By Cathy Jones 2024
28 Strathfield Avenue Strathfield was built on grounds of the mansion ‘Strathfield House’, which was subdivided and sold between 1937 and 1940[1]. The subdivision created five lots facing Strathfield Avenue including ‘Strathfield House’.
In November 1939, Harland Vickery lodged a building application on Lot F for a brick dwelling designed by architect Norman McPherson[2].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). McPherson also designed 22 Strathfield Avenue Strathfield.
Strathfield Council Building Register Vol.5 (1935-1940) records a building application (BA 131/1940) and approval on 7 July 1940 by the applicant H L Vickery, Strathfield Avenue Strathfield. The builder is identified as C S Smith, Thirroul. The application was described as a brick dwelling of eight rooms with a tile roof at an estimated cost of £1150[3]. The house is estimated to have completed in 1940.
The completed house was featured in Construction Magazine in 1942 which stated that:
“Constructed of texture brickwork of rich toning, the design of this new house is dignified and solid in appearance. The main feature of the design is a triple arched opening to the verandah. Emphasis has been directed towards these archers by projecting them 4 1/2 inches from the main prices of the brickwork. Lantern have been incorporated on small peers in between The Archers. Between the windows of the upper story every third course has been projected, thus providing a rusticated effect and giving it a banded appearance”[4].
Harland Lamplough Vickery (1894-1969) was the son of industrialist Joseph Vickery (1857-1930) and his wife Emily Annie Lamplough Firth (1862-1939). Harland Vickery lived at ‘Strathfield House’ in Strathfield Avenue as a youth. His father Joseph Vickery owned and lived at ‘Strathfield House’ until his death in 1930.
Harland and his sisters Lilian and Mary were executors of their father’s estate. They subdivided part of the grounds of ‘Strathfield House’ creating Lots A-F DP 17657 with front access to Strathfield Avenue bounded by Nichol Parade. Lot F was transferred to Harland Vickery in 1957[5]. Lot F was located on Strathfield Avenue with side access to Nichol Parade. In 1957, Vickery subdivided and sold the rear of the Lot F (and part of Lot E), creating a lot facing Nichol Parade as Lot G[6]. This lot is likely to have contained the stables for Strathfield House.
Vickery sold 28 Strathfield Avenue in October 1960 to Clarence Twigg, a dentist and his wife Essie Isobel Trigg as joints tenants with Doris Heselton, widow, of Strathfield[7]. It was sold in January 1979 to Keng Saw, medical practitioner and his wife Chin Saw[8].
References
Department of Valuer-General, Valuation Lists, Municipality of Strathfield
Residence, (1942, April 22). Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 – 1954), p. 10. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222863596
1939 ‘Contracts Let’, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 21 November, p. 3. , viewed 06 Mar 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17636927
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986.
Jones, Michael, Oasis in the West, Allen & Unwin, 1985
NSW Land Register Certificate of Title v.5142 f.215, Certificate of Title v.7281 f.23, Certificate of Title v.7181 f.22 and Certificate of Title v.8126 f.199
Strathfield Council Building Register Vol.5 (1935-1940)
Footnotes
[1] Malcolm, S ‘Old Homes of Strathfield’, 1982 March, Strathfield District Historical Society Newsletter.
[2] Residence, (1942, April 22). Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 – 1954), p. 10.
[3] Strathfield Council Building Register Vol.5 (1935-1940)
[4] Residence, (1942, April 22). Construction (Sydney, NSW : 1938 – 1954), p. 10.
[5] Certificate of Title v.5142 f.215
[6] Certificate of Title v.7281 f.23
[7] Certificate of Title v.7181 f.22
[8] Certificate of Title v.8126 f.199
Strathfield Heritage 