By Cathy Jones 2024
‘Glenfarne’ 162-194 Albert Road Strathfield, is a two storey Victorian Italianate style house.
The property is situated on land originally granted to Thomas Rose in 1793, which was acquired by James R Powell. Powell transferred part of the land to William Von Der Heyde and George Todman, as joint tenants, in September 1881. Von der Hyde and Todman, sold a portion measuring around one acre to James Thompson of Waverley, gentlemen in February 1883. The house first appears in the Sands Directory of 1885 occupied by James Thompson and named ‘Glenfarne’. It is likely the house was built in late 1883 or 1884. The design of the house strongly resembles the house ‘Rothesay’ in Abbotsford Road, which was designed by architect Herbert Thompson, the son of the owner of ‘Rothesay’ Samuel Thompson.
James Thompson was the Treasurer of the Homebush-Strathfield Congregational Church committee. This church is located on the corner of Homebush Road and Albert Road. This Church was also designed by Herbert Thompson in 1883.
James Thompson was a signatory to a petition in 1884 to establish local government in the area now known as Strathfield Council. Thompson was elected to the first Strathfield Council in 1885 as an Alderman. In June 1886 Thompson registered a power of attorney to his wife Louisa May Thompson. Thompson died in 1888 aged 51 years. His widow Louisa remained at the house until 1893 and then leased it to Frederick Dansey until 1896, followed by H J Daniels JP until 1899. Daniels was the Town Clerk of Sydney Council. Louisa Thompson died in 1909.
The grounds of the land were subdivided creating 9 lots including Lot 1, which contained the house and significant grounds. The subdivision was marketed as the ‘Glenfarne Estate’.
An application by transmission was made in May 1910 by Rev. Robert Alfred Thompson, son of James and Louisa Thompson, a Congregational minister of Summer Hill, which transferred ownership of the estate to him. Thompson was married to Edith Buzacott, the daughter of Walter Sewell Buzacott.
In May 1910, Arthur Alexander Woodhill Esq purchased Lots 1 and 2 from the subdivision, which included the house..
In October 1913, the property was acquired by Joseph Mitchell. Mitchell was the Managing Director of Burns Philp & Co and he lived at ‘Glenfarne’ until his death in 1968. He married Irene Sheppard in 1897 and a couple had one daughter.
Joseph Mitchell was the son of the late William Mitchell of Picton in NSW. He was born in 1874 and educated at Camden Grammar School. He joined Burns Philp & Co in 1891, became the Branch Manager 1895-1914, Island Branch Manager 1914-17, Manager and Director Burns Philp & Co of San Francisco USA 1917-19, Director Burns Philp [South Sea] Coy Ltd, Wyben Pearling Co. Ltd, Kulon Plantations Ltd, New Britain Plantations Ltd, New Hanover Plantations Ltd, Robinson River Plantations Ltd, Faning Island Plantations Ltd, New Britain Corporations Ltd, Burns Philp Trust Coy Ltd, Vavasseurs Ahloma Ltd and Vice-Consul for Netherlands at Thursday Island in 1903-14.
Following the death of Mitchell, the property transferred in August 1968 to Burns Philip, trustee company, Ltd, and Ralph Sanders, Barclay of Sydney, solicitor as joint tenants. In January 1969, ‘Glenfarne’ transferred to Noel Vincent Shanahan and Terrence Patrick Shanahan of Homebush, dental surgeons, as joint tenants. Terrence Patrick Shanahan of Strathfield, dentist became the sold owner in September 1980. In 1988, part of the land was subdivided and residential complex for older residents was constructed on part of the land.
References
Who’s Who in Australia [1944]
Sands Sydney Directory
Glenfarne Subdivison Map 1910
NSW Land Registry
ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. (1888, April 20). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900), p. 2876.
New Congregational Church at Homebush. (1883, December 8). The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 – 1912), p. 1087.
