by Cathy Jones 2020
‘Brockby Lodge’ 123-127 Homebush Road Strathfield was built in 1923 for Harold Arnott (1888-1971), director of Arnott’s Biscuits Ltd. Arnott was the grandson of biscuit manufacturer, William Arnott, founder of Arnott’s Biscuits, and son of Managing Director, Leslie Arnott. Arnott married Nellie Huffam (1885-1976) and the couple had two children, Hayden Arnott (1913-2004) and Terrence Arnott (1914-1988).
The Sydney based Arnott Biscuit factory was located at George Street Homebush from 1906 to 1997 (though the head office is still located at Homebush). Many members of the Arnott’s family resided in Strathfield from the early 1900s for several decades.
In April 1923, Harold Arnott acquired Lots 7 & 8 and part 9, which is situated on the corner of Homebush Road and Victoria Street. The land title contained a covenant requiring buildings to be built from stone or brick at minimum cost of £500. Arnott lodged an application with Strathfield Council to build a new residence in August 1923. It was described as a brick residence of more than fourteen rooms with tiled roof at an estimated cost of £7000. The house was designed by prominent architect Stafford Harmon Buchannan and the builder was C J Buessel, Victoria St, Epping.
The house was originally numbered 93 Homebush Road, but was renumbered 123 Homebush Road in 1960.
‘Brockby Lodge’ is a heritage item on Strathfield Council’s Local Environmental Plan, classified by the National Trust and listed by the Royal Institute of Architects as a significant building of the Twentieth Century.
Arnott remained the owner of ‘Brockby Lodge’ until his death in 1971. The family sold the house in 1975.
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield
Jahn, Graeme (1997), ‘Sydney Architecture’, Watermark Press
Jones, C., ‘Arnott Family’, viewed at http://strathfieldheritage.org/people/biographies/arnott-family/
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory
Strathfield Council Building Register
