Strathfield Industrial Heritage Exhibition

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The Industrial Heritage of Strathfield Exhibition, Minding Our Business, is presented by Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society and Strathfield Council. The exhibition is open during Library opening hours from Friday 17 June 2022 to Sunday August 14 2022.AF675189-7951-4FC8-9F20-32D5329EF3F9

This exhibition explores the many businesses which were based on the Strathfield district from the 19th century, usually located close to rivers or transport such as railways and major roads. The district’s central location facilitated transportation of materials and goods across Sydney and beyond from businesses as diverse as Arnotts Biscuits, EMI/HMV records, Ford Car manufacturing, Textile factories, Flour Mills, Cattle and Sheep Stockyards and Brickworks. Industrial development also supported growth of worker populations and housing in the southern and northern ends of the Strathfield Council area in the early to mid 20th century.

Opening: The exhibition opens on Thursday 16 June 2022 at 6pm. View the exhibition and enjoy the refreshments. Please register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/opening-night-industrial-heritage-of-strathfield-exhibition-tickets-353442645467

Talk: A talk will be held on Sunday 31 July 2022 at Strathfield Library commencing at 12.30 for refreshments and 1pm for the talk. The event finishes at 3pm. Bookings at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/354877467057

 

Historic Houses of Strathfield Exhibition 2021

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https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/opening-historic-houses-of-strathfield-exhibition-tickets-206912008387?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

You are invited to attend the Historic Houses of Strathfield exhibition at Strathfield Library.

OFFICIAL OPENING EVENT will be held on Thursday 16 December 2021 6pm. Refreshments served. Free entry. Booking at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/opening-historic-houses-of-strathfield-exhibition-tickets-206912008387?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

EXHIBITION – will be shown from 16 December 2021 – 6 February 2022.  Open during Library opening hours. Free entry.

LECTURE – will be held on Sunday 6 February 2022 12.30pm for 1pm lecture. Refreshments served.  Free entry. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lecture-of-historic-houses-of-strathfield-tickets-228196129767

About the Exhibition

Historic Houses of Strathfield explores the rise of the mansion houses in late 19th century and their eventual fate in the 20th and 21st centuries. The first Australia economic boom from the 1850s to 1890s coincided with the residential development of the Strathfield district.  Many wealthy merchants and professionals viewed Strathfield as the ideal place to build large and lavish homes, supported by rail access to the City where their businesses were located.  By the 1890s, Strathfield was considered one of the premium suburbs of Sydney.  

However, this was not to last.  Decline commenced with the 1890s Depression followed by significant and continued economic and social change. The exhibition features photos, maps and illustrations of the stories of the houses and their owners. Visit the exhibition and attend the lecture. Presented by Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society with support from Strathfield Council.

For further details, email Cathy Jones at strathfieldhistory@gmail.com, or cathy.jones@optusnet.com.au. Phone 02 96423145.

Request IHO – ‘Konubia’ 40 Beresford Road Strathfield

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0E6AD785-F477-44CE-866A-0D160DE9FC63The Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society wrote to Strathfield Council on 8 November 2021 to request that an Interim Heritage Order be placed on 40 Beresford Road Strathfield as a matter of urgency.  This house is currently on the market and is not heritage listed, though is adjacent to a number of heritage listed properties.

The house should meet the criteria for heritage listing of local significance.  The potential loss of this house would affect other heritage properties located close to this house.

The house at 40 Beresford Road Strathfield is called ‘Kobunia’ and is an relatively in-tact Queen Anne style Federation bungalow built c.1909.  It is surrounded by a large number of heritage listed items and areas.  However, this house has not been listed.  The house is currently listed for sale and is being marketed as having no heritage protection and is suitable for re-development. The property is set to go to auction on 13 November 2021. 

40 Beresford Road is consistent with the character and style of the other similar heritage items and areas on Beresford, Albert, Homebush and Broughton Roads.  40 Beresford Rd is a substantial Queen Anne house, very similar in style and design to other very impressive Queen Anne homes situated surrounding this property along Homebush Road and Albert Road at rear. The western side of Homebush Road between Redmyre Road and Beresford Road features some of the most impressive Queen Anne homes in the district and these are recognised for their significance as local heritage items and also covered by the Homebush Road heritage conservation area, which also includes some impressive church buildings on the eastern side of the street.

The potential loss of this house would detract from the heritage character of this area of Strathfield and the other heritage listed properties.

The history of ‘Konubia’ is detailed at
https://strathfieldheritage.com/streetnames/beresford-road-homebush/

The house features most of it’s original details and retains decorative chimneys, roof, lead-light windows and doors, tall ornate ceilings (possibly a mixture of pressed metal and plaster), detailed timber work, etc. It is interesting to note that the house has some resemblance to “Ravenswood”, 67 Homebush Road Strathfield, which is owned by Strathfield Council, in the detailing in/around the gables, chimneys and where the brick is not painted in the chimneys appears to have similar multi-coloured brown colour of brick.

Belfield: Suburb History

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Maria Reserve Belfield 2007 following revegetation
Maria Reserve Belfield 2007 following revegetation

The suburb of Belfield is partly located in Strathfield Council and Canterbury-Bankstown Councils. The section of the suburb of Belfield located in the Strathfield Council area is bounded by the Cooks River and Coxs Creek Stormwater Channel at the north and Punchbowl Road at the south, Cosgrove Road (at west) and Coronation Parade (at east).

The Historical Society newsletter discusses the history of this suburb.

SHDHS Newsletter Vol. 3 No.4 July-Aug 2021 Belfield – website

If you wish to receive newsletters, access to our archives and other benefits, please consider joining the Society

Historic Houses of Strathfield exhibition

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Strathfield-Homebush District Historical Society is preparing a new exhibition at the Ironbark Gallery, Strathfield Council Library & Innovation Hub from December 2021.  

Historic Houses of Strathfield explores the rise of the mansion houses in late 19th century and their eventual fate in the 20th and 21st centuries. The stories of the houses and the associated people also reflect the social, economic and political changes which occurred over a century of development in the Strathfield area. 

This exhibition will include photos, maps and illustrations.  A lecture accompanying the exhibition will be held during the exhibition period (dates to be determined). 

When: December 2021 – February 2022 (exact dates to be determined) (during Strathfield Council Library & Innovation Hub opening hours)

Where: Ironbark Gallery – Strathfield Council Library & Innovation Hub, Rochester Street Homebush

Railway Station Estate & Stanley Rickard

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SHDHS Newsletter Vol. 3 No.3 May-June 2021 Railway Station Estate Strathfield – website

The Federation style cottages located between 42 and 58 Albert Road Strathfield are the last remaining buildings standing from a large estate of thirty buildings located on Albert Road and Churchill Avenue designed by architect Stanley Rickard and built from 1904 to 1906.

There are example of Federation estates in Sydney such as the Haberfield estate developed by real estate agent Richard Stanton or the Daceyville estate, designed by John Sulman, which featured a developed housing estate conformity in styles, form and setting.  Rickard’s estate in Strathfield featured a range of single storey and semi-detached Federation style cottages that was less ambitious than the Haberfield estate, however, it is rare to find examples of planned estate unified by conformity in style and form by a single designer in the Strathfield area.

42-58 Albert Road Strathfield