By Cathy Jones 2025
‘Orkey’ 9 Vernon Street Strathfield is a Victorian Italianate house. It was built c.1888. The house first appears in the 1890 Sands Directory with Mrs Alma Falk. The house was originally named ‘Alma’, then ‘Northfleet’ and lastly ‘Orkey’. Vernon Street was renumbered in 1966 and 5 Vernon Street was renumbered 9 Vernon Street.
This house is located on land originally granted to James Wilshire in 1810. Wiltshire’s grant was subdivided by William Whaley Billyard in 1867 and marketed as the ‘Redmire Estate’. In 1868, 22 acres was purchased by Mary Ann Renny, wife of Walter Renny of City of Sydney, painter. In 1874, Renny with ‘the consent of her husband’ sold 22 acres to James Vernon, of Scone, a licensed surveyor, purchased land measuring 18 acres. On April 7 1875, Vernon transferred ownership to his son, John Vernon. Vernon authorised the power of attorney to his brother Donald Vernon, of Burwood, in June 1880. The land was subdivided and marketed for sale as the ‘Mount Vernon Estate’ (DP 528) in July 1880. The ‘Mount Vernon Estate’, created Vernon Street, Brunswick Street (then called Redmyre St) and had lots on Redmyre Road (south between Vernon Street) and Homebush Rd (east between Vernon Street and Homebush Road).
Members of the Vernon family were influential in Strathfield’s early history. Donald Vernon (1839-1891) entered the civil service when 20 years of age, and occupied several important positions in the railway department, including those of auditor and traffic manager. He was appointed Secretary for Railways in 1878, Secretary to the Railway Commissioners in 1888 and retired due to ill health in August 1899. He built and lived in the home ‘Parkstone’ c.1872 on The Boulevarde Strathfield (following subdivision of its grounds, it had a Margaret Street frontage and has since been demolished) and later moved to ‘Clewer’ Albert Road Strathfield where he died in 1891. John Vernon (1845-1924), brother of Donald Vernon, also worked for the Railway Department for 28 years before serving as NSW Auditor-General from 1902-1914. He was also a trustee of the Australian Museum. He lived at ‘Springfield’ Redmyre Road Strathfield (demolished) and ‘Iona’ 70 Redmyre Road Strathfield. Their father, James Vernon, was a surveyor. He died in 1894 at ‘Merley’ Albert Road Strathfield.
In May 1886, Donald Vernon transferred land to George Nicholls Jr. and Gordon Kerr. Nicholls and Kerr were local builders and it is likely they built this house by December 1888, when the property was sold to Matthew Fox McMahon Jr and Aubrey Halloran. The house was rented to various tenants including its first occupant Alma Falk. Matthew McMahon senior occupied the property now known as ‘Northfleet’ from 1900-1903. Caroline McMahon, wife of Matthew McMahon senior, died at ‘Northfleet’ in 1903. S J Clarence was an occupant from 1904-1906.
In December 1907, McMahon and Halloran sold the property to Charles Henry Stevens. Stevens is noted as residing in the house, still called ‘Northfleet’, in the Sands Directory until 1923.
In October 1923, Stevens transferred the property to the Reverend David Flett Brandt, a Presbyterian Minister. Brandt changed the house name to ‘Orkey’. Brandt was the owner until September 1950.
The owners from 1950 were Richard and Sylvia Tunks, but by July 1962, Richard Tunks became sole proprietor after the death of Sylvia Tunks. In June 1971, Fellow Medical Services Proprietary Limited became the registered proprietor. In August 1976, Dennis and Teva Wilson, both solicitors, became the owners.
References
Family Notices (1903, January 20). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 4. Retrieved April 6, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14487612
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
NSW Land Registry
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory 1884-1932
Strathfield Council Valuation Lists 1892-97, 1900-01, 1906-07, 1917, 1920, 1924, 1936, 1942, 1947, 1957, 1960
Wise’s Post Office Suburban Directory 1904, 1908, 1936.
