by Cathy Jones 2024
’Hollywood’ is located at 42 The Crescent Homebush and is a single storey Federation style house. It is located on the 1878 ‘Village of Homebush’ Estate, a subdivision of the larger Underwood Estate.
In December 1878, Augustus Rose, of Wagga Wagga purchased Lots 1 & 2 of Section 11 of the Village of Homebush estate. He was one of initial purchasers of land from this estate. Rose built the house ‘Surrey’ c.1890 on Lot 2. A house is listed for the first time in the 1892 Sands Directory for A J Rose, Homebush Crescent[1]. Homebush Crescent was later renamed The Crescent.
Augustus Rose died in 1908. In July 1911, his widow Mary Ann Rose sold Lot 2 which contained the house ‘Surrey’. In January 1913 she sold Lot 1, which was vacant land measuring 50 x 200 feet, to William Thomas Walker, a painter[2]. In January 1913, Walker lodged an application to build a brick cottage with a slate roof of estimated value of £650[3]. Walker was living in Short Street Homebush. The house was constructed in 1913 and in 1914, Walker is noted as the occupant.
The house name ‘Hollywood’ is noted in Sands Directory and Valuation records. The house was originally numbered 32 The Crescent but renumbered 42 The Crescent in 1953.
Walker sold the house called ‘Hollywood’ in March 1915 to Edith Garnsey, of Sydney[4]. It was then sold in July 1915 to John Gibson, an engineer, and his wife Elsie May Gibson, as joint tenants[5]. John Gibson died in 1949 and his widow Elsie became the sole owner[6]. In September 1960, the house was sold to Irene Shearman, a widow of Huntley’s Point[7]. In October 1962, Herbert Shearman of Bega, an Engineering Draftsman, was the registered owner[8].
References
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
Sands Sydney Directory, Municipality of Strathfield
Strathfield Council, Building Application 10/1914
Strathfield Council Valuation Lists
Footnote
[1] Sands Sydney Directory, Municipality of Strathfield
[2] Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
[3] Strathfield Council, Building Application 10/1914
[4] Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
[5] Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
[6] Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
[7] Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
[8] Certificate of Title v.2177 f.3
Strathfield Heritage 