By Cathy Jones 2025
‘Llandaff’, 73 Redmyre Road Strathfield is a Victorian villa. It is located on the 1793 Thomas Rose grant and was built in 1891. The house first appears in 1896 Sands Directory for Mrs Morrison. Redmyre Road was renumbered in July 1966 but the number of this house was unaltered.
James Powell, a landowner of Homebush acquired part of the Thomas Rose 1793 land grant, which was subdivided as deposited plan 1886. In July 1889, he transferred Lots 17 to Sydney Powell. By June 1891, land was transferred to Alexander Ross, a builder. It is likely that the house was built by Ross in 1891 or early 1892 and after completion, was sold.
Ross transferred ownership of the property in March 1892 to Mrs Olivia Morrison, wife of Thomas Morrison, a city based draper. The house was transferred as a ‘life estate subject to power of appointment’. The house was known as ‘The Retreat’. Mrs Morrison owned the house until 1916. For much of the period, it was tenanted including to A J Hunter (1897-1898) who named the house ‘Carlyle’, R Thompson (1900), Mrs M Houston (1901-1905), Charles Henty (1906-1909), Joseph B Scholes JP (1910-1911), John G Auslebrook (1912-1914) and Frank Robinson (1915-1916).
The property was transferred in March 1916 to Mary Waters, a widow. Mary was the widow of William Thomas Waters of the city based retail store ‘W T Waters & Co’ in King Street. W T Waters & Co was a prestigious store specialising in European fashions and drapery. In 1925, W T Waters & Co was sold to McDowells. Mrs Waters renamed the house ‘Llandaff’. Mary Waters died in 1926.
Following the death of Mary Waters in 1926 and an application for transmission was made by her son, Alexander Faulkner Waters, retired merchant in August 1927. An advertisement for auction sale of the house appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald in October 1927 provides a description of the house and its interiors.
By Order of the Executors of the Estate of the late Mary Waters. Strathfield, “Llandaff” No. 73 Redmyre-Road. On north side, close to Homebush Road and Motor Bus. Attractive Cottage Residence, built of brick with slate roof, and containing: Tiled Front and Return Verandahs, Wide Hall, Sitting Room, Drawing-room, Breakfast-room, 4 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Maid’s Room and Bathroom, Kitchen. Pantries, Laundry, Garage. Let on lease until March next. The Grounds are laid out in well-kept gardens, lawns, and gravel paths. Land, about 80 Feet 6 inches to Redmyre Road, by a depth of about 249 feet 6 inches through to Oxford Road at rear.
In August 1928, ‘Llandaff’ was sold to Francis Armand Bland for £2060. Bland (1882-1967) a prominent Australian public servant, academic, and politician. Bland earnt degrees in arts, law, and economics from the University of Sydney. He became known for his work in adult education and public administration, teaching at the University of Sydney and authoring several influential books on government and administration. Bland was appointed the first professor of Public Administration at the University of Sydney in 1935 serving until 1947. He was deeply involved in local government reform and was a strong advocate for an efficient, independent public service. He was also active in various voluntary organizations and church activities. After his retirement from academia was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party from 1951 to 1961 for the electorate of Warringah. He was known for his advocacy of parliamentary committees and public accountability. Bland was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1958 for his services.
Bland sold ‘Llandaff’ in 1961 when he retired from public office. The house was transferred in August 1961 to Lawrence Conway, company director and his wife Suzanne, as joint tenants for £12,000.
References
“Advertising.” (1927 Oct 22).The Sydney Morning Herald, page 24.
Curnow, Ross (1993)., ‘Bland, Francis Armand (1882–1967)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University,
Family Notices (1893, February 7). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 1. Retrieved October 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13896496
Department of Valuer-General, Municipality of Strathfield, Valuation Lists
Electoral Rolls
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
Late Mr W T Waters. Estate valued at £35,000. (1914 Feb 19), Sydney Morning Herald, page 5.
Sands Sydney Directory
Strathfield Council Valuation Lists (1886-1920)
