by Cathy Jones
John Lyon Gardiner (1851-1929) was a prolific builder in the Strathfield area. Gardiner was responsible for the design and the construction of many Federation style houses in Strathfield from the late 1890s until around 1912. His design and constructions include houses located at 71, 73 and 75 Albert Road, 59, 61, 57, 55, 86 and 84 Churchill Avenue and 72, 74, 76 and 78 Redmyre Road Strathfield.
Gardiner was born in Scotland in 1851, the son of William Gardiner and Anne Lyon. He married Isabella Stoopes (1863-1940) in 1891.
Gardiner ceased to be listed as a builder in trades directories by 1915. According to the notice of his death in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 18 February 1929 (p17), Gardiner had been in retirement for some years and was formerly a teacher of carpentery and joinery at the Sydney Technical College.
Houses known to be constructed by John Lyon Gardiner in Strathfield include:
‘Kintore’ 71 Albert Road Strathfield
‘Brierbank’ 73 Albert Road Strathfield
‘Elouera’ 75 Albert Road Strathfield
55 Churchill Avenue Strathfield
57 Churchill Avenue Strathfield
‘Inglewood’ 59 Churchill Ave Strathfield
‘Wiumba’ 61 Churchill Avenue Strathfield
84 Churchill Avenue Strathfield
86 Churchill Avenue Strathfield
72 Redmyre Road Strathfield
74 Redmyre Road Strathfield
76 Redmyre Road Strathfield
78 Redmyre Road Strathfield
Strathfield Heritage 