By Cathy Jones (2023)
‘Gwendoline’ 13 Albyn Road Strathfield is two storey Victorian styled house with Gothic influences.
The house is built on land originally granted to James Wilshire in 1810. Wilshire’s grant was subdivided as the Redmire Estate in 1867.
By 1880, Lot 17, section 3, deposited plan 538 was owned by William Cargill. The house known as ‘Lanilohia’ was built c.1882. The house first appears in the 1883 Sands Directory for Captain William Cargill and was named ‘Lanilohia’[1].
William Cargill (1941-1902), was a master mariner. He married Jessie Wallace Moodie (1849-1911), daughter of Captain Robert Troup Moodie, who lived at ‘Kima’ 11 Albyn Rd. Captain William Cargill died in 1902.
In April 1891, ownership of the house transferred to the Mercantile Bank of Sydney until 1896[2]. Mrs L M Hassell is listed as the occupant in Sands Directory from 1890 to 1893[3]. During this time, the house was known as ‘Bundulla’[4]. John Bennett is listed as the occupant in 1895.
Ownership transferred in February 1896 to Esther Jones Threlkeld (née Lloyd) of Strathfield, a widow[5]. Esther Lloyd Threkeld (1831-1901) lived in the house until her death. She renamed the house ‘Gwendoline’[6]. The house was occupied until 1925 by Sarah Lloyd Gravely (1848-1925), the niece of Esther Lloyd Threkheld[7].
In 1926, ownership transferred to Marmaduke Masterman, a Mill Manager. Masterman renamed the house ‘Valletta’[8]. In 1938, ownership transferred to Bessie Hood, a widow and James Hood, an engineer as joint tenants[9]. The house was registered in 1945 to Bessie Hood as sole owner[10]. It again transferred to Ian Robin Hood, a company director.
In 1952, the house was renumbered 13 Albyn Road. It was formerly numbered 9 Albyn Rd.
In 1968, the house transferred to Brian Harold Duncan, a dental surgeon[11]. The house was still called ‘Valletta’[12].
Footnotes
[1] Sands Directory
[2] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.564 v.52
[3] Sands Directory
[4] Sands Directory
[5] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.564 v.52
[6] Sands Directory
[7] Sands Directory
[8] Sands Directory
[9] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.564 v.52
[10] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.564 v.52
[11] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.564 v.52
[12] Department of Valuer-General, Valuation List, Municipality of Strathfield 1966
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.564 v.52
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory, 1880-1932/3 published until 1932
