By Cathy Jones 2024
‘Brundah’, 49 Abbotsford Road Homebush is a single storey Federation house, which was built in 1912.
In May 1912, ownership of Lot 30, Section 9 of Deposited Plan 400 (Village of Homebush estate) transferred to John Quinnen, a builder, from John Hay Goodlet[1]. The land lot had 50 foot frontage with 200 foot depth. In April 1912, J Quinnen lodged an application to build a brick cottage in Abbotsford Road at an estimated cost of £650[2]. It is likely that the house was built by Quinnen. The property was sold in August 1912 to Alan Foster, of Summer Hill, seed merchant[3]. Foster called the house ‘Truro’[4]. The house was originally numbered 39 Abbotsford Road and was renumbered in 1954 as 49 Abbotsford Road.
In December 1919, the property was transferred to Henrietta Frainet of Concord, dressmaker, wife of Jean Frainet of St Malo France, chef[5]. However, the property was again transferred in September 1920 to Martin Berlie Calvert of Riverstone, grazier and then in November 1921 to Margaret Gordon (née Morrow), wife of William James Gordon of Fairfield, Railway Stationmaster[6]. The house was renamed ‘Brundah’ when owned by the Gordons[7]. Margaret was the sister of architect David Thomas Morrow. Her son Percy was partner in the prominent architectural firm of Morrow & Gordon. Percy Gordon lived at ‘Rengra’ 17 Abbotsford Road Homebush from 1920 to 1957.
In June 1936, the property was transferred to Winifred Eve Gordon, wife of Russell Clarence Gordon of Lakemba, real estate agent in June 1936[8]. Russell Clarence Gordon was the son of William and Margaret Gordon and brother of Percy Gordon.
In April 1957, the property was transferred to Wennie Claire Geikie, wife of Archibald Geikie of Homebush, chemist[9]. In December 1959, the property transferred to Thomas Armstrong of Stanmore, boiler maker and his wife Jean as joint tenants[10]. Thomas Armstrong died in 1988.
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield 1924, 1936, 1945, 1966
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title Certificate of Title v.984 f.184 and v.2261 f.231
Sands Sydney Directory
Strathfield Council Meeting Minutes 1912
Wise Post Office Directory
Footnotes
[1] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.984 f.184
[2] Strathfield Council Minutes April 1912
[3] NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2261 f.231
[4] Sands Sydney Directory
[5] NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2261 f.231
[6] NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2261 f.231
[7] Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield 1924, 1936, 1945, 1966
[8] NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2261 f.231
[9] NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2261 f.231
[10] NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2261 f.231
