“It was a very close Introduction The Union/Bank/Thomas Street Conservation community” Area is largely contained within two major residential subdivisions of the mid-nineteenth A walking tour of the century. The area immediately south of Union Union/Bank Street Conservation Street was part of William Blue’s 50-acre land Area, McMahons Point grant, part of which was inherited by his daughter Susannah, and subdivided in 1859 by Distance: 3.5 km her husband William Chuter. Whilst to the north Approximate time: 3 hours of Union Street is the 1870s subdivision of Grading: low to medium Edwin Sayers ‘Euroka’ Estate.

The land was originally owned by the Cammeraygal people. Their numbers and social structures were devastated in the decades following colonization and land was being given away to colonists from the late 1800s.

In 1817 Governor Macquarie gave a grant of 80- acres of land on the to ex-convict William Blue and he named this area, encompassing the present day suburb of McMahons Point, ‘Northampton Farm’. This was a working farm on which he and his family cultivated vegetables and fruit for the market. Prior to receiving his land grant he was living in the Rocks and had started the first ferry service across the Harbour from Dawes Point to Blues Point in 1807.

After Blue’s death in 1834 Northampton Farm was divided up amongst his children William, Robert, John, Susannah and Mary. And contrary to his will, the family began to subdivide and sell portions of the property from as early as 1836.

In 1859 William Chuter, second husband of Blue’s daughter Susannah, auctioned the Chuter Estate. In 1882 John Blue subdivided and sold his land north of the Chuter Estate bounded on the north by Union Street, east by Blues Point Road and south by Holt Street continuing west to Berrys Bay.

North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 2

By this time the township of St Leonards had Today, the prevailing attitude of outsiders is that been gazetted (1838), adjoining Blue’s grant and the entire North Sydney population are which established the present day North Sydney “silvertails”. Whether this is fair or not, this was town centre and a road from Blues Point by no means always the case, and certainly not northward (Blues Point Road then named St in the 1800s through until the late twentieth Leonards Road). Local government arrived in century in the Bank/Thomas/Union Streets the district in the late 1860s and the Borough of precinct of McMahons Point. Former McMahons Victoria was formed in 1871, encompassing the Point resident Jack Sullivan laughs at this present day suburb of McMahons Point. The description, “we lived in slums and they’re calling provision of infrastructure such as gas, water, us silvertails with money. Bank Street and transport, and communications, religious and Ancrum Street and some of those little slums educational facilities fostered a thriving working down there in Union Street in North Sydney, class community in the vicinity of the Chuter, paying twelve and six a week rent and ten Blue and Euroka Estates. shillings a week”.

North of Union Street early land grants to Walker What was once a workman’s area has been and Miller were amalgamated and acquired by gentrified in recent decades. The long-time older shipping magnate and parliamentarian Sir Edwin working class residents have either moved out Mawney Sayers, who sold ‘Euroka’ to Sir or died and a younger, more middle class Thomas Dibbs. He in turn began to subdivide population has moved into the area. As a result the western slopes of the property in the 1870s, of this recent trend, the cottages have been forming the present day Ancrum, Bank and restored and extended and guidelines to Euroka Streets precinct. recognise the architectural residential character been enshrined in the LEP and DCP. Allotments in these estates were uniformly small, whilst some building sites were steeply sloping Our walk starts at the Commodore Hotel, cnr and difficult to build on. Purchasers of land were Blues Point Road and Union Street. predominantly working class people such as mariners, boatbuilders, carpenters, stonemasons, carpenters, bricklayers and other labourers. In this area rows of single and double storey terrace houses appeared in the 1870s and 1880s using readily available local sandstone. A small number of allotments were developed into the early twentieth century as detached red brick Federation houses.

The area saw significant upheaval caused by the construction of the railway line to Milsons Point in 1893 and again in the mid-1920s when William and George William Montgomery in front construction began at Euroka St for the new of the Old Commodore Hotel, 1880s. (North railway line and tunnel to the Sydney Harbour Sydney Heritage Centre, PF 664) Bridge. North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 3

The Billy Blue Inn was built in 1848 by John mainly interested in the Blue. This building was demolished in 1901 coastal shipping trade. when taken over by Tooth and Co. and they built Sayers occupied Euroka a new pub on the site. This building in turn was and remained there until replaced in 1938 and again in 1973 when it too 1868. Sayers was also a was demolished and replaced by a new Old Member of the NSW Commodore Tavern. The present hotel was Legislative Assembly extensively rebuilt and extended in 1997. 17 Jun 1859 - 17 Jun 1859; and Walk west along Union St Member for St Leonards 17 Jun 1859 - 17 Jun 1859. He was a founder of North Sydney This street marks the boundary between William School of Arts, Warden of St Thomas' Church of Blue’s 50-acre land grant known as England. He died in Mosman in 1909. Northumberland Farm and the small grants to the north given to William Miller and Thomas From 1860 Sayers experienced severe financial Walker. difficulties and was eventually forced by the mortgagees to sell Euroka in 1867 at which Continue up Union St time there were no buyers. Thomas Allwright Dibbs, manager of the Commercial Banking Stop at the entrance gate to Graythwaite. In Company of Sydney, acquired the property and September 1832, Thomas Walker, public official, leased the house from 1872-1880 to his brother paid 60 pounds 9 shillings for a 39-acre land Sir George Richard Dibbs (1834-1904), who was grant. On the 25 October 1833, Thomas Walker Premier of NSW and Colonial Secretary 1891- conveyed 13 acres of his grant, to the north and 1894. east of where Graythwaite was later built, to William Miller, for 20 pounds thirteen shillings. Merchant and ship owner, Dibbs was educated By 1837, Walker had built himself a residence at St Philip's Church of England School and then on his grant almost adjacent to Miller's newly the Australian College under the Reverend J. D. built house. In January 1845 Walker drew up his Lang. He became junior clerk with William will bequeathing this house, called Euroka and Brown & Co., wine merchants in 1848. He joined 16 acres to his wife. He died in 1850. his brother in Dibbs & Co., commission agents, in c.1854; associated with father-in-law in Three years after Walker’s death, the house and business ventures 1857-1859; then returned to remaining land was sold to George Tuting, a J.C. Dibbs & Company, as manager of mercer of Pitt St, Sydney for 1500 pounds, at Newcastle branch and later the Sydney office. which time the grounds were described as He travelled to Valparaiso, Chile, as corn factor, comprising 113 acres. He sold the house and opening a branch of J.C. Dibbs & Company in land in 1853 to Edwin Sayers, Sydney for $3900 1865; he was bankrupted by the failure of the pounds. Agra Bank 1866; he returned to Sydney in 1867 and by 1875 he had paid his creditors in full. The new owner, Edwin Mawney Sayers (1818-1909), was a shipowner who had arrived He was a Member of Legislative Assembly in Sydney from about 1850. He was representing West Sydney 1874-1877, St Leonards 1882-1885, The Murrumbidgee 1885- North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 4

1894 and Tamworth 1894-1895. He was made sympathy for those brave men who have so Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael unselfishly given their services and their lives and St George (KCMG) in 1892. Dibbs also fighting for the Empire in the cause of Justice moved into importing and ship owning from and liberty as a Convalescent Home for our Sick 1869, becoming the Chairman of the Australia and Wounded Soldiers and Sailors and when Steam Navigation Co. and was also managing not required for that purpose as a Convalescent trustee, Savings Bank of , Home in perpetuity for distressed subjects of the 1896 - 1904. He appears to have left ‘Euroka’ British Empire regardless of Sect or Creed.' An by 1880. official opening of Graythwaite was held on 1 March 1916. Dibbs presented the deeds of Graythwaite to the Premier who handed the property on to the NSW branch of the Red Cross.

Alterations were made to Graythwaite to fit it out as a convalescent home and was at first used for less severely ill convalescents. In 1918, the Red Cross decided that Graythwaite should be converted into a Hostel for long-term cases of disablement. A change in emphasis required substantial changes to the building.

Graythwaite as it looked during the ownership of Graythwaite was used as a convalescent home the Dibbs family, c1897. (North Sydney Heritage to 1977, when non-military cases were referred Centre, PF 1773) by the Health Commission. The Red Cross then

decided to relinquish the Hospital to enable it to His brother Thomas Allwright Dibbs had been be used as geriatric hospital by the Home of buying up many parcels of land on the North Peace Hospitals, under the supervision of the Shore and by 1882 Euroka became the family Health Commission. The buildings were officially home and he renamed it Graythwaite. Dibbs' handed over in December 1980. had a fine reputation as an astute and skilful manager of the Commercial Banking Company Graythwaite's grounds contain one of the largest of Sydney. His management of the Bank was and most significant collections of late 19th generally credited with saving it from the fate of century and early 20th century cultural plantings other less fortunate banks in the 1890s in North Sydney. Moreton Bay and Depression. Dibbs was apparently shocked at figs dominate an eclectic mix of exotic and the carnage taking place overseas during the Australian rainforest plantings including rare Great War and donated his home, Graythwaite, historic and botanic examples. to the state as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from the front. Continue along Union St On 1 October 1915 the property was formally was built in 1885 – transferred by Dibbs to the Crown, in Kailoa, No. 44 Union St 86 as the matrimonial home of Tom Burton consideration of 'my admiration of and sincere North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 5

Dibbs and his bride. Tom was the son of Don’t pull Kailoa down. Thomas Allwright Dibbs, general manager of the Commercial Banking Co of Sydney and nephew The house was restored and reopened by State of Sir George Richard Dibbs, Premier of NSW. Planning and Environmental Minister Bob Carr in 1987 as the office of advertising agency Foster Nunn and Loveder.

Nos. 34–42 Union St, presently undergoing restoration, are a group of very early two-storey sandstone houses erected by Edwin Mawney Sayers on the frontage of his property Euroka in the period 1853 and 1867. At this time the two pairs of buildings 34-36 and 38-40 were known as Euroka Villas.

Sayers ran into financial difficulties and was forced to sell the entire property. Thomas Dibbs Kailoa, c.1897. (North Sydney Heritage Centre acquired the Euroka property in 1873, including PF1771) 34-42 Union St, and converted them to torrens title, at which time they were sold to Charles Tom and his family lived continuously in the Edward Hoyer and then onsold to Captain home from 1886 to 1913, after which a James Mu(o)nro in 1879. succession of tenants was in occupation until 1922 when it was sold to Leonard Gabriel, a The Monro family held ownership of the dentist. He in turn sold the house to grazier, J.J. properties until the early 1910s. Eventually they Dorward in 1924 who moved into the house in came into the ownership of J. Virgona who 1929 or 1930. He eventually sold the house to converted them into boarding houses in the Shore School in December 1961. 1950s.

Shore School had purchased the house in anticipation of demolishing it to make way for tennis courts. Public opposition to the commencement of demolition included a protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the National Trust’s Headquarters at Observatory Hill in 1980, eventually resulted in the Heritage Council placing a interim conservation order on the house, later a Permanent Conservation Order. Chorus from song of same name by Dean Thomas: Don’t pull Kailoa down, In foreground, rear of Euroka Villas and Euroka Don’t pull Kailoa down, Terrace, Union Street, c.1880s (North Sydney It’s part of Sydney’s heritage- Heritage Centre, F749/5) North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 6

pretty big backyard] and we had a lot of chooks.” The adjoining terrace houses, Nos. 20-28, However as difficult as those years was, “it known as Euroka Terrace, were built on lots 1-4 was a very close community” where of the Euroka Estate. This group of six terrace neighbours helped each other and children houses were completed in 1880 and built by played on the streets. The houses were well built Captain James Monro. but “conveniences internally were basic”.

Continue along Union St and turn Walk along Bank St on the eastern right into Bank St frontage (right hand side)

Note across the road, Gannura Reserve, on The first group of houses on this side of the road the corner of Bank St and Bank Lane occupies past Bank Lane, Nos. 1-35 are predominantly the site of c.1880 shop and dwelling house, built between 1877 and 1887. Nos. 1-7 were demolished between 1925 and 1927. The land built by Connors (No. 3 built in 1881). was eventually purchased by Council for open space but it remained little used until local Sandstone houses at Nos. 27 (Redding) and residents, working with Council's Streets Alive 29 (Montrose), along with No. 31 (Andrie) were program transformed this public land into a local built by Munro, Gardyne and Duncan park. Gannura is the combination of two respectively in 1879. Aboriginal words - Gan meaning lizard and nura meaning place of. Lizard-friendly features have Nos. 39-45 comprises four lots subdivided for been incorporated into the Reserve to attract sale in 1909 and erected in 1917 by blue-tongued and other lizards back into the owner/builder John William Atkinson who lived in area. No. 39.

Bank St had a not entirely deserved unsavoury Nos. 51-55 comprises a group of reputation in the first half of the 1900s through undistinguished and uncharacteristic Federation the Depression years when it was a poor houses erected by North Sydney builder John working class neighbourhood. North Sydney Trevaskis. middle class residents such as Jean Blundell recall that “it was ingrained in us not to roam, to No. 61/63 is locally known as “the bakery” and go out into the street and you didn’t go down to was built in 1882 by H R Ridout as a dwelling Bank Street – which was below – because that’s but soon afterwards described as a house and where some rather awful people lived. You had shop. The property was occupied during the to be very careful in Bank Street. It was a bit of 1890s by Thomas Adamson Senior, and after ‘riff raff’ down round here and they lived in his death in 1899, John and Robert Adamson shanties”. continued to lease the building out to various tenants. There is no evidence to support the Former residents of the neighbourhood recall legend that it ever operated as a bakery, and that life was harsh for families struggling during was more likely to have been run as a grocery the Depression years. When Frank Cox’s father store. was put off during the Depression, “like most other people, he used to grow vegetables [in our North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 7

Nos. 67-73 is a group of four Federation brick Note the extensive rock wall at the end of the cottages. This group of houses were built street marks the boundary of the Priory Estate between 1911-13 by John O’Sullivan, who also and Lord’s Paddock Estate and the pedestrian built two houses in Lord Street. pathway to Toongarah Road.

Stop at Lord St Walk along Bank St on the opposite side of the road Named after ‘Lord’s Paddock’, the property of the Hon. Francis Lord, MLC, acquired in 1857 The houses along this section of Bank St are and subdivided in 1877. ‘Upton Grange’, the typical of Victorian workers cottages, especially SCEGS Shore Preparatory School close by in No. 100 a simple vertical slab cottage built in Edward Street, was built for his daughter and 1890 by Alexander McNaught. It was later sold son-in-law Francis Hixson as a marital home. to Charles Wenzel.

Long-time North Sydney resident Millie Rea lived here with her family: “it …was a wooden place with slats coming down…there were tennis courts behind us [and] there were Italian people who lived next door.” She recalls that Bank St “seemed to be teeming with children… [and] was full of working people, just ordinary working people and everybody seemed to be in the same place. It was a very happy place to live”.

Millie’s family lived here about 1929 and she Bank Street in the days of horse and cart, 1912- recalls that when they moved here they were 1915. (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF514) extremely poor. Her mother used to send her up to St Josephs Convent in Mount Street with a Continue along Bank St note and they would receive food from the nuns. Fortunately for the family, her father got a job on The sharp turn in the street beyond the Lord the Sydney Harbour Bridge and they then Street intersection marks the boundary of moved up into North Sydney into Eden Street. Conrad Martens property, Rockleigh Grange. Mrs Freislich purchased the house from Clem Walk up path into Riley St Millward in 1964. When interviewed in 1996, she recalled that the house “was unbelievably cheap No. 10 Riley St was the home of famous to buy, £3000, [and that] everybody who had Australian photographer Harold Cazneaux had this house had done things to it – I have (1878-1953) from 1905 to 1915. Note plaque too”. inset in front fence. No. 80 Bank St was the former home of Jack Return to Bank St and cross over Sullivan and subsequently his mate Frank Cox. Actually Jack’s family moved out and Frank’s North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 8

family moved in during the Depression. Prior to the War Service Homes Commission in the early renting this house, they had been sharing a 1920s. house in Union St with another family, “for cheap rent”. His father heard about No. 80 and “was No. 68 Bank St a two-storey brick iron house told ‘It’ll fall to pieces but it’s down there”, so Dad was built by master mariner Almar Bridge in made enquiries and Mr Ward said “he could 1890. He lived here until 1907. have it for sixteen shillings a week [and] that was in ’32”. No. 64 Bank St is a simple timber and iron house erected in 1879 by stonemason William His father “was put off like most men during the Gaff. From 1893 he and his wife Esther leased Depression” but they grew fruit trees and a the house out to a succession of working class vegetable garden in the backyard as well as tenants who worked as labourers, carters, etc. keeping chickens. His sister got a job at Mr Carey’s knitting mill in Ancrum Street after she No. 50 Bank St was built and occupied by left school, whilst his mother “used to go out and James North in 1876 and within two years sold do washing for people at about five ‘bob’ for a to stonemason John Hepburn. He lived here day’s washing and she’d come home and we’d until his death in 1932. always have something to eat”. No. 44 Bank St, formerly a simple timber iron Later on after World War II, Frank got a loan cottage, was erected in 1876 by John Monro. He from the bank and bought the house for £300, “it then sold the house to Mrs Bullock in 1895. Until was a terrible lot of money…I thought I’d never the 1990s, the house had changed hands only pay it off”. He later extended it at the rear on one four times since she owned it. The aluminium level for his ailing mother. cladding and roofing was erected in the mid- 1970s. There as no electric light and the kids of the neighbourhood would all go down to the Lavender Bay wharf to rummage for good coke to take home and burn. Bath time was difficult because “if you wanted a bath you had to light up the copper and had to pick it up and take it down the back”. Eventually the family got a kerosene unit but one day “it caught fire, the bathroom, and the bath went through the floor”. But “we were very happy”.

View south along Bank Street, 1950s (North No. 70 Bank St is situated on lot 23 section 2 Sydney Heritage Centre, PF1336) Euroka Estate originally purchased by Emma

Darton. She sold the land to carpenter David Rockleigh, No. 38 Bank St, was erected in Bennett who built the present single storey 1884 on lot 10, Euroka Estate by G. Solomon, timber cottage in 1893. He leased out Avon who soon after, onsold it to Valentine Scholtz. Cottage to various tenants from 1896. The The house remained in the possession of the house eventually passed into the ownership of Scholtz family until the early 1920s. North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 9

According to former Bank/Ancrum St resident lived here until the late 1930s. This house was Jack Sullivan there was one shop at the northern built on the subdivision of lot 2 section 2 of the end near his home but that “there also another Euroka Estate. shop down the other end past the railway bridge”) Continue along Bank St and turn right into pathway alongside railway line (below) Euroka Street Bridge Abutment and Retaining Wall, Euroka Street, Lavender Bay, 1923 (Courtesy, State Records, NSW)

Robert Robins outside his shop at 30 Bank St, 1944. (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF2114)

Jack’s family arrived in North Sydney in 1929 and they lived in 179 Bank St and then moved “3 doors down to Ancrum St”. He recalls that all the neighbours were renting, as it was cheap rent. “He did not know anyone in those days who owned their own house”. Those living in Bank Street were mostly out of work or had a government job. He “knew everybody who lived there [in the neighbourhood of Bank/Ancrum/Euroka Sts]”.

His father, like his mate Frank Cox, was laid off during the depression and they too grew vegetables in the back garden of the house they In 1923, work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge moved into in Ancrum Street. Also, like Millie began -not at the water’s edge, but here at Rea and Frank Cox, Jack recalls that “nobody Euroka Street, North Sydney. had any money” but they, as children and teenagers, seemed to have a good happy life. The bridge was never simply an arch across water. For the bridge to function, far-reaching No. 18 Bank St is a small Federation cottage construction was needed that would re-shape erected in 1903 and called Re-wol (the owner’s North Sydney. A new train line was built from name in reverse). William Theodore Lower, Waverton to the new station of North Sydney— variously described as a fireman or engine driver, was the first owner of the property and North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 10

By 1927, 470 houses had been demolished in these sandstone houses are a few nice timber North Sydney and Milsons Point. Demolitions cottages, namely Nos. 40 (Ferryman), 42 continued in 1931. More than 3,000 people, and 44. almost 10 percent of North Sydney’s population, were shifted. The upper end of Euroka St was slow to develop because of difficult sites on which to build and Ancrum St was split in two, leaving only seven most of these houses were built after 1890. cottages on the southern side. Similarly Nos.17- However Nos. 2-4 and 8-10 were built about 23 and 32-36 Bank St and a large number of 1884. houses were resumed in Euroka St on both sides of the street and a massive concrete Stop at the foot of Euroka St on the viaduct built across the latter street. left

Proceed down path to Ancrum St Inset in the large rock before the railway bridge is a plaque commemorating Australia’s most Ancrum Street was formerly known as Euroka famous and loved writer, Henry Lawson, who Lane. The houses along this street are small was a resident of North Sydney for three periods allotments (on average 14 ¾ perches size) some of his short but productive life. During these brief subdivided from the Bank St frontage and were periods in North Sydney he wrote several poems purchased by boatbuilders, stonemasons, and short stories inspired by the sites, sounds, mariners, labourers and events and people of McMahons Point. The following poem, Kiddies’ Land was written in Turn right into Ancrum St 1915 and describes the geography of Euroka St where he lived in several houses and looked No. 27-29 Ancrum St after by his dear friend Mrs Byers. Note the name of the registered proprietor Maxco Industries above the lintel. The street is old and built of stone – And other things beside; Across the road note a lovely Victorian And though in length it’s very short, sandstone cottage at No. 31. A few doors away The roadway’s fairly wide. is No. 37 is a converted knitting factory built by Our street is blind and at the top Charles Edward Carey in about 1916/17 and Are “Grounds” where gnarled trees stand, converted into the present home in 1976 by Like gnomes against the evening sky – architect Stuart Murray. Down here in Kiddies’ Land.

Return down Ancrum St and turn Our street is an asphated street, right into Euroka Ln. Turn right into And when the school-day’s done, Euroka St You hear the sounds of little feet, The western frontage of Euroka St features a And little go-carts run; nice group of sandstone cottages built, including And at the bottom, by the Bay, Nos. 7-9, 26, 28, 36, 38 and 56. At the high Are strips pf scrubby sand end of the street is a pair of Victorian terraces And grass where children love to play – with the name Holbeck engraved in the parapet Down here in Kiddies’ Land. above the houses. Also interspersed between North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 11

Note the flat area below the steps which was the And still with war and thoughts of war site of Ivycliff a substantial two-storey gothic Their little souls are vexed – style sandstone residence built by former The Allies of the day before Sydney Town Clerk Charles Henry Woolcott. He Are enemies the next. purchased lots 1-5 sec E of the Blues Estate in They charge with pop-guns and with sticks, 1858 and the house was built about 1865. Retreat, and make a stand – Whilst living at Ivycliff Charles Woolcott rowed They imitate our grown up tricks, daily across the harbour to attend his duties at Down here in Kiddies’ Land. City of Sydney Council. He continued to reside here until his death in August 1905 at 83 years Our street, it hath a lolly shop, of age. As you’ll have guessed before; Where every hard old “lollie-pop: Is new-named from the War. It buys their empty bottles, too; And so, you’ll understand, The kids are a commercial crew, Down here in Kiddies’ Land.

And all the little sunflowers That in my garden grown, Are nodding to each other And talking soft and low; View across Berrys Bay to Ivycliff about 1887. They’re holding mothers’ meetings, Photograph by Robert Hunt. (Courtesy Macleay As you might understand, Museum, PF1075/1) While all the children are at play, Down here in Kiddies’ Land. The house remained in the family for some years after. One of the most notorious tenants And when the honours of War and Trade, during this time was William James Chidley, Of Peace and Strife, are sped, philosopher with unconventional theories on sex, And all the working mothers of our street diet and clothing, who reportedly sunbathed Call kiddies home to bed; naked with his followers upon the lawns at the The branches moving in the breeze, rear of the house (with followers) in full view of While the stars are chining grand, trains passing by. Seem Somethings in the gnarled old trees That watch o’er Kiddies’ Land. The house was demolished, sometime between 1939 and 1942 and the site of the house and its Cross over Euroka St into former gardens were absorbed into the newly Commodore Cres. Stop at Henry created reserve, named Waverton Park. Lawson Steps (entrance to Waverton Park) Continue along Commodore Cres

Monte Cristo, No. 3 Commodore Cres North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 12

Variously named Dalvey House and Cliff(e) Ash, No. 35 is a single storey brick iron house this is a very early sandstone house built as erected between 1881 and 1884 by Louisa early as 1844 by John Blue, son of Billy Blue. Somers. The land upon which the house stands lies within Billy Blue’s 50-acre land grant and upon Nos. 37-39 Thomas St William’s death willed to his son John. During Airlie and Aldershville, a pair of two-storey this period John mostly lived at the Old terrace houses, were built by Anton Jorgenson Commodore Inn but was in residence at least in (master mariner) in 1888. He lived at No. 37 until the 1870s. 1891. A famous tenant of No. 37 was engineer Herbert Austin, the subject of the heritage For a short time Edwin Mawney Sayers was a plaque on the pavement in front of the house, tenant. North Sydney furniture retailer William who produced the first 4-wheeled Wolseley car Gourlay was a long-time tenant of the house in 1899. from 1908. Interestingly, according to a 1914 car registration Return back to small pocket park and list for NSW, Anton Jorgenson was one of the cross Railway Bridge to Union St first North Sydney residents to have a motor car.

This present bridge replaces a much earlier one On the opposite site of Thomas St: - in this approximate location used by the No. 2 is now a shop, but was the former site of Woolcott Family to access Ivycliff after the a simple wooden cottage built in 1890 by railway line was constructed in 1893. Edward Waterhouse. Griffith and Annie Thomas (laundress) lived here from 1895 until the 1908 Continue along Union St up the hill when the house was demolished to make way and turn right into Thomas St for the present building. Nos. 4-6 is a pair of brick iron houses erected Thomas St is a narrow street with the northern by William and Elizabeth Waterhouse in 1886. end lying within John Blue’s subdivision and the Nos. 10-12 is another pair of two storey terrace lower end in the 1858 William Chuter estate. The houses built by the Waterhouse family, (William) street is characterised by a group of modest in 1886. No. 12 was called Wendouree. single storey narrow fronted Victorian and No. 14 is a simple wood shingle cottage erected Federation cottages including the following: by William Ray in 1879. No. 16 is a simple wood cottage erected by No. 1 was built in 1878 whilst two doors away, John Ray in 1871. No. 5 backs onto properties in Webb St at the No. 22, a small timber house, was built in 1876 southern end of Thomas St. This simple timber by/for G Solomon. It was subsequently sold to cottage was erected by William Ray by 1875 and James O’Loughlin and then to William Grey a occupied by a succession of tenants when civil servant who lived here from 1900 till the owned by Margaret Ray and then Mrs Janes mid-1920s. Chapman. No. 26 was built in 1890 by Henry Stevens but Nos. 7-19 were built in1913. leased out to a succession of tenants. Nos. 21-33 were all built in 1883-84. North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 13

Nos. 48 - 58 is a group of modest brick Adjoining the reserve on the western frontage federation cottages erected 1913-14 by builder (left side) is Nos. 4 and 6, both properties once Arthur Eugene Smith Pugh about 1913. owned by the Ray family. No. 4, a small wood shingle cottage, was built by 1870 by/for William Continue to end and Victoria St and Ray, whilst next-door, No. 6, was built in 1876 turn left and occupied by Mrs Margaret Ray from 1890.

Victoria St was formerly called Susannah St No. 8, at one time called Evada, is an unusual after Susannah Blue, eldest child of Billy Blue, house in that it appears to be an original early baptised in 1805. Susannah was first married to cottage, but according to John Moxon in 1827. Her second husband was Building Records, a building application was George Lavender (former boatswain of the lodged in 1923 for a “re-erection of wood brick convict hulk Phoenix) whom she married in cottage” in 1923 by James Strong. Prior to 1922 1834. He committed suicide at his brother-in-law this site appears as land. John Blue’s Commodore Hotel in 1851 whereupon Susannah married William Chuter in On the eastern frontage (right side) is a group of the same year. mostly timber cottages, including No. 7 built in 1867 by/for stonemason J. T Hayes and called When Susannah died in 1861 she left Kia-Ora and No.1 Morlie Glen erected in the considerable property which her third and final mid-1860s also. husband William Chuter subdivided in 1858. He was variously described as a stonemason or Return back to Victoria St and quarryman and at the time of his death in 1882 continue walking uphill was living in Miller St. Nos. 30-32 is a pair of two storey terrace The street was apparently renamed to houses built by David Elric in 1874. No. 36 a commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen small sandstone cottage at one time known as Victoria, who reigned from 1837-1901. Mor(e)ton Cottage. This house was built between 1858 and 1869 by William Shipley and Victoria St also marks the northern boundary of was occupied by various tenants whilst in the Chuters Estate. ownership of the Shipley Family until the early 1900s. No. 38 is a simple timber iron cottage Walk uphill in Victoria St and turn left erected by William Robertson between 1858 and into Webb St 1869.

This is a narrow cul-de-sac, featuring a group of Turn left at Chuter St small scale, predominantly single storey timber cottages. On the corner is a small reserve upon Note the red brick building on the corner of which once stood Mrs Grace O’Brien’s simple Chuter and Victoria Sts. No. 44-60 which is the timber cottage demolished between 1914 and former Kalamazoo factory erected in 1940. This 1916 (formerly No. 2). factory is built on the site of the early Victorian gothic residence Fairlawn. The property was purchased by Kalamazoo Australia Ltd from North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 14

grazier John McCalman between 1925 and 1927 Holtermann who lived here in 1873-74. This and demolished in 1938. property was subdivided and the house demolished for the present commercial buildings in the mid-twentieth century.

Chuter St is named for William Chuter, a stonemason, who was the third husband of Billy Blue’s eldest daughter, Susannah. In the 1860s, Chuter owned the Billy Blue Inn. Susannah died in 1861 aged 66 years. Her husband died in 1882 aged 72 years and they are both buried in St Thomas’ Cemetery, West St, Crows Nest with other members of her family.

Fairlawn was a substantial two storey stone and Holt St marks the boundary between the slate house built between 1858-69. (North subdivisions of William Chuter and John Blue. Sydney Heritage Centre, PF 1216/1) Houses situated between the intersection of Holt St and the Victoria St end lie within William Thomas Lake sold it to W. James Monro in 1876 Chuter’s 1858 subdivision. and he then Hector Monro occupied the house into the 1880s. The Monro family retained In this southern section of the street the ownership through Mrs Maria Monro until 1901 surviving sandstone houses were built by when John McCalman purchased it for an stonemason Samuel Crews. Samuel Crews died investment property. in 1901 and was buried in Gore Hill Cemetery aged 72 years. He was in partnership with fellow stonemason and builder Jago. Members of the family continued to live in the area after his death, in Chuter and Webb Sts.

Nos. 2-4 were built before 1869 whilst the adjoining Nos. 6-10 first appear as built in 1886.

On the opposite side of the street the pair of two- storey sandstone houses at Nos. 9-11 were built prior to 1869 by Samuel Crews. He also built another pair of two-storey sandstone Kalamazoo Factory, newly built about 1942. houses at Nos.1-3 in 1880 but which were (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF 1217/2)) demolished for the present commercial building The adjoining site in Victoria St was another during the 1970s. Crews lived at No.1 Chuter St early home known as Glenro at No. 50 and it whilst his yard was located in Holt St. too was built during the early 1860s. A notable tenant of this house was Bernard Otto North Sydney History Walk: It was a very close community Page 15

Continue along Chuter St passing other hotels and was variously described as a Holt St lighterman and towards the end of his life as a shipowner. The present factory/office building at John Blue subdivided this northern section of the the rear is the former Shelta Umbrella factory street in 1882. Take note of Nos. 12-16 on the erected in 1952. left hand side (opposite Holt St) which were built in 1896 by clerk Frederick Smith, whilst the pair of two-storey terrace houses Nos. 18-20 were built a decade earlier in 1885 by Robert Fordyce who lived in No. 18. Continuing along the street, the trio of two-storey terrace houses Nos. 24- 28 were built by Edward and William Fieldhouse in 1884. Lastly, No. 32, a two-storey brick iron house, was erected in 1891 by sawyer John King.

Continue along Chuter St to end and turn right into Union St Portion of panorama of Sydney and Sydney No. 93 is a two storey Victorian house erected Harbour from heights of North Sydney. in 1890 for Mrs Mary Purcell. A notable tenant of Photograph by Charles Bayliss, about 1893. this house was marine surveyor John Vine Hall. (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF749/3) No. 95 was erected by Robert Brindley in 1896 on John Blue’s estate. No. 99 is an early Our “It was a very close community” Victorian house erected in 1882 by Samuel Blue. walking tour ends here at Union Street. No. 101 (next door) was built by John Blue in 1882, and subsequently owned and occupied for These walking tour notes were compiled many years by Mrs Wilmington. Further along by the Historical Services Team in 2008 the street is a group of two storey Victorian from resources held in the North Sydney terraces Nos. 103-109 built by John Blue on Heritage Centre, Stanton Library. his estate in 1884. Ph: 99368400

Aston Villa, No. 111 Union St was erected by John Blue on his subdivision in 1884. He lived here until his death in 1891 aged 76 years. John Blue was born in 1815 and was the youngest of Billy Blue’s children. He was an alderman of the Borough of Victoria from its inception in 1869 until the 1880s and prior to the amalgamation of the three local councils to form North Sydney. He was the landlord of the Old Commodore Hotel from about 1850 and remained there until 1866. Later he kept two