Image right: Sketches of Redmyre from Australian Town and Country Journal 21 June 1884 p.26 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/5053095
Redmyre
'This pretty suburb is about seven and a half miles from Sydney to the westward, and stands some 60ft above sea level. It is one of the nicest of the suburbs, looking so fresh and healthy. There is any amount of green foliage, which gives it this pretty appearance. View no.1, the Main street, Redmyre road, [top left] is seen immediately on leaving the station, and contains several fine villas of varied architecture or design, lying back from the road, and tastefully laid out with flower beds. This road goes for a considerable distance, and will, in a few years' time, when trees have grown, have a magnificent appearance, although even now it is exceedingly pleasant. The road for a great way is planted in this manner (as shown in the sketch). A large store (Mr Fairfax's) is situated here. There are several good schools. Sketch no.2, Parnell street, [centre right] running at right angles with main street, a portion of which is shown at the street, contains some nice buildings, but it is shown here more as an approach to the main part of the town. The store mentioned above is here seen at the left corner at the bottom. In sketch no.3 [left centre] the town is seen backed up by a dense wood - this really is on the opposite side of the railway, or rather the railway runs between the wood and the town. No.4, [bottom left] the 'Boulevard,' contains several fine residences. The road is hardly to perfection yet, owing to the traffic; it is tastefully laid out in parts, and planted with trees. No.6 [bottom right] is the Union Club grounds. This club was started a few years ago by a circle of friends resident in Redmyre, who bought a piece of ground and had a fine building erected to suit their purpose. There all kinds of amusement is provided for members, which number now about 200. A gymnasium is attached (shown in sketch), also bowling green, tennis and cricket court, &c.'
The Union Club remains in Morwick Street, now known as the Strathfield Sports Club.
Fairfax and Hall, the store mentioned above, was a grocer's and drapery business on The Boulevarde. The partnership of Herbert John Fairfax and Charles Alfred Hall was dissolved in 1888 and Hall continued in the business alone. [1] Fairfax moved away from Strathfield, finally settling in Brisbane. Sand's Street Index shows that Hall's store had ceased trading by 1900.
The other sketches show the newly-built Strathfield-Homebush Congregational Church (bottom centre) on the corner of Homebush and Albert Roads. As the foundation stone was laid in December 1883, the church can't have been opened very long at all when the journalist visited Redmyre in June 1884. This is now the Sydney Korean Uniting Church. The sketch in the top right corner shows the historic house, Milroy, the home of tobacco merchant, George Todman in Albert Road, Strathfield on the corner of Homebush Road. Todman was a generous donor to the Congregational Church across the road. Milroy was built c.1882. It was featured (although misnamed) in the Sydney Mail of 10 June 1914 [2] while its gardens were beautifully described in the Sunday Times of 10 December 1922 [3]. The house and its 3.75 aces were sold in 1929 for 13,500 pounds,[4] and demolished in 1930. This site now forms part of Strathfield Girls' High School.
Sydney Mail 10 June 1914 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/158398613
Redmyre Road and The Boulevarde are still known for their leafy streets 140 years later.
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] NSW Government Gazette 27 April 1888 p.2999 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222126009
[2] Sydney Mail 10 June 1914 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/158398613
[3] Sunday Times 10 December 1922 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128210127
[4] Sydney Morning Herald 18 September 1929 p.12 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16585150