By Cathy Jones (2021, revised 2024)
‘Durelli’ 8-10 Albyn Road Strathfield was built in 1911 by its owner Henry Cook Grant, a building contractor.
The house was built on parts Lots 1-4 on deposited plan 122, a subdivision of land owned by Thomas James Thompson, a stock and sharebroker[1]. Thompson was the owner of ‘Malvern’, a large estate which fronted The Boulevarde bounded by Albyn Road at its northern boundary and Kingsland Road at its western boundary. This subdivision created residential lots on Albyn Road. In July 1910, part of Lots 1 to 4 were sold to Henry Cook Grant[2].
Henry Cook Grant (1883-1984) was a building contractor of the firm John Grant & Co Pty Ltd. In June 1911, an accepted tender by H C Grant to build a cottage in Albyn Road was published in Construction[3]. In 1911, Cook married Adelaide Pearce (1878-1954). The house first appears in the 1912 Sands Sydney Directory occupied by H C Grant and named ‘Durelli’[4]. The house was originally numbered 2 Albyn Road but renumbered 8-10 in 1952.
In April 1912, the property was transferred to Grant’s wife Adelaide Emma Grant[5]. In 1927, approval was granted by Strathfield Council to H C Grant for brick additions at an estimated cost of £3500.
Following the death of Adelaide Cook in 1954, an application for transmission in August 1955 was made by Henry Grant of Strathfield, engineer, Kenneth Grant of Seaforth, Company Director, and Allison Jean Walker of Collaroy, married woman, as joint tenants[6].
The property was sold in September 1955 to Constantine Coombs of Strathfield, Company Director[7]. The house was sold for £10,750. The property transferred in February 1974 to Desmond John Cooper of Merrylands, chemist and his wife Beverly Cooper as joint tenants[8].
An advertisement for auction, which is undated but likely from mid-1980’s from real estate agents Raine & Horne states:
‘Torringworth’ was constructed in 1910 with a northerly aspect to the exacting specification of Henry Cook Grant on a 1860m block. Located in the ‘Golden Mile’ this original brick/slate residence has all the features of the early 1900’s with 5 bedrooms, 3 of these having adjoining studies, grand entrance foyer leading to the formal lounge and dining, ballroom/billiard room, conservatory, family room, 2 bathrooms and modern kitchen. The spacious rear yard has a swimming pool and double garage and space could be available for a tennis court. Land: 30.48m x 60.96m [100ft x 200ft].
References
Advertising (1911, June 12). Construction: weekly supplement to Building, p1 page . Retrieved March 26 2023 from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234759685
Electoral roll, Division of Lowe, 1949, 1954
Electoral Roll, Division of Reid, 1930, 1933
Electoral Roll, Division of Parkes, 1935, 1936, 1943
NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title V.1233 f.5 and Certificate of Title V.2087 f.46
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory 1910-1933
Strathfield Council Building Register
The Sun, 1950 9 Feb, ‘Building brothers at law’, p7
Department of the Valuer General NSW – Valuation List – Valuation District of Strathfield
Footnotes
[1] Certificate of Title V.1233 f.5
[2] Certificate of Title V.2087 f.46
[3] Advertising (1911, June 12). Construction: weekly supplement to Building, p1
[4] Sands Sydney Directory 1911-1932. H C Grant was the continuously occupier until 1932, final Sands publication.
[5] Certificate of Title V.2087 f.46
[6] Certificate of Title V.2087 f.46
[7] Certificate of Title V.2087 f.46
[8] Certificate of Title V.2087 f.46
Strathfield Heritage 