By Cathy Jones
Abbotsford Road is built on the ‘Village of Homebush’ Estate, a 1878 subdivision of the Underwood Estate. A further subdivision in 1912 marketed as the ‘Smith’s Estate’ (DP 6382) created Melrose St and residential lots on Abbotsford Rd (Lots 1-8), Melrose St (Lots 9-14, 23-28) and Broughton Rd (Lots 19-22).
The house ‘Trowbridge’ 16 Abbotsford Road Homebush, a Federation style single storey brick bungalow, is built on Lot 6 and part Lot 5 of the Smith’s Estate subdivision. The house façade displays unusual splayed walls that are reflected in the shape of the slate roofed verandah. The house has leadlight windows with timber frames and a curved entry path.
The house ‘Trowbridge’ was built in 1913 for Alfred James Dickson (1885-1943) and his wife Alice. Dickson was the son of Thomas Dickson (1849-1919), a solicitor who also served as an Alderman and Mayor of Strathfield Council. Alfred Dickson spent his youth in Strathfield/Homebush in his parent’s home ‘Ethelstone’ in Broughton Road. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1909 and married Alice Slade in 1910.
Lots from the Smith Estate were sold in 1912 and by 1913, house ‘Trowbridge’ was built. A notice was placed in July 1913 the Sydney Morning Herald announced birth of their child, indicating the house was built by this date. About 1919, possibly after the death of his father, Dickson sold the house .
By 1920, the house was owned by Mrs May Fraser. By 1927, the house was owned by the Edmond Aunger White. White died in 1929 and in 1933, the house was transferred from the estate of E A White to Rupert White and John Stuart White, engineer and student chemist. In 1935, Rupert White sold his half share to full ownership to John Stuart White, analytical chemist.
By 1951, the house transferred from White to Michael Breheny, a brewer, and his wife, Myrna who owned the house for a short period until it was sold again to Edward Brettingham-Moore, a chartered engineer in 1954.
References
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory 1913-1932
Strathfield Council, Minutes of Council Meetings
Department of the Valuer General NSW – Valuation List – Valuation District of Strathfield
Notice of Land Transfer under Local Government Act 1919
Strathfield Heritage 