Some places hold stories long after the families who once lived in them have moved on. Mandalay Guild House (MGH) is one such place. Today, it stands as a cherished gathering space for NUSS members, but its history stretches back decades to a time when it was a family home filled with life and memories.
The Oehlers Family Home
In the early 1950s, Mandalay Guild House was home to members of the Oehlers family, particularly Elizabeth and Eileen Oehlers. The sisters grew up amid its spacious rooms, airy verandas, and lush gardens – spaces that encouraged both play and togetherness.
Family recollections paint a vivid picture of everyday life: meals prepared downstairs and sent up in tiffin carriers, children playing in the garden, and afternoons spent on badminton games or rounds of hide-and-seek. The house was more than a place to live – it was a setting for growing up, shaped by the rhythms, warmth, and closeness of family life.
Relatives like John Oehlers (son of George Oehlers) and Mark Stevens, their grand-nephew, cherish these stories, passed down through the family and retold across generations. Though they did not live in the house themselves, their recollections help keep its spirit alive. For them, the house represents more than bricks and mortar – it embodies the warmth, vitality, and shared experiences that shaped the Oehlers family history.
Preserving Heritage for Today’s Members
When Mandalay House became a NUSS Guild House, its essence as a place of warmth and gathering lived on, even as it was adapted for a new purpose. Once a family home, it now welcomes a broader family — generations of graduates who come here to dine, celebrate, and build connections that echo the house’s earlier days.
For the Oehlers family, seeing the house continue as a space of community brings a comforting sense of continuity. As Mark shared, “It’s nice that graduates can come here – the house is alive again, in a different way.” In a city where many historic homes have gradually disappeared amid urbanisation, Mandalay Guild House stands as a reminder that heritage is not only about structures – but about memories, people, and the connections that endure over time.
Relive the Oehlers family’s stories and experience Mandalay Guild House through their eyes. Watch the full video on YouTube here.
