By Cathy Jones 2025
17 Birriwa Avenue Strathfield South was built in 1928 on Lot 19 and is a brick corner shop with an attached interwar California Bungalow with a terracotta roof.
This land on which the house is built was transferred to builder William F Bush in 1927. Approval was granted to William F Bush in March 1928 to construct a residence and shop in Birriwa Avenue, this was followed in May 1928 by approval to build 15 houses in Birriwa Street. In May 1928, Bush transferred ownership to Charles Henry Scales, of North Sydney, grocer. Sands Directory 1929 notes that the shop and residence for Charles and Florence Scales was the only property in Birriwa Avenue.
The Wise Post Office Directory in 1934 and 1935 note William McAllister as operating the grocery business at this address.
The shop and house were originally numbered 18 Birriwa Avenue but was renumbered in 1957 as 17 Birriwa Avenue. Corner shops are very rare the Strathfield district as Council prohibited their building in residential areas from 1920, however this property was located in the former Enfield Council and this restriction did not apply. This part of Enfield was transferred to Strathfield Council in 1949.
In December 1952, Scale’s widow made a transmission application. Ownership was transferred to Florence Scales, who then sold the property in January 1953 to Leslie Charles Loomes, of Belfield, grocer. The property was briefly owned from January 1954 by Stanley and Vera Castlemaine before transferring it in July 1954 to Roy Ogilvey, storekeeper and Dorothy Ogilivy, his wife as joint tenants. In 1960, ownership transferred to Bruno Vertuli, of West Kensington, shopkeeper and his wife Rosario Vartuli, as joint tenants.
References
Building Activity (1928, May 2). The Daily Telegraph, p24
Advertising (1928, March 28). Construction and Local Government Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1913 – 1930), p. 2. Retrieved September 30, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109728254
Department of the Valuer General NSW – Valuation List – Valuation District of Enfield
Enfield Council, Minutes of Council Meetings
NSW Lands Registry
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory
Wise’s New South Wales post office directory 1934, 1935
