Mitchell said Ms Culpitt had kept the home well-maintained after buying it from the builder, and the house would likely go to someone looking for a low-maintenance, executive home.
Meanwhile, Ms Culpitt, who is downsizing, said she had to deal with the fact that she can't keep everything in her collection.
'The reality is I am going to have to sadly part with them, simply because I just won't have the wall space,' she said.
'Some of the buyers that have come through already have inquired if they would come with the house,' Ms Mitchell added.
Ms Culpitt has said she was open to selling several of her artworks, and interested buyers could also make inquiries about some of them.
But there are some pieces she won't part ways with without a fight. 'Green Eggs and Ham', 'Yawning Cat', 'Ted's Cat' and 'Wisdom of the Orient Cat' are four prints she owns that she has a special attachment to, for either sentimental value or their unique and iconic designs.
'There's a whole range of them, and they're all lovely – but I suppose they're the most iconic for whatever reason, for me,' she said.
Place Ascot is currently seeking offers over $2.75 million for the home.
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