Image right: Greysteins and Edgecumbe, examples of Federation housing in Strathfield. Courtesy State Archives of NSW
This photo from the collection of State Archives of NSW belongs to the series NRS-14086 ‘Lantern slides of NSW and the Franco-British Exhibition’ dated 1905 to 1911.[1] Each slide in the collection measures just 0.8 x 0.8 centimetres in size. This particular image is labelled only ‘Houses at Strathfield (Federation style)’. With some sleuthing, these houses have now been identified. Enlarging the image, the name of the house on the left is just legible above the entryway as Greysteins. The house on the right was named Edgecumbe.
Subdivision poster for the Railway Station Estate, Strathfield, 1903. Courtesy State Library of NSW
These lovely Federation houses were constructed on the Railway Station Estate of Strathfield in the newly created street, The Avenue (now Churchill Avenue) between 1904 and 1906 by architect, Stanley N. Rickard. The estate was subdivided in 1903.[2] In 1906 Stanley Rickard offered three of the 30 completed houses for sale at prices ranging from £550 to £850.[3] Others were offered for lease.[4]
Daily Telegraph 30 October 1903 p.2
You can read more about the development of the Railway Station Estate in Cathy Jones’ article ‘Railway Station Estate Strathfield: 42-58 Albert Road’ in the Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society Newsletter from May-June 2021 at: https://strathfieldhomebushhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/shdhs-newsletter-vol.-3-no.3-may-june-2021-railway-station-estate-strathfield-website-1.pdf
Sydney Morning Herald 3 March 1906 p.21
Greysteins and Edgecumbe no longer stand but examples of the houses built by Stanley Rickard on the Railway Station Estate remain at 42-58 Albert Road Strathfield. The Plaza Tower now encompasses the sites of Greysteins and Edgecumbe which, today, would stand right on the corner of Raw Square.
The fact that the photo was taken at all suggests that the houses were considered fine architectural examples of their time.
George Elliott was living at Edgecumbe on Lot 46 in 1910 (Sands’ Street Index) but Greysteins (Lot 45) is not listed. Edgecumbe was likely named for the hamlet in Cornwall, England. The North Island of New Zealand also has a town bearing that name. Sands’ Street Index of 1915 shows that Greysteins (then no. 16 The Avenue) was occupied by Francis Doel while Edgecumbe (then no. 18) was occupied by Philip Pring and his family.[5] The 1913 electoral rolls list the family members as Philip and Emily, along with their adult children Ivo Septimus, Rolo Oscar (both accountants) and Emily (Emmie) Jennette. In 1916 a young man attempted to steal Emmie Pring’s handbag while she was in The Boulevarde one winter’s evening.[6] Philip Pring died in August 1918 but his widow lived at Edgecumbe until her death in April 1929.[7] The siblings remained in the house for some years after Emily's death. Ivo and Rolo both died during WWII and Emmie moved to North Sydney.
Sunday Times 31 October 1920 p.13
According to Sands’ Street Index, Henry Carter was the occupant of Greysteins in 1920. However the Young family was in residence there later that year when the engagement was announced of Miss Freda (Fredericka) Young to Lieutenant Gerard Foote of Ashfield.[8] They were married in 1922. Strathfield Council’s valuation books date back to 1924 and list widow, Mrs Gertrude Young as the owner of Greysteins. Gertrude was the sister of former owner, Francis Doel. Interestingly, the house name Greysteins was never listed on the valuation records. The 1936 electoral rolls also list Gertrude’s son, Valentine William Young, a traveller, at this address. Gertrude Young’s funeral service was held in her home on 4 June 1942.[9]
Both Greysteins and Edgecumbe were sold c.1942. Miss Mary Cecilia Downey briefly became the owner of Greysteins while Rowland and Alice Mary Isherwood purchased Edgecumbe. The 1943 electoral rolls list Rowland and Alice at 18 The Avenue, Strathfield where Rowland is described as a director. Rowland Isherwood had previously been the rector of Bethanga, Victoria and had married Alice Mary Finnie in Melbourne in 1917.[10] Rowland Isherwood died in 1956 but Alice remained at Edgecumbe (later number 30) until the late 1960s when the property was sold to Progress & Properties Pty Ltd. In 1968 Alice Mary Isherwood was living just down the street at 80 Churchill Avenue.[11] She died in March 1970.
The Avenue was renamed and renumbered after World War II, becoming Churchill Avenue, named for Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.
During the war Greysteins changed hands and became known as Alco. It was later renumbered to 28 Churchill Avenue. It was purchased by Mrs Winifred Gladys Hurt of Redmyre Road who owned it until the late 1950s when it became the property of her daughter, physiotherapist Audrey Winifred Ball until it was sold to Progress & Properties Pty Ltd.
Both homes were demolished for the development of Strathfield Plaza and Raw Square in the late 1960s.
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Lantern slides of NSW and the Franco-British Exhibition - State Records Authority of New South Wales https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?context=L&vid=61SRA&docid=ADLIB_RNSW110014329
[2] Daily Telegraph 30 October 1903 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237586925
[3] Sydney Morning Herald 3 March 1906 p.21 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14756608
[4] Sydney Morning Herald 24 February 1906 p.19 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14755037
[5] Sands’ Street Index, Strathfield, 1915.
[6] New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime 28 June 1916 p.331 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/251743052
[7] The Daily Telegraph 22 April 1929 p.7 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246786985
[8] Sunday Times 31 October 1920 p.13 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120516850
[9] Sydney Morning Herald 4 June 1942 p.10 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17821906
[10] The Argus (Melbourne) 8 January 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1589814
[11] 1968 electoral rolls