By Cathy Jones (updated 2024)
‘Badgelly’, 53 Abbotsford Road Homebush is a single storey Federation house, which was built in 1911.
In July 1911, Lot 28, Section 9 of Deposited Plan 400 (Village of Homebush estate) transferred to John Johns, a bootmaker from John Hay Goodlet[1]. In the same month, Strathfield Council approved an application by the builder, John Dodson, to erect on this site a brick cottage at estimated cost of £650.00[2]. Dodson was a prolific local builder and is responsible for a number of federation styled residential properties in Redmyre Road, Abbotsford Road and Churchill Avenue Strathfield.
The house was originally numbered 43 Abbotsford Road and was renumbered in 1954 as 53 Abbotsford Road.
The owner John Johns (1876-1936) was a bootmaker with city premises. The business traded as Thomas Johns at 75 Pitt Street Sydney for three generations which specialised in making orthopaedic footwear. Johns married Mildred Grisdale Garton (1880-1978). John’s sister Alice married Halse Rogers Arnott, youngest son of Arnotts Biscuit founder William Arnott, was Chairman of Arnotts Biscuits from 1947 to 1961. The Johns family were devout parishioners of the Homebush Methodist Church. There are a number of references to the Johns family in the interior of this Church such as inscriptions, stained glass windows and tablets.
John Johns named the house ‘Glenmavis’. Johns sold this house in 1925 and moved to 59-61 Abbotsford Road Homebush which he then renamed ‘Glen Mavis.
In April 1925, the property transferred to Frederick Moore (1872-1943), a grazier[3]. Moore renamed the house ‘Badgally’[4]. ‘Badgelly’, the name of his estate in Campbelltown (now the site of St Gregorys Catholic College).
Moore was the son of E. L. Moore, of Badgelly, Campbelltown. Moore was educated at the King’s School, Parramatta, and a student at the Sydney University. He was also President of the Campbelltown Agricultural, Horticultural, and Industry Society and served as Mayor of Campbelltown from 1901 to 1919. As described in an article in the Macarthur Chronicle in 2013:
‘Elected in 1901, Moore — who lived at his hilltop Badgally mansion, now the site of St Gregory’s College — was our first great mayor. In two long administrations totalling 13 years he guided our town through the Federation period and into the horrors of World War I. Eloquent, wealthy and popular in local sporting, rural and militia circles, he brought stability to a mayoralty that had changed hands 16 times since 1882. The constant tributes he received were gushing and, as the owner of the first car in Campbelltown, he would meet returning Diggers from the war at the railway and chauffer them home past cheering crowds. But in 1919 it all went sour. Complaints grew about the poor state of local roads and services, often neglected in the interests of “the war effort”, and Moore was held to blame by a new generation of rather blunt young councillors. Offended by their ungentlemanly comments, he resigned — a bitter end to a long, successful career.’
In February 1945, following the death of Moore, the property transferred to his widow Violet Victoria Moore (1872-1963).[5] Mrs Moore lived at ‘Badgally’ with her daughter Violet Morgan Dunn (née Moore) who was widowed after the death of her husband Robert Dunn in 1943 serving in WWII.
In June 1955, ownership transferred to John Clement Schreerer[6]. In May 1970, the property transferred to his widow Bessie Melita Schreerer and Essie Lyall, of West Ryde as joint tenants[7]. In March 1971, Bessie Schreerer was the sole owner.
Footnotes
[1] Certificate of Title v.2161 f.100
[2] Strathfield Council minutes July 1911
[3] Certificate of Title v.2161 f.100
[4] Sands Sydney Directory
[5] Certificate of Title v.2161 f.100
[6] Certificate of Title v.2161 f.100
[7] Certificate of Title v.2161 f.100
References
Commonwealth Electoral Rolls, Division of Reid, 1926 and 1939
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists – Municipality of Strathfield
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
McGill, J, 2013, ‘Campbelltown’s Mayors – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, MacArthur Chronicle, https://www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/story/1813097/campbelltowns-mayors-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/?cs=1809
In and Around Campbelltown. (1905, April 12). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 – 1907), p. 28. Retrieved July 14, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71501065
NSW Electoral Rolls, 1917, Division of Nepean, sub-division of Homebush
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory – Strahfield Muncipality – 1914-1932
Strathfield Council Meeting Minutes 1911
Strathfield Council Notice of Land Transfers
Strathfield Council Valuation Lists
Wise Post Office Directory 1936
