By Cathy Jones 2025
Gowan Brae’ 65 Burlington Road Homebush, with ‘Talgai’ at 63 Burlington Road Homebush, is one of a pair of single storey face brick and roughcast stucco late Federation Queen Anne style houses built by David Cunningham, a prolific local builder, in 1914-1915. ‘Gowan Brae’ is located on Lot 36, Section 11 of the Village of Homebush Estate (deposited plan 400)
The ‘Village of Homebush” Estate was an 1878 subdivision of land that came under the ownership of James Underwood. The estate measured 306 acres and created Burlington Rd, Beresford Road, Abbotsford Rd, Bridge St, Coventry Rd, Meredith St, Homebush Crescent and Bellevue Street. A section of Coventry Road has been renamed Mackenzie Street. Bellevue Street has been renamed Homebush Road and Homebush Crescent has been renamed The Crescent.
The section of Burlington Road, between Meredith Street and Bridge Road, is located on Sections 11 and 12 of the ‘Village of Homebush’ Estate. Residential development commenced c.1880 in this section of Burlington Road.
Ownership of the Lots 36 and 37 transferred several times until the land lots were acquired by Alexander Lundie in 1881. In February 1914, Lundie transferred Lot 37, which was vacant, to Margaret Cunningham, wife of David Cunningham of Strathfield, while retaining ownership of Lot 36. In March 1914, a building application was lodged to Strathfield Council by David Cunningham, a builder of Broughton Rd Strathfield for approval to build a brick cottage of more than 5 rooms. The estimated value of the building was £775.
The house named ‘Gowan Brae’ first appeared in the 1915 Sands Directory, occupied by Alexander Lundie. The house was originally 61 Burlington Road, but renumbered 65 Burlington Road in 1957
After completion of the building in 1914, the house was occupied by Alexander Lundie and his wife Alice Emily Lundie. Lundie died in 1934. A transmission application was made by his widow, Alice Lundie in February 1935. In 1940, Alice Lundie died. The property remained in the Lundie family until 1942 when it was transferred to Gladys Tie, administrator of the estate of Alice Emily Lundie.
The property was sold in July 1945 to Ellen and Clarence Steele, a railway clerk and his wife for £1400. In July 1945, ownership transferred to Ellen Steele.
On 30 November 1956, the property transferred (by transmission) to Wallace Thomas Shears, engineer and Valerie Shears, his wife.
References
Commonwealth of Australia Electoral Rolls
Department of Valuer-General, Municipality of Strathfield, Valuation Lists
NSW Land Registry
Sands Sydney Directory published until 1932/3 by John Sands
Strathfield Council Building Register
