Email: cathy.jones@optusnet.com.au
Australia & China: a brief glimpse – lecture Sat 7 November 2009
02/11/2009
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The next general meeting of the Strathfield District Historical Society will be held on Saturday 7 November 2009 commencing at 1pm. The speaker is David Mittelheuser who will be giving a powerpoint presentation entitled Australia and China; a brief glimpse. David has spent a considerable amount of time in China advising them on waterways etc and is a very informative and entertaining speaker. Afternoon will be served. Entry is free. Please bring along guests.
‘Lowe’ is the new ‘Reid’
25/10/2009
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Further to the post on proposed changes to Federal electorates, the Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed that the seat of Reid, which currently includes suburbs of Lidcombe, Auburn and Granville, will be abolished. However, the seat of Lowe will be renamed Reid. Reid is named for Sir George Reid, a former Prime Minister. The proposal to name a seat McMahon has been changed. The electorate Prospect will be renamed McMahon.
Lucy Stone OAM – obituary
01/10/2009
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Lucy Stone with then Mayor, Rod Rimes at the 1985 Strathfield Centennary
We have received the news that Lucy Stone OAM passed away last weekend. Lucy was the former Secretary of Strathfield District Historical Society, which was one of her many community and charitable contributions. Lucy was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1991 for her service to the Girl Guides Association of Australia.
From 1991 to 2002, Lucy Stone was the primary researcher and contributor to the Society’s newsletter, a difficult task she performed for over a decade as well as fulfilling all the administrative demands of her role as Secretary. Her outstanding contribution to the Society was recognised in December 2002 with the award of Life Membership of the Strathfield District Historical Society. Lucy moved from Strathfield to Cairns in 2002 to be closer to members of her family, however her many friends in Strathfield will remember the large contribution she made to community life and be saddened to hear of her death.
At the church service on Sunday 18 October at 9.30pm at the Uniting Church, Carrington Avenue, Strathfield “Lucy’s lifelong contribution to church and community will be remembered and honoured.” Anyone interested is invited to attend.
Bus Routes Axed in Strathfield and Homebush
27/09/2009
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The Alternative?
Many members of the Society are concerned about the proposed cuts in local bus services in Strathfield and Homebush. This will cause significant problems, especially for older residents and students who rely on these buses to travel to school, shops, medical services and railway stations.
Sydney Buses have proposed combining the 407 and 408 bus services, which will result in a substantial reduction of available services in Strathfield and Homebush. The new “408″ will follow the railway between Flemington and Burwood (bypassing Homebush Station and Shops), but will not be travelling throughout most of Strathfield and Homebush. Most of Strathfield between Barker Road and Liverpool Road will be without a bus service travelling west-east or one that goes to Burwood, which is supposed to one of the Inner West’s regional centres.
Therefore, the only way for many people, particularly elderly people, to access shopping centres in Strathfield and Burwood is to walk or access a vehicle. Much less the students trying to get to schools such as Santa Sabina or Australian Catholic University. This is unacceptable and have a terrible impact on local residents.
There are links to information below as well as the opportunity to submit comments on the proposal.
Click here for a map of the new routes
Click here for the proposal
Click here to have your say
Strathfield Spring Fair
23/09/2009
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The Strathfield District Historical Society will have a stall at the Strathfield Spring Fair on Sunday 27 September 2009. The Fair is held at Strathfield Park from 9am to 4pm. The stall will provide information and handouts on Strathfield’s history as well as photo displays. For more information on the Fair, go to www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au
Marrickville National Trust Walking Tour
15/09/2009
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The National Trust After Hours Committee have organised a guided walk around Marrickville this Sunday 20 September 2009. The walk commences 1.00pm for 1.30pm start and will include afternoon tea and some Wurlitzer organ excerpts finishing about 4.30pm. You can pay on the day $30.00 per person includes afternoon tea and organ excerpts. Please contact Tony Bastow on 0404 292 208 before Sunday for catering purposes.
Origin of Shortland Avenue Strathfield
13/09/2009
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Shortland Avenue Strathfield c.1930s, Strathfield District Historical Society Collection
Shortland Avenue Strathfield is a long street, which developed in stages as land was released. Different sections this street have had previous names. Elsie St and Allan St were combined and renamed Shortland Avenue in 1939, ter Percy Shortland – a former Alderman, Mayor and Judge.
All of Shortland Avenue is built on the land acquired by Joseph Hyde Potts, Secretary of Bank of NSW, in 1841. As ownership of this land was kept in the Potts family until the 1920s, many of the streets are named for members of the family such as Edgar St, Fraser Street and Howard St.
The earliest section of Shortland Avenue (formerly Elsie Street) commenced at the intersection of Mackenzie St [formerly Coventry Rd] and Dickson St. There are two Victorian homes, ‘Ellesmere’ and ‘Albermarle’ still in existance from this period. In 1922, part of this street was subdivided as the ‘Hydebrae Estate’, creating residential lots on Merley Road, Hydebrae St and Elsie Street. The land releases described below move from east to west.
The next stage of this street was the subdivision of land in the ‘Gowan Brae Estate’, which was subdivided offered for sale c.1925. Most buildings in this section were built from the late 1930’s.
The next land release is the ‘Crown of Strathfield’ Estate, which was subdivided into 156 lots by surveyor L A Curtis of Castlereagh St Sydney and offered for sale in 1923 by auctioneer H W Horning & Co Ltd. Kessell Reserve was created with this estate subdivision. Despite this estate being offered for sale in 1923, building on the Estate was slow due to the economic depression of the early 1930’s. Most buildings are built from the late 1930’s.
The next section of Shortland Avenue was formerly called Allan St. It was part of the Flemington Heights Estate. Most development occurred on this estate from the late 1920’s.
Allan St west ie from Pemberton Rd to Mitchell Rd, known as Flemington Heights 2nd Subdivision, was formerly owned by the War Service Homes Commissioner. Approvals for buildings in this section commence in the 1920’s.
Arnott’s family homes in Strathfield
23/08/2009
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In response to an inquiry regarding homes in Strathfield of the Arnott biscuit family.
Former home of Harold Arnott
William Arnott [1827-1901] founded Arnott’s Biscuits near Newcastle NSW and later Arnott’s headquarters were moved to Homebush NSW. Arnott married Monica Sinclair, who died in 1865 and later Margaret Fleming who died in 1902. He had children by both his wives and descendents of both his families lived in Strathfield and most appear to be involved with the running of Arnott’s Biscuits. The following homes were occupied by members of the Arnott family and are still standing:
- ‘Arnottholme’ 65-67 Albert Road Strathfield. Home of William Arnott and his wife Margaret. William died at this house in 1901 and Margaret died in 1902.
- ‘Balnagowan’ 15-17 Wakeford Road Strathfield. Home of Walter Esmond Arnott [1879-1955], grandson of William Arnott. Walter, or Wally as he is often called, built ‘Balnagowan’ in 1915 and lived there until his death in 1955.
- ‘Brockby Lodge’ 123 Homebush Road Strathfield. Home of Harold Arnott [1888-?], grandson of William Arnott. ‘Brockby Lodge’ was built in 1923.
- 141 Homebush Road Strathfield. Former home of Terrence Harold Arnott born 1914, son of Harold Arnott.
- ‘Wawona’ at 96 Albyn Rd [cnr Chalmers Rd] Strathfield. Former home of Percival Sinclair Arnott [1889-1950], grandson of William Arnott. ‘Wawona’ [sometimes called ‘Arnott House’] was built in 1916.
- ‘Waratah’ 37 Homebush Road Strathfield. Home of Janet Duman Arnott [1867-1948], daughter of William Arnott, who married broker James Simpson Perry. This house once shared at boundary with the ‘Arnottholme’ property in Albert Rd.
- ‘Dagworth’ 39 Homebush Road Strathfield was home of Margaret Fleming Arnott [1872-1953] from 1901-07. She married Dr George Mander Jones, grandson of retailer David Jones.
Colonel John Mclean Arnott [1869-1945] was the Managing Director of Arnott’s Biscuits. In 1895, he married Adeline Hardy, the daughter of John Hardy of Hardy Bros jewellers and owner of the home ‘Strathfield’. Arnott lived at ‘Strathfield’ for a short time after his marriage and then moved to ‘Ilemong’ 20 Carrington Avenue Strathfield (still standing), before acquiring ‘Hatherly’, which he renamed ‘Birnam Wood’. ‘Birnam Wood’ was demolished c.1927 and subdivided creating the street Birnam Grove.
New Federal Seat of “McMahon”
22/08/2009
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The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) are proposing restribution of the federal electorate of Lowe and the renaming of the seat ‘McMahon’, after former Liberal Prime Minister Sir William McMahon and former member for Lowe (1949-1982). It is further proposed to abolish the seat of Reid, which is currently on the western boundary of Lowe.
Electoral boundaries are reviewed and altered on a frequent basis to ensure that seats are similar in numbers of voters across Australia. The proposed changes will result in a substantial amount of the suburb of Strathfield and all of Strathfield South moving to the seat of Watson.
There are certain ironies in these proposals. McMahon was the member for Lowe from 1949 to 1982 but was never known to live anywhere near his electorate. The AEC are proposing to rename Lowe, McMahon presumably to honour his contribution as the long-term MP and/or Prime Minister. However, at the same time, they are proposing abolishing the seat of Reid which is named for Sir George Reid QC, former Prime Minister (1904-05) and Premier of NSW (1894-1899). He also served as High Commissioner to UK and was elected to the British House of Commons. He is noted as one of the fathers of Federation and the only Prime Minister of the Free Trade Party, an ancestor of the Liberal Party.
If naming seats after former Prime Ministers or longserving MPs is the plan of the AEC, it should at least be consistent.
The seat of Reid was created in 1922, after the death of George Reid in 1918. George Reid for many years lived in Burwood and Strathfield.
Federation Walking Tour of Strathfield
20/08/2009
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Former home of Frank Forde, Prime Minister 1945
I will be leading a walking tour of Strathfield Federation Architecture on Sunday 15 November 2009 from 2pm to 4pm for the Historic Houses Trust. Discover the social and architectural history of some of Strathfield’s finest examples of Federation architecture, focusing on the heritage conservation areas in Redmyre Road, Churchill Avenue and Homebush Road.
Cost is General $25 | Conc/Members HHT $20.
Bookings must be made through Historic Houses Trust phone: 02 8239 2211 or book online at www.hht.net.au
