By Cathy Jones
1 Rochester Street is the oldest shop in existence in the Rochester Street shopping centre. This shop was approved for construction in August 1910 for its owner Alex Davis, who is also noted as the builder. The building consisted of a shop and dwelling on the first floor. The estimated value of the construction was £950. The shop is designed in a Federation Arts and Crafts style and features a balcony on the first floor.
The first occupant of the shop was butcher Walter Sydney Hales. An advertisement for ‘Walter Hales, family butcher and meat expert and specialist’ features in Wilson’s Authentic Directory of Sydney and Suburbs in 1913, an early street directory of Sydney. In 1916, the butcher’s licence was transferred to the Silverton Meat Company. This shop was later occupied by the Neirbo Butchering Company. The shop was still used a butcher shop until at least 1965.
Since this time, the shop has been occupied by the Cheesecake Shop and is currently an Indian Supermarket.
Reference
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield
Jones, C ‘Homebush Shopping Village’, Strathfield Scene, June 2004
Strathfield Council Building Register
Wilson’s Authentic Directory of Sydney and Suburbs, 1913
Strathfield Heritage 