By Cathy Jones
Billesdon’ 104 Burlington Road Homebush was built in 1915. This house was featured in Building Magazine in 1915 and identified the architect as Rupert V Minnett. The house was again featured Building Magazine in February 1919 with commentary concerning the unusual design of the house ‘this is severe in its simplicity, and not an elevation in which the Australian usually delights. There are owners who prefer comfort to external effects’.
Approval was granted to construct this house in November 1914 by Strathfield Council. The application was made by H. R Rabone for a brick villa with slate roof of more than nine rooms for an estimated amount of £1100. The builder was J Cooper, Rochester Street, Homebush.
Harold Richard Rabone, was the original owner of the house which was occupied by Stephen Rabone (d.1937), his brother. Both men were accountants. Their father was the Wesleyan Minister the Reverend Stephen Rabone, who served as a Missionary in Tonga. The Rabones were one of a number of residents in Burlington Road whose fathers were Wesleyan Ministers including George Hurst and David Hazlewood. Harold and Stephen Rabone jointly owned a number of houses in Flemington which they built and rented as investment properties.
From 1921 to 1947, the owner of the house was William John Lamble, a manager. Ownership then transferred to Rita Travis. The house sold in 1952 to Herbert & Merle Kienzle. By 1960, the house was owned by Carl & Lois Radeski.
References
‘Bungalow Residence’ (Photograph and inscription). (1915, 12 July). Building; the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant , Vol.15 No.95, pages 76, 79 & 84
’The elevation of the Homebush Cottage Plan’. (1919, February 12). Building; the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant , Vol.23.
1940 ‘PROBATE JURISDICTION.’ (Stephen Rabone), Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), 25 October, p. 4347. , viewed 24 Jul 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225106149
1919 ‘LATE MRS. E. M. RABONE.’, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930), 22 February, p. 10. , viewed 27 Jul 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239586337
Department of the Valuer General NSW – Valuation List – Valuation District of Strathfield
Sands Sydney & Suburban Directory
Strathfield Council Building Register
Wise’s Post Office Directory of Strathfield, Enfield and Homebush 1936.
Strathfield Heritage 