By Cathy Jones 2024
Vera’ 18 Broughton Road Strathfield is a single storey cement rendered brick Victorian style villa built in 1892.
‘Vera’ is built on parts lots 1 and 2, section 5 of the 1878 Village of Homebush estate. The land measured 41 feet (width) and 150 feet (depth). In April 1892, these lots were transferred from the ownership of real estate agent Alexander Gregg to speculative builder William John Finnernan[1]. In April 1892, Finnernan registered a mortgage to Mary Cooke, a widow of Middle Harbour[2]. It is likely that the house was built at this time.
Though transfer of ownership was registered in July 1892 to Alfred Thomas Carpenter, the certificate of land title does not record that the mortgage had been discharged[3]. It appears that ownership was later successfully contested by the executors of Mary Cooke’s estate[4]. In the 1890s, Australia experienced a severe economic depression, which resulted in collapses of financial institutions, record unemployment, business failures and bankruptcies. The builder Finnernan was declared bankrupt in 1894[5].
In July 1899 the executors of the will of Mary Cooke exercising their power of sale sold the property to Abigail Daniels, wife of Joseph Daniels of Homebush[6]. Sands Directory records J Daniels as the occupant in 1900, however until 1924 when the house was sold, it appears to have been leased[7]. From 1901 to 1904, it was leased to Walter George Johnson, a butcher, and Minnie Johnson[8]. The house name ‘Feroy’ appears in Sands Directory in 1904[9]. From 1905-1908 David Henderson, an accountant, was the occupant and the house was known as ‘Vera’[10]. From 1912-1914, Minnie Johnson, a costumier was the occupant[11]. From 1916-1922, the house was known as ‘Vera’ and occupied by Mrs John Ayres[12].
The house was originally numbered 14 Broughton Road. It was renumbered 18 Broughton Rd in 1957.
In September 1924 ‘Vera’ was transferred to Ernest Charles Pritchard, a milk vendor[13]. Pritchard is recorded in Sands Directory as the occupant in 1926, but during his ownership ‘Vera’ was mainly leased[14].
In March 1932 the property transferred to Cyril Joseph Cahill, a motor mechanic, and in November 1932, it transferred to George Edward Tangye (1891-1948), a railway employee[15]. George lived at ‘Vera’ with his wife Theresa[16]
‘Vera’ was sold in August 1945 to Leon Nowak (1909-1966).[17] Nowak changed the house name to ‘Gyndia’, which is a port city in Poland[18]. In April 1967, Jemima Nowak, his widow, was registered as the owner.
References
[1] Certificate of Title v.884 f.64
[2] Certificate of Title v.1056 f.71
[3] Certificate of Title v.1056 f.71
[4] Certificate of Title v.1056 f.71
[5] IN BANKRUPTCY. (1894, August 14). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900), p. 5114.
[6] Certificate of Title v.1056 f.71
[7] Sands Sydney Directory
[8] Sands Sydney Directory
[9] Sands Sydney Directory
[10] Sands Sydney Directory
[11] Sands Sydney Directory
[12] Sands Sydney Directory
[13] Certificate of Title v.1056 f.71
[14] Sands Sydney Directory
[15] Sands Sydney Directory
[16] NSW Electoral Rolls indicate the Tangye’s resided at 18 Broughton Road
[17] Certificate of Title v.1056 f.71
[18] Valuation records
Strathfield Heritage 