By Cathy Jones (2023)
‘Warragong’ 30 Agnes street Strathfield is a two storey cement rendered brick Victorian Italianate style villa with a hipped and gabled slate roof. It is a heritage item on Strathfield Council’s Local Environmental Plan. The property is described as:
“Victorian Italianate style villa with a ‘hipped and gabled roof of slate with terracotta ridging. A gabled wing is on the right side of the north (Agnes Street) elevation. The gabled wing has a faceted 2 storey bay with a hipped slate roof and the gable has elaborate timber fretwork barge boards. Three arched double hung windows are on each floor of the bay and are embellished with label moulds on the upper floor. A two storey verandah on the front of the house has an ogee form roof of corrugated steel and is supported on timber posts. Cast iron lace balustrading, brackets and valence embellish the verandah. French doors open to the verandahs on both floors. The house has two chimneys with rendered moulded corbels. Warragong is set well back from both streets. With its grounds, it is a prominent element in the local streetscape”[1].
‘Warragong’ was built on lots 8 and 9, section 2 of deposited plan 574, which was the subdivision of the Redmire Estate, land originally granted to James Wilshire on 1 January 1810[2]. Land was acquired by James Emanuel Woodward in April 1877, who sold lots 8 and 9 to William Henry Watson in February 1882[3].
‘Warragong’ was built for its owners William Henry Watson (about 1841-1922) and his wife, Mary (1843-1919) (nee Christison) in 1883. In the NSW Government Gazette of 25 September 1884, W H Watson is listed at a house on the corner of Cotswold Road and Agnes Street.
The house first appears in the 1885 Sands Directory for W H Watson, warehouseman and in later editions, it was known as ‘Warragong’[4].
Watson is identified as a ‘warehouseman’ in Sands Directory and later as ‘of independent means’ in Electoral Rolls. Watson petitioned in support of incorporation of local government in 1884 (which was named Strathfield when incorporated in 1885). On the petition, which was published in the NSW Government Gazette he is listed as ‘owner at Agnes and Cotswold Streets, Redmyre’.
In the period of Watson’s ownership of the house from 1885-1914, the house was occasionally leased. From 1897-100, the house was leased to Mrs Smith, from 1904-06, it was leased to Frederick Hall who called the house ‘St Orme’ and lastly from 1911-1912 to Alexander Melville who used the name ‘Warragong’[5]. Watson returned to the house in 1913 and in July 1914, Watson sold the property to Isabel Maud Manton, wife of Joseph Guy Manton, of Marrickville, clerk[6]. In May 1928, part of the grounds were subdivided from the house, which now only occupied part of Lot 9[7].
In November 1957, the house was sold to Arvids Medenis of Strathfield, storeman and Hermine Medonis, a school teacher[8]. Hermine Medenis became the sole owner in March 1978 following the death of her husband[9].
In January 1979, ‘Warragong’ transferred to Victor O’Toole, of Auburn, medical practitioner, and Laurel O’Toole, his wife as joint tenants[10]. Laurel O’Toole was elected as an Alderman to Strathfield Council in 1991 and served until 2000. She was elected Mayor of Strathfield from 1998 to 2000.
References
[1] Strathfield Council, “Warragong’ 30 Agnes Street, Heritage Significant Statement. viewed at: https://www.hms.heritage.nsw.gov.au/App/Item/ViewItem?itemId=2450211
[2] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.283 f.43
[3] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.283 f.43
[4] Sands Directory
[5] Sands Directory
[6] NSW Land Register Certificate of Title v.4171 f.28
[7] NSW Land Register Certificate of Title v.4171 f.28
[8] NSW Land Register Certificate of Title v.4171 f.28
[9] NSW Land Register Certificate of Title v.4171 f.28
[10] NSW Land Register Certificate of Title v.4171 f.28
