By Cathy Jones
Strathfield Avenue is located between The Boulevarde and Nicholas Parade. The street name is named after the house ‘Strathfield’.
This home was built in 1868 for Walter Renny, painter and decorator and Mayor of Sydney [1869-70]. ‘Strathfieldsaye’ was a two-storey brick residence with a lodge, stables and other outbuildings and was set back about 600 ft from The Boulevarde. Ownership of the property was transferred several times including to Davidson Nichol, who shortened the name to ‘Strathfield House’, then ‘Strathfield’. After Nichol’s death in 1880, the property was sub-divided with ‘Strathfield’ preserving over 3 acres and located at the end of the newly created Strathfield Avenue cul-de-sac. By the 1930’s, the grounds of the house were further reduced and the land was subdivided with the remainder of land used to extend Strathfield Avenue through to Nichol Parade and its dedication as a public road in 1935. The house was demolished for residential sub-division.
In 1885, the Municipal District took the name ‘Strathfield’ rather than ‘Redmyre’ [the original name of the suburb] when Strathfield Municipal Council was incorporated. In 1886, the Council requested that the NSW Government change the name of the suburb [postal district] and railway station from Redmyre to Strathfield.
Past residents
Walter Renny, Lord Mayor of Sydney [1869-1870], built ‘Strathfieldsaye’ (later known as ‘Strathfield House’ and then ‘Strathfield’) in 1868. Later residents included John Hardy, of Hardy Bros Jewellers, John Maclean Arnott, managing director of Arnott’s Biscuits, and Joseph Vickery, son of Hon. Ebenezer Vickery MLC and a prominent businessman.
‘Lynton’ (also known as ‘Glen Ayr’) was built by Walter Sewell Buzacott, proprietor of a ships chandlery business on the corner of The Boulevarde and Strathfield Avenue in 1883. Peter Mathieson, successful city businessman and property owner, from 1906 to his death in 1953. The property was sold to John Olley Sherwood, a prominent tennis player of the 1920’s who subdivided the land into six lots and sold in 1953.
Historic Properties
15 Strathfield Avenue Strathfield
19 Strathfield Avenue Strathfield
20 Strathfield Avenue Strathfield
Strathfield Heritage 