By Cathy Jones 2024
A more detailed history of this property is contained in the January/February 2024 Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society Newsletter.
‘Idalia’ was a substantial two storey Federation house built c.1907, located on the north-eastern corner of the prominent intersection of Homebush Road and Albert Road Strathfield. The house had frontages on both Homebush and Albert Roads. ‘Idalia’ was later used as private hospital called ‘Bronwyn’ and was demolished in 1973 and replaced with a three storey unit development.
By 1904, the land on which ‘Idalia’ was built was owned by William Rigg. Rigg (1847-1926) was founder of the Clyde Engineering Company, Alderman for 23 years and six time Mayor of Newtown Council. Rigg was also Member of the Legislative Assembly (1894-1901). It appears that ‘Idalia’ was built during Rigg’s ownership and then sold on completion.
Contracts were let in July 1906 by the architect Joseph Kethel to builders Grater Brothers to erect a house on Homebush Road Strathfield. Kethel was active in the Strathfield and Homebush area in this period. He also designed ‘Edensor’ 19 Meredith Street Homebush and ‘Yambah’ 28 Coventry Rd Homebush, which were built around 1906-1907.
In September 1907, ownership of land transferred from Rigg to Emma Elizabeth Hardy, wife of John Hardy. It is assumed that the house was completed at the time of the sale. John Hardy (1830-1909) and his wife Emma (1845-1939) (née Houlding) owned and lived at ‘Strathfield House’ from 1881 to 1907. ‘Strathfield’ (also known as ‘Strathfieldsaye’ and ‘Strathfield House’) was one of Strathfield’s grandest houses. Hardy was a prominent local resident of early Strathfield. In 1839, Hardy founded with his brother Samuel, the city based jewellery firm Hardy Brothers, Watchmakers and Jewellers (which is still in operation today).
The Hardy’s sold ‘Strathfield House’ and moved to ‘Idalia’, likely late 1907 or early 1908. The house first appears in 1909 Sands Directory under the name ‘Idalia’ and was numbered 36 Homebush Road Strathfield. John Hardy died in December 1909. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the funeral service was conducted at his home ‘Idalia’ Homebush Rd Strathfield before transferring to Rookwood Necropolis for burial. His widow, Emma Hardy lived at ‘Idalia’ until her death in January 1939.
The house was sold in February 1940 to Eileen Dorothy McGloin (1900-1986) (née Moran), wife of Joseph Michael McGloin ( -1957) of Haberfield, company director and pharmacist. McGloin was company director of J M McGloin Pty Ltd, manufacturing chemists (now known as McGloins-Supertex manufacturing and suppliers). J M McGloin Pty Ltd was established in 1932. In the 1970’s McGloins factory was located in Dean Street Strathfield South.
Part of lot 34 was subdivided from the grounds of the house. The land containing the house ‘Idalia’ was reduced to a frontage of 87 feet and was sold in December 1956 to Leo John Harrison of Strathfield, medical practitioner. In August 1957, it was sold to Alice Mascotte Brown of Forest Lodge, married woman. The house was renumbered 48 Homebush Road in 1960.
In June 1961, the house was sold to Johannes Wamstcken and Jean Wamsteken as tenants in common. The house was repurposed and renamed ‘Bronwyn Private Hospital’. The property was transferred in October 1965 to Albert Edward Higginsbottom and Gotha Franzesksa Higginbottom as joint tenants. In 1973, the house was demolished and a block of 3 storey units built on the site.
References
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION. (1906, July 21). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930), p. 11. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237639593
Contracts Let (1906 July 24), Sydney Morning Herald, page 11 “Erection of residence. Mr J A Kethel, architect. Messrs Grater Brothers, builders
Department of Valuer General, Valuations Lists, Municipality of Strathfield
Morrison, W Frederic (1888), ‘Hardy Brothers’, The Aldine Centennial History of New South Wales – W. Frederic Morrison – 1888
NSW Land Register, Certificate of Titles
“Old Boomerang” Dead. (1918, May 3). The Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser (NSW : 1904 – 1929), p. 2. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123890519
PERSONAL. (1909, December 25). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 8. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15075761 (John Hardy funeral)
Ryerson Index (death Emma Hardy)
Strathfield Council, Valuation lists
Teale, Ruth, ‘Houlding, John Richard (1822–1918)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/houlding-john-richard-3804/text6029, published first in hardcopy 1972, accessed online 3 December 2023.
Strathfield Heritage 