Copeland Road East, Beecroft
Northern (or odd numbered) side
This street was originally known as Copeland Road with the current Copeland Road called Copeland Street.
139, The Grange and then Frognoll and Mariposa. The land was first acquired in 1891 by Walter Simpson Perdriau who built his home here. He sold it, with a house, in 1914 to Christina Baker the wife of Frederick Baker. The house has good quality Flemish Bond tuckpointed brickwork and diamond leadlight windows. It was their home until 1919. In 1920 it was the home of H E Brent and in 1925 and until at least 1933, James W Hayward who called in Mariposa. The property was eventually sold in 1970 to Nelson and Helen Joyce who then sold it in 2013 [1]. The owners from 2013 built a swimming pool in the rear and the garage in the front yard.
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 13 February 2013.
141, Araluen [1]. The land was first acquired in 1891 by Walter Simpson Perdriau who sold it in 1914 to Christina Baker the wife of Frederick Baker. She sold it in 1917 to Lesley James Brown (1877-1919). Brown was Manager, City Iron Works and died, at the age of 42 years, within just a year of building this home (in 1918) for his family. Upon his death the home was sold by his widow Marion to Ernest John Hyde who then leased the home to Marion, until at least 1924. Hyde lived at the property from 1925 until at least 1933. The verandah, which appears to be a later renovation, has similarities with the renovated verandah on 8 Malton Road.
[1] H Barker Houses of Hornsby Shire Vol 2 (Hornsby, 1998) pp 64-68
143, St Elmo and previously The Bungalow and subsequently St Croix. This home was built around 1895 by Walter Simpson Perdriau who had purchased 1 ½ acres comprising what is now 141-143 Copeland Road East. He and his brother, Ernest Charles Perdriau were rubber merchants trading as Perdriau Bros. Earnest had 2 acres on Copeland Road East on the opposite corner with Sutherland Road. Walter Perdriau then sold it to Mr Clement Meadmore. Phyllis, the Meadmore daughter married Jesse Jewhurst (JJ) Hilder (1881-1916) the landscape artist who visited the house [1]. The late James Gleeson said: “Throughout his short life he [Hilder] was plagued by ill-health and poverty and he died of tuberculosis in Hornsby…Hilder’s reputation rests on his watercolours. These were small delicate landscapes executed in a kind of tonal romanticism derived from Corot…Today his paintings are valued for their wistful charm but it is generally recognised that they hold only a minor place in the story of Australian Art” [2].
The Meadmores lived here from at least 1915 to 1919. Then they moved by 1920 to 167 Waratah, for which see below. In 1920 the occupant was Miss Jessie Haughton until 1925 when it was Mrs Marion Douglas until 1933 who called it St Croix.
[1] For further information on the Meadmore and Hinder families see articles elsewhere on this web site on these families under People.
[2] J Gleeson Australian Painters (Dee Why, 1971) p 119
145B This home was sold in 2024
147, Raeburn was built before 1915 and has small patterned leadlight windows, frilly ridge capping and a cottage garden appropriate to the area. From at least 1915 to 1931 it was the home of David H Brown. In 1932 to 1933 it was the home of G Grayhurst.
149 to 167 were built by George Sargent following his purchase of the land in 1902 from Ernest Charles Perdriau. Perdriau had purchased the land from the Crown in 1894. The Sargents built a home, Uralla, in the middle and then (between 1902 and 1910) investment properties on either side. George and his wife owned Sargent’s Pies which is still a well-known brand over a century later. A number of the homes were designed by William Nixon. The Sargent’s were generous philanthropists and often supplied the catering for fund raising events.
149, Amby and then Merrimba, is a Federation cottage with a moon gate. This is a later addition in the 1920s designed by Pennant Hills architect Bertram Chisholm – who was a friend of the then owners, the Raes. This was a highly fashionable addition at the time and is now one of the last survivors of this period across Sydney. Eryldene at Gordon, the former home of Professor E G Waterhouse, is another with Chinese features. In addition, this home has unusual shutters on the front entrance windows. The garden has been recently and sympathetically landscaped.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. From at least 1915 it was the home of Gordon G Rae until 1924 when it became the home of Antony H Bull who named it Merrimba. He was there until at least 1933.
The garden is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
151, Wycollar
has leadlight front doors with sidelights, a steeply pitched roof, decorative ridge capping and stucco chimneys. The fretted brackets on the porch posts are characteristic of Federation design. It has a symmetrical garden that complements the house and a large tree at the entry.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. From at least 1915 until 1919 it was the home of Mrs Chris Little. In 1920 it was the home of Walter H Lack until 1924. In 1925 it was the home of Mrs F Rabone. Sands Directory also has a Miss J H Haughton apparently living on this site in a home called Ryahala between 1925 and 1931. It is unclear where this house was. In 1932 it was occupied by Miss A Brush who restored the original name.
The house and garden are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
153, Restdown was once identical with 151 but now has garages in front and a dormer window – all sympathetic additions.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. From at least 1915 the house was occupied by Mrs Ida Morton who remained until 1924. In 1925 it was occupied by Leslie G Nathan until at least 1933.
The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
155, Holme Lacey (formerly Elim)
is an early Federation Arts & Crafts cottage with 1920s additions resulting in ridge decorations and one chimney being removed. The verandah was half bricked in. and sits on a wider block. In the front yard there are some cypress and a deodar that beautifully contribute to the streetscape. A large coach house (originally built for Uralla) is at the rear side and has been converted for other purposes. The slate roof is larger than its neighbours.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. It was the home from at least 1915 to 1919 of Edwin W Palmer. From 1920 to 1931 to the Nathan family. Squire Nathan ran a young people’s club for many years [1]. In 1932 to at least 1933 it was occupied by Mrs J Barrett.
The house and garden are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
For more information on Nathan see elsewhere on this web site under People – Children.
157, Harbledown
continues in the same style as its neighbours but has a rounded window at the front, and French doors. The garden is a fine example of a garden contemporary to the house.
The house was presumably built, as with the other Sargent houses between 1902 and 1910 but certainly existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. Despite this proposal for sale, this home remained owned by the Sargent family until 1938. From at least 1915 to 1919 it was leased to, and occupied by Thomas W Green. From 1920 to 1924 by Edward L Wailes. In 1925 by R R Railley and then from at least 1932 to at least 1933 by Mrs J Barrett.
Edward Wailes was an active bowler at Beecroft Club for many years, including being its Treasurer in 1929. His son John went to Beecroft Public School in 1919 and married Pauline Bush at St Phillips Church Hill in 1936 when his parents were described as still living in Beecroft presumably at their 1932 John Sands Directory address of Belmont, 27 Malton Road. The daughter, Mary, was on the Beecroft Committee of the Church of England Homes in 1929 [1].
Between 1938 and 1953 it was owned by Joseph Leslie Pegler a company manager and his wife Ellie Darknell who moved from elsewhere in Beecroft. Between 1953 and 1967 by Arthur Robert Miller a loss assessor and his wife Madge Isabel. From 1967 to 1989 by Clive Anthony Brodie, master mariner, and his wife Judith Grace. In 1989 it was purchased by Barry Edward Friere a chartered accountant and his wife Diane Eileen. The Friere family moved from elsewhere in Beecroft.
The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013. This was the address of Phillip Ashley for membership of the Civic Trust between 2001 and 2007.
[1] Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 13 December 1919 p 8, 29 April 1929 p2; Sydney Morning Herald, 29 April 1929 p5; Daily Telegraph, 18 September 1936 p11. There is more detail on the Wailes family under the entry on this web site for Cloonycarn, 27 Malton Road – which the family had purchased.
159, Uralla [1]. The land was first acquired in 1896 by John Stinson who sold it in 1900 to Mary Swanborough the wife of James Swanborough a bootmaker of Croydon. She sold the land in 1901 to George Sargent who built the house and used it as a home.
George (1859-1921) [2] and Charlotte (1856-1924) Sargent were between them a confectioner, baker and pastry maker extraordinaire. Charlotte ran a chain of tea rooms or coffee houses. Charlotte had a son prior to her marriage with George. The son adopted the surname of Sargent. Mr & Mrs Sargent built this house in 1902. The architect was Mark Nixon. The building has a number of Victorian elements – such as the splayed front steps and orbs but also Federation features like the timber front posts. The back verandah was sufficiently deep that it could be converted to a ballroom when the Sergeants were entertaining. The family used the home for many social events supportive of the local community [3]. In a 1903 article: ‘At the invitation of Mr and Mrs Sargent, a number of friends assembled at Uralla, Beecroft, on the 30th and had an enjoyable evening. Dancing commenced about 8 o’clock to excellent music provided by de Groen’s band (piano, violin and cornet).’ While the Sargents may have used this home as a country retreat, and never consistently as their principal residence, they used it less frequently after 1910, when they moved to Vaucluse, it was not sold until both of them, and their son, died in 1924. For a short period of time the son and his wife also lived in Hannah Street.
From 1910 to 1920 Mr & Mrs Robert T B Andrews lived in Uralla. The family sold the home in 1926 to Mabel Cape and Edith Nathan.
The house was later the home of Charles William Oldroyd who was Beecroft’s postmaster for 22 years. He died here in 1933. This was the address of Mr Austin for membership of the Civic Trust between 1983 and 2006.
The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
[1] H Barker Houses of Hornsby Shire Vol 2 (Hornsby, 1998) pp 31-34
[2] For more information on George Sargent refer to the article elsewhere on this web site on People.
[3] For example Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 6 June 1903 p 10
159C was until 2023 the home of Andrew Arnold Tink a one-time State member for the electorate in which Beecroft was located and his wife Kerrie [1]. Tink (b 1953) was a barrister who entered NSW Parliament in 1988 and resigned in 2007. After retirement he wrote a number of histories including co-authoring (with P Trevor & J Symes), In Search of the Pennant Hills (2007).
[1] See elsewhere on this website for members of State Parliament elected from Beecroft and Cheltenham.
161, Cooranga, has a more complex roof than neighbouring houses, but it is still steeply pitched, with the same tiles. It is the only one (except for 155 and 159) with a verandah. The deeply recessed front door is balanced by a pair of bay windows supported by brackets. There is an old plane tree in the garden which has been beautifully maintained (including the original crazy stone path) and in a way that is in keeping with the house.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. This was occupied from at least 1915 to 1919 by Willy Ernest Forsyth then from 1920 to at least 1933 by Karl Huenerbein. It was the address of W Gray for membership of the Civic Trust between 2003 and 2007.
The house and garden are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
163, Roseville is almost identical with 161 but here the bay window runs to the floor
r. This and its neighbour have an old garden layout but this one takes advantage of being well set back from the street to show off a parklike vista to this country home. The magnificent deodar contributes greatly to the streetscape. It demonstrates that sense of space, freedom from encroachment and healthy living that was part and parcel of all the Sargent homes and Beecroft at this time.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. From at least 1915 until 1919 it was the home of Norman R G Hinds. From 1920 to 1931 it was the home of William Ballard. In 1920 Robert H Lunney also gave it as his address. In 1932 to at least 1933 Rev A M Ogilvie the local Presbyterian Minister rented the house.
The house and garden are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
165, Quantock was occupied from at least 1915 by Frank D Lewis. The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”.
165B This property was sold in 2023.
167 originally Waratah, one of the Sargent houses but was demolished and a 1970s American ranch style house was built which was in the early 2000s extensively modified by local architect David White in a manner entirely sympathetic with the original design. The clean lines of this house and its garden continue to stand in marked contrast to the surrounding Federation cottages. Despite the loss of the original house, it is a fine example of a modern house being inserted in a heritage precinct.
The house existed in August 1914 when it appears in sale brochures for “10 cottages of George Sargent Esq”. From at least 1915 to 1919 it was the home of Edwin D Lindsay. From 1920 to 1924 by Clement Meadmore who moved from 143, St Elmo. In 1925 it was occupied by Walter A McDonald. From 1932 to at least 1933 by H Munday.
173, Overthorpe is an early Federation house built around 1910. It has the standard features of tuck pointed brickwork, coloured glass squares in the windows and a timber verandah floor. The timber posts have been restored and the garage added in keeping with the house. There is another crazy stone path here.
From at least 1915 until 1931 this was occupied by Arthur Williams. In 1932 to at least 1933 by C M Lumsdaine who called the house Erendi. This was the address of D Clarke for membership of the Civic Trust in 2004.
175, Somerset, was part of Portion 668 sold from the Field of Mars Common to Tom Hooper on 20 June 1891. For the earlier history of the sale of the Field of Mars Common see elsewhere on this web site. He sold this land in July 1902 to Henry Foster Hartley Sargent [1]. The property was sold in 1926 by the trustees for Mr Sargent following his death to Clementine Lockhart Miller and Samuel Matthews. From at least 1915 until 1918 it was the home of Oswald Alfred Neale and his wife Ruby Elizabeth (nee Kneeshaw). This means that the house was built prior to 1915. Mrs Neale’s brother was Major Frederick Percival Kneeshaw who had been mentioned in dispatches and recommended for a Military Cross. After the war he spoke at the Beecroft Public School in May 1918 [2]. By training he was an electrical engineer and company director of companies like Australian Portland Cement, Cable Makers Australia and Colonial Mutual Life. Between 1933 and 1935 he was a Member of the Legislative Council and appointed OBE in 1938. Upon his death in 1955 he left his estate to his sister Ruby and her family [3].
Samuel Matthews gave the home as his address from 1920 to 1929, when he dies. Then in 1932 to at least 1933 it was the home of E D Beattie who called it Kirkmaiden. Clementine continues to own the property until 1960 when it is subdivided to provide for a battle axe block at the rear. The house and rear block are then separately sold.
The house was again sold in 2021 and a development application for extensive renovations was lodged in 2023.
[1] For more information on the Sargent family see above for Uralla and elsewhere under People.
[2] Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 25 May 1918
[3] A Corbett “Frederick Percival Kneeshaw (1883-1955)” Australian Dictionary of Biography (Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1983) Vol. 9.
- The munitions shed is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
177A built in 1960s
179 built before 1943 with 1990s renovations
181 is a 1950s home showing post war confidence.
183 is post war International style with a flat metal roof, dark bricks and prominent use of glass.
187, Rockville, is a weatherboard cottage with corrugated iron roof. It is close to the street because of the slope of the land behind. The house has a plain chimney and is built on brick piers. Its verandah is being re-opened in 2021 and renovations are being made to the back of the home. It is reflective of this end of the street having less expensive housing.
From at least 1915 to 1924 it was occupied by Miss Sophie Henry. In 1925 to at least 1933 Nicholas Bellamy JP was in residence having moved from the southern side of the street. Joesph Shields gives this address as his residence in 1925.
193, Myola [1]. This was part of portion 664 sold on 1 December 1894 to Thomas Whittel of Waterloo. The house was built between 1907 and 1910 by William Lewis Mewkill a carpenter from Wellington Street, Newtown and, after initially leasing the property, he purchased it in January 1912. He lived here with his wife, Margaret Elizabeth (nee Ryan) and 7 children – Kathleen, Eileen, Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Robert and Bessie. The family attended St Joachim’s Catholic Church Thornleigh [2]. Mewkill sold the property in 1936 when he went to live with his son, Joseph and daughter-in-law, Jean in 45 Lakeside Road Eastwood. He died in Eastwood in 1951 aged 97 years.
Of their children Kathleen (born 1895 Newtown) attended Good Samaritans Sisters School in Newtown. She assisted with the Epping Choral Society. She became a high school teacher. Following retirement she lived in Eastwood where she died in 1986 [3].
Joseph was apprenticed as a carpenter with Saxton & Binns for 5 years before enlisting on 13 June 1915 as a Private in the 18th Battalion. He served in France and was wounded three times. He rose to be a Sergeant. He returned 20 May 1919 [4].
Mary Ann attended Fort Street High School and went on to become a well respected Headmistress of Infants schools at places like Singleton, Glen Innes and Taree. She retired in 1960. She was a member of the Catholic Speakers Guild [5].
Margaret became a typiste in the Child Welfare Department in 1930 [6].
Hilda Green purchased the property for investment purposes in 1936. Hilda was a daughter of Harry and Violet Holcombe and married to Eric Green the son of Melbourne and Kate Green [7].
In 1950 it was the home of Allyn George Hicks and his wife Katherine [8]. They had two children, Allyn and Donald McKinnon Hicks. Allyn Snr was a head gardener and mill assistant. By 1964 Donald and his wife, Gloria, commenced paying the rates. Donald died in 1988 [9] and Allyn Snr continued to live here until his death in 1992.
[1] Information on this house largely derives from Heritage 21, Statement of Heritage Impact 193 & 193A Copeland Road Beecroft (2021).
[2] Catholic Freeman Journal 22 December 1932 p29.
[3] Catholic Press 11 January 1896 p17; Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 5 September 1914 p 8; NSW Government Gazette 15 April 1908 p2159, 17 January 1919 p321
[4] Australian War Memorial World War 1 records; Daily Telegraph 20 January 1912 p21; Sydney Morning Herald 7 September 1916 and 7 October 1918 p3; Sun 25 November 1917.
[5] Evening News 12 December 1912 p 12; Catholic Press 17 December 1931 p19; NSW Government Gazette 8 July 1960 p2177. His wife Jean Elizabeth was an Instructor in the Child Welfare department when she retired: NSW Government Gazette: 23 August 1968 p 3478.
[6] NSW Government Gazette 17 October 1980 p 4370.
[7] For more information on Harry Holcombe and Melbourne Green see separate articles on this web site under People.
[8] They had married in 1933 in Parramatta.
[9] Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November 1988 p43
As the road continues to the east, there had previously been the poultry farm of Edward Kinney (see below at 213) and an area known as Chinatown by the locals because some Chinese market gardeners who worked on the larger local estates living here. The wives often took in laundry for local residents. A number of the houses had been built by Harry and Violet Holcombe who lived on the corner of Beecroft and Copeland Roads. They were designed to lease to workers on the large estates.
One of the residents between 187 and the end of the road was the Quan/Tingyou family. The grandson of this family was L J Hooker of real estate fame [1].
[1] For more information on Hooker see elsewhere on this web site under People.
Glencoe, was the home from at least 1915 to 1933 of John Meally. The current house number is not presently known.
The Bourne was the home from at least 1915 to 1931 of Charles W Wheeler. In 1932 to at least 1933 it was the home of Miss A Lutherburrow. The current house number is not currently known.
201 built in the 1950s
201B was sold in 2024.
213 [1]. This land originally formed part of portion 660 of the Crown land forming part of the Field Of Mars Common sold by auction in the 1890s. For the earlier history of the sale of the Field of Mars Common see elsewhere on this web site.
This land was purchased by Mary Jane Wilson of Beecroft for 11 pounds. In September 1895 she sold the land to a land agent of Sydney, Alfred Arthur Copland Bastian. The next month he on-sold to Antoinette Dean the wife of Thomas Dean a hairdresser in Sydney. In September 1911 she sold to Adele Perdriau. Adele was the daughter of Walter Simpson Perdriau and granddaughter of Henry Carter Perdriau. For the story of the Perdriau see elsewhere on this website. At the time of the purchase she lived with her parents at The Bungalow, 141-143 Copeland Road East. In 1913 she married Arthur Woodhouse Tait and then in 1915 transferred this land to her mother, Agnes. Agnes sold the land in September 1916 when she sold it to Edward James Kinney who was a poultry famer in Beecroft and already owned the neighbouring portion 659 – which he had purchased in 1911.
Kinney lived on portion 659 and continued to conduct his poultry farm there until 1923 but in 1919 sold a half interest in the land to a partnership comprising fellow poultry farmer Rudolph Eberhardt of Mosman and Cecil Craven Webb an Insurance Accountant of Sydney. Between 1923 and 1944 the land was leased to Albert Archibald Hewitt of Beecroft who was a wood working machinist. From 1944 the land was owned by investors until sold in June 1956.
Barbara Jane Howard of Cheltenham purchased portions 459 and 1460 in June 1956 and subdivided the land in August 1960 – which also created Argyll Place. This property became both 213 Copeland Road and 15 Argyll Place. Mrs Howard named the new street as Argyll Place because her maiden name was Campbell and the Campbell family/clan is traditionally from Argyll in Scotland.
In July 1961 this land was sold to Keith William Stanton an engineer of Meadowbank and his wife Margaret. They built their home on the land and were still living there into the 1980s. The current owners purchased the property in 2016.
[1] The information for this property was derived from Sue Rosen Heritage Impact Statement: 213 Copeland Road Cheltenham August 2017
At the end of the road – the bush had once been the home of itinerant workers, labourers and gardeners there are now a number of architect designed mansions scattered through the bush.
In 1914 the death was recorded in the local paper of James Cook. He had worked as a general rouseabout for Mr Wheeler who lived in The Bourne, Copeland Road East at the time. Cook had lived in his tent for 6 years. A lady who grew up in Beecroft said that these itinerant workers often came knocking on the back door. Her mother said that they were never to refuse to give them food but this was to be in return for a load of firewood which the man was asked to chop. During the great depressions of the 1890s and 1930s men seeking casual work or selling clothes, rabbits or household goods were part of daily life. In 1916 a runaway butcher’s cart careered ‘madly’ along Copeland Road until its driver, Cyril Flower who was probably only a lad, “at considerable risk to himself climbed over the back of the vehicle to arrest it in its path.’