By Cathy Jones 2023
‘Weemabah’, 74–76 Homebush Road, Strathfield, was built in 1914 for Edward Henry Joyce, Managing Director of Joyce Bros Ltd, a prominent bag and sack manufacturing company. Design of the house has been attributed to architect George Sydney Jones (Royal Australian Institute of Architects) and it was constructed by builder J. Frizelle. Initially named Ban-Tigh, it was built as a substantial brick residence with a slate roof, its construction valued at £1,500, well above the average for the time.
Joyce and his family lived there until 1919. After the death of his wife in 1920, the house was sold to William Higman, an accountant connected to Joyce Bros, who renamed it Weemabah. In 1925, ownership passed to Nigel Chase Barker, an Olympian and engineer, who later became Managing Director of Australian Crystal Glass Ltd. Barker retained the name Weemabah and lived there until selling the property in 1940 to chemist Norman Orr, whose family operated Orr’s Pharmacy in Strathfield.
In 1956, the house was purchased by Dr. Clement Walsh and his wife Lois. It was officially renumbered as 74–76 Homebush Road in 1960. The property has undergone several modifications, including additions of a garage, pool, and roof replacement.
References
Collection of Australian Glass, Powerhouse Museum NSW, viewed at https://collection.maas.museum/object/168513 on 16 March 2023
Crown Crystal Glass Pty Ltd order books, Powerhouse Museum NSW, viewed at https://collection.maas.museum/object/49104 on 16 March 2023
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
Institute of Mining Engineers. (1912, September 10). Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 – 1916), p. 19. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33413271 (Nigel Chase Barker)
Joyce Bros Pty Ltd, Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1942), Thursday 19 March 1914, p36
Joyce Bros Pty Ltd. (1950, May 5), NSW Government Gazette
‘Edward Joyce’ (1936), Index to Deceased Estate Files, NSW Archives, 1859-1958
McLeary, A (1981) ‘Gadsden, Jabez (1858–1936)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, viewed at: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gadsden-jabez-6267/text10797, published first in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 15 March 2023.
NSW Register of Significant Architecture, 2020, Australian Institute of Architects, viewed at https://www.architecture.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Australian-Institute-of-Architects-NSW-Register-of-Significant-Architecture_April-2020.pdf
Registered Companies. (1920, January 28). Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 – 1954), p. 8 (Weekly Summary). Retrieved March 16, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159309271 (Australian Filters)
Registered Companies. (1920, May 12). Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 – 1954), p. 4. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159315757 (Crystal Class Company)
Sands Directory
Strathfield Council Building Register Vol. 1
Tariff Board Evidence (1930 September 18) Daily Examiner, p5
The Wybern Newington College, 2012 August 16, Newsletter of Wybern Preparatory School, viewed at https://newsletter.newington.nsw.edu.au/wyvern/article/articles-from-the-archives/
