Image right: 26 and 28 Rochester Street, Homebush, 30 July 2026. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies
The attractive cottages at 26 and 28 Rochester Street Homebush were built by builder, John Dodson in 1915 on Lot 5, Section 4 of the Underwood Estate at an estimated cost of £600 each. Both feature ornate fretwork and stained-glass windows. The land belonged to Dodson’s son, Francis; John Dodson conveniently lived in Rochester Street and was responsible for building many local homes.
Underwood Estate, Homebush, 1878. Courtesy State Library of NSW
The land was once owned by Josiah Perry, an extensive land holder throughout Sydney. After his death in 1906, his lands in Enmore, Leichhardt, Summer Hill, Flemington and Homebush were offered at auction.[1] In Rochester Street Homebush he owned Lots 3 to 7 of Section 4 and lots 1-4, 9 &10 of Section 7 of the Underwood Estate as well as lots in Coventry Road and Homebush Crescent (now The Crescent). However Strathfield Council’s valuation book of 1908-09 still lists Lots 3-7 of Rochester Street as under the ownership of J. Perry.
Among the earliest residents of the two cottages were the Irish and Fitzgerald families. Number 26, Florenceville was occupied by Arthur Edward Irish, a customs officer, and his family by 1920. The home was no doubt named after Arthur’s wife, Florence Abbott Irish, nee Hales. Interestingly, another Florenceville still stands at 44 Abbotsford Road, just around the corner. The Irish family later moved to Croydon Park.
Florenceville 26 Rochester Street, Homebush, July 2026. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies
Strathfield Council’s long-term overseer, James Fitzgerald lived at Geraldine (number 28) from 1915 until his death in 1917. Opposite is the pathway to Fitzgerald Park, named after him. Fitzgerald had been appointed to the newly incorporated Strathfield Council during December 1885 as overseer at a salary of £2 10s per week. For many years the family lived in High Street, Strathfield.
Geraldine 28 Rochester Street, Homebush, July 2026. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies
James Fitzgerald’s two sons, Edward John (SERN: 4491) and James Augustine (SERN: 3763), enlisted for World War I from Geraldine in late 1915. Edward did not return. Having gone into battle at Pozieres on 24 July 1916 with the 4th Battalion, he was missing in action, although his family was advised only that he was wounded. His sister, May wrote to authorities from Geraldine in late February 1917, just three weeks after the death of their father, James. Edward Fitzgerald’s remains were not discovered until 1937 when he was reinterred and his identity disc was returned to his family. James Augustine Fitzgerald received a gunshot wound to his neck in France while serving with the 3rd Battalion in early July 1916.
From the service record of Edward John Fitzgerald. Courtesy National Archives of Australia
Strathfield Council marked the death of James Fitzgerald at its meeting on 13 February 1917, moving a ‘vote of deep sympathy … be conveyed to Mrs Fitzgerald and family expressing the Council’s deep sorrow in the loss they have sustained and the Municipality generally.’ The Fitzgerald family offered Geraldine for sale after the death of James in 1917.[2] This home was briefly named Winnie on early valuation records, after the Fitzgerald family left the district.
By 1924 both houses were owned as investment properties by Alfred John Harrison Genge, an agent, bookmaker and long-term member of Tattersall’s Club[3] who lived locally but does not appear to have resided in either of these homes.
After the Irish family departed Florenceville, the home was leased to Richard Prussing for some years. Bruce Niddrie lived next door at number 28. House numbers had been assigned by 1930 and no house names are listed on valuation records for these properties from 1927 onwards. Genge retained ownership of both cottages until c.1937 when number 28 was sold to William Ward, a railway employee. This home changed hands again soon afterwards upon Ward’s death and Venetia Moore became the owner. The house remained leased out. The cottage passed to Venetia’s husband, Harold Chester Moore after her death, aged 40 in January 1943. By the mid-1940s, the home was owned and occupied by Roy and Marjorie Andrews until the late 1960s.
After Alf Genge’s death in December 1955, number 26 changed hands for the first time in many years and became the home of Mrs Catherine Morton who remained there until the 1980s. She died on 23 June 1989, aged 97, late of Homebush. Interestingly, Catherine must have first rented the property as electoral rolls list her address as 26 Rochester Street Homebush as early as 1949.
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Sydney Morning Herald 29 September 1906 p.23 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14821060
[2] Sydney Morning Herald 18 April 1917 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15720742
[3] Smith’s Weekly 2 March 1940 p.11 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/234578657