By Cathy Jones
‘Kintore’ is built on land formerly owned by the Camden Congregational College, who acquired the land to build a theological college in Strathfield. Due to onset of the 1890’s Depression the plans were withdrawn and the College proceeded with subdivision and sale of the land. This subdivision includes properties on Albert Road (north-side), Homebush Rd and Beresford Road (south side), which are primarily Federation in style.
‘Kintore’ was built in 1900 by John Lyon Gardiner, a local builder, responsible for designing and building many high quality federation styled houses in Strathfield in streets such as Albert Road (including 71, 73 and 75), Churchill Avenue and Redmyre Road. The house was sold on completion to Herbert Lindsay Thompson, Chief Clerk in the Ministerial branch of the NSW Lands Department and his wife Lola. Lindsay Thompson was the brother of Ernest Lindsay Thompson, an architect and Alderman on Sydney Council, Frederick Lindsay Thompson, a dentist and W. Lindsay Thompson, a solicitor. Author Ethel Turner of ‘Seven Little Australians’ fame was the sister of Frederick Lindsay Thompson’s wife Lillian, who was also a writer.
Herbert Lindsay Thompson died unexpectedly aged 40 in 1903. His widow continued to own ‘Kintore’ until her death in 1955.
Her son, Gordon Lindsay Thompson sold the house in September 1957 for £6000 to Henry and Peggy Oag, a taxi truck proprietor. By 1960, the house was sold to George and Koula Kangas.
References
Thompson, Herbert Lindsay (1863–1903)’, Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/thompson-herbert-lindsay-19918/text31119, accessed 25 July 2020.
Brenda Niall, ‘Thompson, Lilian Wattnall (Lil) (1867–1956)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/thompson-lilian-wattnall-lil-9263/text15605, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 29 July 2020.
Strathfield Heritage 