By Cathy Jones 2024
‘Oberon’, 4 Woodward Avenue Strathfield, is located on the Woodward Avenue Heritage Conservation Area. This area features predominately Victorian houses located on Woodward Avenue, The Boulevarde and Albyn Road Strathfield.
This property is located on the Redmire Estate which was first granted to James Wilshire in 1810. This land was subdivided in 1867. James Emanuel Woodward acquired Lots 31, 39 and part of Lots 32 and 38 of the Redmire Estate. In June 1880, land was transferred from James Emanuel Woodward to John Cliff and William Clarke and a further subdivision was made which was marketed as the ‘Woodgreen and Strathfield Estate’. The subdivision created Woodward Avenue.
In 1882, Cliff and Clarke transferred Lot 9, Section 3, DP 538 to Josiah Mullens, sharebroker. Mullens subdivided Lot 9 and part transferred to Richard Glinn Vallack, which became 6 Woodward Avenue.
In March 1894, land which is currently 4 Woodward Avenue transferred from Josiah Mullens to William Thomas Leslie, a builder and contractor, of Marrickville. The house is likely to have been built in 1894 or early 1895. In July 1895, the property was transferred from William Thomas Leslie to Emily Hume Barbour of Burwood. Sands Directory notes that the house appears in 1897 and was called ‘Roma’. It was occupied by tenants including William Walsh (1897-1899), J & S McDowell (1900), Mrs S Haughton (1901-1902) and Mrs C E Kannaven (1903). However from around 1903, it is listed as occupied by Mrs Mary & Miss S E Barbour, members of the family who owned the house. In 1913-1914, Emily Barbour, the owner of the house is listed as an occupier. The house continued to be known as ‘Roma’ despite changes of occupant.
The house was originally numbered 2 Woodward Ave but was renumbered 4 Woodward in 1966.
In March 1914, the property transferred from Emily Hume Barbour to Leonard Whithair Appleby, of Sydney, artist. Appleby is listed as the occupant in Sands, but at this time changed the house name to ‘Oberon’. In April 1916, Appleby transferred the property to Isabel Duncan Watson, wife of James Watson of Strathfield Methodist minister. The Rev. Watson is noted as the occupant until c.1918 when the house was leased to Thomas Roydhouse.
Roydhouse was a prominent journalist and writer. He was author of ‘The Labour Party in NSW: A history of its formation and legislative career’ (1892). He was resident of other houses in Strathfield including ‘Harmsworth’ on Homebush Road. He died in 1943 at Strathfield.
In December 1920, the property transferred from Isabel Watson to William George Staunton of Homebush, a public servant. In November 1927, William Staunton transferred ownership to Janet Casimir of Mudgee. The purchase price of the property was £1050. The house is recorded as tenanted in Sands Directory in 1929 to A W Scorey, bootrepairer and 1930-31 to F J Lovell, bootmaker. Sands ceased publication after 1932.
Janet Casimir was the owner of the property for over 30 years, which was still known as ‘Oberon’. In March 1964, ownership was transferred to Petar Jakovljevic, a railway employee and Jela Jakovljevic, his wife, as joint tenants.
References
Fox & Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986
NSW Land Registry, Certificate of Title v.5235 f.49, v.1125 f.47, v.948- 205
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory
