By Cathy Jones 2024
‘Glendarnel’ 9 Abbotsford Road is a federation styled cottage built in 1914.
Duncan Gillies ( – 1944) purchased Lots 17 and 18, Section 4 of deposited plan 477 (Village of Homebush estate) in November 1912 from James , Edwin and Owen Litchfield[1]. This land was vacant. Gillies was noted as an Inspector in the employ of the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR), though he is described as an engineer on many other records including electoral rolls.
Gillies applied for approval to construct a double a double fronted brick cottage with 6+ rooms and a slate roof in May 1913[2]. He is noted residing in Beresford Road Strathfield. The land ws described with a 100 foot frontage and 200 feet depth. The estimated value of the works was £1300 and the builder was F Trivions, The Avenue, Ashfield. Valuation lists note in 1914 the house was under construction[3].
The house first appears in the Sands Directory in 1916 for Duncan Gillies, ‘Glen Darual’[4]. The house was numbered 5 Abbotsford Road but renumbered 9/11 Abbotsford Rd in 1954. The house name is recorded with various different spellings ‘Glen Darual’ or ‘Glendarnel’
The property transferred to Gillies’ widow, Mary in April 1946, after the death of Duncan Gillies in 1944[5]. The property was transferred to Faraday Smith, an estate agent of Homebush in March 1950[6].
In April 1956, the property transferred to Polikarp Skwarcza, a shoemaker and his wife Lydia as joint tenants[7]. While in the ownership of the Skwarcza’s, the property was subdivided and the land reduced to a frontage of 55 feet, likely c.1959-60[8]. The residue of the land was sold creating a lot, which is now 11 Abbotsford Road.
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield 1924, 1933, 1939, 1945, 1960, 1966
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
NSW Land Registry
Sands Sydney Directory
Strathfield Council Building Register Vol.1 (1912-1920)
Footnotes
[1] NSW Land Registry, v.2314 f.15
[2] Strathfield Council Building Register
[3] Strathfield Council valuation lists 1914
[4] Sands Sydney Directory 1910-1932
[5] NSW Land Registry, v.2314 f.15
[6] NSW Land Registry, v.2314 f.15
[7] NSW Land Registry, v.2314 f.15
[8] Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield 1960, 1966
Strathfield Heritage 