by Cathy Jones 2025
‘Trelawney’, 5 Brunswick Street Strathfield, is a Victorian style house built c.1887. It was the former home of Arthur Kessell, a former Mayor and long serving Alderman of Strathfield Council.
‘Trelawney’ 5 Brunswick Street Strathfield is a Victorian period house, built 1887, featuring a ‘single story, symmetrical facade, with rendered brick construction, slate gable roof, with terracotta capping and finials, corrugated iron bullnosed verandah roof, with cast iron valance and brackets, central entry with side and fanlights, rendered paired eave brackets and a mature garden, which features an elaborate masonry fence’[1].
This house is located on land originally granted to James Wilshire in 1810. Wiltshire’s grant was subdivided by William Whaley Billyard in 1867 and marketed as the ‘Redmire Estate’. In 1868, 22 acres was purchased by Mary Ann Renny, wife of Walter Renny of City of Sydney, painter[2]. In 1874, Renny with ‘the consent of her husband’ sold 22 acres to James Vernon, of Scone, a licensed surveyor, purchased land measuring 18 acres[3]. On April 7 1875, Vernon transferred ownership to his son, John Vernon. Vernon authorised power of attorney to his brother Donald Vernon, of Burwood, in June 1880. The land was subdivided and marketed for sale as the ‘Mount Vernon Estate’ (DP 528).
Joseph Slade, of City of Sydney, builder, bought Lots 20 and 31 in March 1882, land located on the north side of Brunswick Street (then known as Redmyre Street).[4] Strathfield Council Rates records of 1886-1887 note that the four land lots owned by Slade were vacant[5]. In September 1886, Slade transferred Lot 31 to Ann Pumfrey, wife of James Pumfrey of Summer Hill[6]. Lot 31 had a 100 feet frontage 200 feet in depth. It is most likely that the house at 5 Brunswick Street was built in 1887 during the Pumfrey’s ownership. This house named ‘Edith Villa’ was first appears in Sands Directory for James Pumfrey, contractor in 1888[7].
Pumfrey (1845-1918) was described as a plasterer and a builder, however the Pumfrey’s occupancy of the house was short. The house then known as ‘Edith Villa’ was offered for sale by Mrs Ann Pumfrey in 1888. The following advertisement was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on March 21, 1888[8].
“IN THE BOROUGH OF STRATHFIELD. The CHOICE POSITION opposite ST. ANN’S CHURCH[9]. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE COTTAGE RESIDENCE, finished in a superior style, and known as EDITH VILLA. REDMYRE-STREET. The accommodation is as follows: – HALL (6ft.), 2 ROOMS each 22 x 14, 2 ROOMS each 10 x 14, fitted with fireplaces, cornices and centre flowers, electric bells, venetian blinds, & c. There are also servants-room, bathroom, kitchen, pantry, wash-house; gas laid on.
The LAND has 100 FEET frontage and a depth of 200 FEET, being Lot 31, Mount Vernon Estate. TITLE, TORRENS’.
HARDIE and GORMAN have received instructions from Mrs. PUMFREY, who is leaving for Melbourne, to sell by public auction, at their Rooms, 133, Pitt-street, at 11.30 a.m., on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, Tho above described Cottage at STRATHFIELD.
N.B.- Further particulars can be obtained upon application to Mrs. Pumfrey, on the property; to Mr. F. G. Bennett, agent, Burwood or to the auctioneers 133 Pitt-street”.
The house was sold in August 1892 to Egerton Stanley Hayman of Sydney, by William Smith mortgagee exercising power of sale. In August 1900, the property transferred to Maude and Constance Boardman. It was leased until 1905 and was renamed ‘Miowera’. From 1905 to 1909 it was occupied by E Boardman. In 1909, ownership transferred from Maude and Constance Boardman to Charles Edmund Simpson. Simpson was the occupant until 1913 and the house ‘Miowera’.
In July 1913, the house was transferred from Charles Edmund Simpson to Martha Grace Dagmar Kessell, wife of Arthur John Kessell, of Sydney, jeweller on 18 July 1918. The Sands Directory 191 to 1932 (final Sands edition) noted occupancy of Arthur Kessell JP under the house name ‘Trelawney’.
Arthur Kessell (1866-1945) was born in Cornwell, England in 1866. In c.1897, he entered into the partnership, Hollingsdale and Kessell, jeweller and watchmaker in King Street Sydney. Kessell married Martha McMurtie (1866-1945) and the couple had one daughter, Bettina.
Kessell served as an Alderman on Strathfield Council from 1917 to 1944. He was elected at an ordinary Council election held in February 1917. He was elected as Mayor on 11 February 1919 and was re-elected on 10 February 1920. He did not seek re-election in the 1944 election due to failing health. He died in 1945.
Kessell lived at ‘Trelawney’ 5 Brunswick Street Strathfield until his death in 1945. Following his death, the Mayor of Strathfield Colin Hudson stated that ‘throughout his long term of service to the public, Alderman Kessell had carried out his duties fearlessly and thus earned the respect of the community. The many valuable contributions he had made in matters of policy had borne fruit and that as a result Strathfield occupied a position pre-eminent in the Local Government NSW. Those who had been fortunate enough to have been associated with him in his private and public life had also admired his high ideals and integrity’. Kessell Avenue Homebush West and Kessell Square Strathfield are named for him.
Martha Kessell remained the owner until 1951 when it was purchased by John Ralph Elliott, a manager.
References
[1] Fox & Associates (1986), Heritage Inventory Sheet 176, ‘Victorian Villa 5 Brunswick Avenue Strathfield’
[2] Certificate of Title v.78 f.30
[3] Certificate of Title v.231 f.205
[4] Certificate of Title v.231 f.205
[5] Strathfield Council Rates Record 1886-1887
[6] Certificate of Title v.231 f.205
[7] Sands Directory 1888, Strathfield
[8] Advertising (1888, March 21). SMH, p. 13
[9] St Anne’s Anglican Church was once located on Vernon St.
