By Cathy Jones 2024
22 Strathfield Avenue Strathfield was built on land subdivided from the grounds of ‘Strathfield House’. The subdivision from the estate of Joseph Vickery created five lots facing Strathfield Avenue including ‘Strathfield House’ was sold between 1937 and 1940[1]. Lot D was transferred to Vickery’s daughters, Lillian Emily Vickery (1883-1960) and Mary Burgess Vickery (1885-1977). The Vickery family were devout members of the Methodist Church.
The Vickery sisters made an application Strathfield Council Building Register Vol.5 (1935-1940) records a building application [BA 273/1939] and approval on 9 December 1939 by the applicants Misses Vickery, Strathfield Avenue Strathfield. The builder is identified as C Smith, Thirroul. The application was described as a brick dwelling of seven rooms with a tile roof at an estimated cost of £1685. The house was designed by architect Norman McPherson. The Sydney Morning Herald in November 1939 advertised that a contract was let by McPherson to the builder C Smith to erect a two storey building in Strathfield Avenue.
The house was designed by Norman Welland McPherson. McPherson, was an artist, organist and architect, he obtained his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Sydney in 1923 and was initially employed by the firm Budden and Greenwell. By 1926, McPherson had formed his own practice with partners D.A.W Harrison and K.A. Hassell. McPherson was raised in the Methodist church and much of his work was ecclesiastical, designing for both the Methodists and the Church of England, including churches at Waitara (1931), Balgowlah (1932), Bankstown (undated), Manly (1932) Narooma (1935), Roseville (unconfirmed), Sutherland (1936), Mayfield (1937), and Wellington (1937-38), Eastwood (1941).
Lillian Vickery lived at 22 Strathfield Avenue until her death in 1960, she was survived by her sister Mary as tenant in common. Mary died in 1977.
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield
Malcolm, S ‘Old Homes of Strathfield’, 1982 March, Strathfield District Historical Society Newsletter.
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986.
Jones, Michael, Oasis in the West, Allen & Unwin, 1985
Strathfield Council Building Register Vol.5 (1935-1940)
Strathfield Heritage 