By Cathy Jones (2023)
‘Temora’ 22 Brooklyn Street Strathfield South is a single storey Victorian Filigree style house with a steeply pitched hipped corrugated iron roof.
This property is built on land granted to James Wilshire in 1810, which commenced subdivision in 1867 as the ‘Redmire Estate’. In 1884, Henry Chesterton Pilcher acquired Lot 12, Section 4 of Deposited Plan 440. Though ownership of the property were transferred to various members of the family, it remained in the ownership of a member of the Pilcher family until 1927[1].
The house ‘Temora’ was built 1889-1890. It first appears in 1891 in the Sands Directory for Frederick Pilcher, the son of Henry Chesterton Pilcher[2]. Pilcher owned the house until July 1890, when it was transferred to his son Frederick, who was married in 1890[3]. It is likely the house was completed around this time. Henry Chesterton Pilcher lived nearby at ‘Kenton’, another house in Brooklyn Street.
Henry Chesterton Pilcher (1841-1923) migrated to Australia in 1883 from Kent, England with his wife Fanny (née Bush) (1840-1923) and 10 children, finally settling in Druitt Town[4]. By mid-1855 he started a bakery located on the corner of Byers Street and Liverpool Road Enfield[5].
With his sons, he started a family baking business that became one of the largest bakery businesses in the western suburbs[6]. The 1892 Sands Directory notes that the business was listed as ‘H C Pilcher & Sons’ on Liverpool Rd[7].
Enfield Council was incorporated in 1889. Pilcher was elected to Enfield Council representing the Central Ward in February 1894, re-elected in February 1897 and in February 1903. He was elected Mayor in 1903 but resigned in 1904 to go overseas. He was associated with the introduction of electricity for street lighting purposes[8].
In April 1901, ‘Temora’ was transferred to Fanny Pilcher, wife of Henry Chesterton Pilcher[9]. In November 1920, ownership transferred to Laura Pilcher, daughter of Henry and Fanny Pilcher[10].
Henry Chesterton Pilcher died 1926 at his residence at ‘Kenton’ 18 Brooklyn Street Enfield and is buried at St Thomas’ Anglican Church and Cemetery, Enfield[11]. His wife died three years earlier and he is survived by survive nine children, 35 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren[12].
Pilcher Street Strathfield South is named for him.
In August 1927, the house was transferred to Samuel George Evans of Enfield, dairyman[13]. It was then transferred in July 1949 to Ophelia Holland, wife of Richard Corin Foster Holland of Hunters Hill, engineer[14].
The house was transferred in April 1958 to Ivan Petunim, civil engineer, and May Petunim, his wife.
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Enfield
Enfield Municipal Council Electoral Rolls 1914-1931
Enfield Municipal Council, Valuation Lists
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
Jackson, S. (1999), St Thomas’ Enfield – A matter of grave importance.
NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
OBITUARY. (1926, June 16). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 14. Retrieved September 9, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16299318
Footnotes
[1] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
[2] Sands Suburban Directory, Enfield Municipality
[3] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
[4] Jackson, S. (1999), St Thomas’ Enfield – A matter of grave importance
[5] Jackson, S. (1999), St Thomas’ Enfield – A matter of grave importance
[6] Jackson, S. (1999), St Thomas’ Enfield – A matter of grave importance
[7] Sands Suburban Directory, Enfield Municipality
[8]Obituary. Mr H C Pilcher (1926 June 16), Sydney Morning Herald, p. 14
[9] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
[10] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
[11] Jackson, S. (1999), St Thomas’ Enfield – A matter of grave importance
[12] Jackson, S. (1999), St Thomas’ Enfield – A matter of grave importance
[13] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
[14] NSW Land Register, Certificate of Title v.500 f.156
