by Cathy Jones
‘Radstoke’ is located at 2 Malvern Crescent Strathfield, partially located on the land on which the home ‘Malvern’ once stood. ‘Malvern’ was the home of stockbroker Thomas James Thompson (1830-1917). It was located on The Boulevarde, though the property was bounded by Albyn Road and Kingsland Road. ‘Malvern’ was built c.1870 and stood until c.1919.
In 1919, land was purchased by Dr Walter Burfitt from the subdivision of the Malvern estate. Strathfield Council meeting minutes records note that approval was granted to Dr Burfitt on August 26 1919 to build a house on The Boulevarde. ‘Radstoke’ was built in 1920 and is a large interwar house featuring influences of the Arts and Crafts style in use of roughcast render, slate roofing and leadlight windows.
Dr Walter Burfitt [1874-1956], a prominent Sydney surgeon and founder of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1928. Burfitt also established the Walter Burfitt Scholarship in physics and chemistry at University of Sydney, which is still being awarded. After moving to Elizabeth Bay, Burfitt named his new home ‘Radstoke’.
In 1923, Burfitt sold ‘Radstoke’ to Arthur Clifton Wilkinson, Manager of the Australian Woollen Mills for £8000. In 1925, the grounds at the rear of property facing Kingsland Road were subdivided from ‘Radstoke’.
The house ‘Tusmore’ 12-14 Kingsland Road, former home of jeweller William Coote, is built on this site.
In 1933, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the sale of ‘Radstoke’ 2 Malvern Crescent Strathfield for £8000, “the highest price reported for a residence for some considerable time”.
In 1951, the Radstoke subdivision was advertised for sale. This was the subdivision that formed Malvern Crescent.
With this subdivision, ‘Radstoke’s street address altered from The Boulevarde to Malvern Crescent as did the house entrance. 111 The Boulevarde, which obscures ‘Radstoke’s’ visibility to The Boulevarde was built in 1955. Most of the homes in Malvern Crescent were originally built from 1952.
References
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
Hardie & Gorman Pty Ltd, Properties and Premises, November 1 1918, p2
McCarthy, G J, ‘Walter Burfitt’, Bright Sparcs Biographical Index, Australian Science and
Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne, 2004.
Radstoke subdivision and auction posters 1951.
Strathfield Council Valuation Lists and Notices of Land Transfer.
Strathfield Council Certificate of Subdivision 29 January 1930
Real Estate – this week’s business – residence sold for £8000, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 September 1933, p8
Strathfield Heritage 