Houses by Street – Copeland Rd East – Odd Numbers

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. 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. The property was 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 to Ernest John Hyde who then leased the home to Brown’s widow, Marion, until at least 1924. 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. 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]

[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

147    was probably built in the 1920s and has small patterned leadlight windows, frilly ridge capping and a cottage garden appropriate to the area. 

149 to 163 were built by George Sargent. 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    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. 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 garden is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.

Copeland Rd East 151

151, 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 and garden are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.

Copeland Rd East 153

153    was once identical with 151 but now has garages in front and a dormer window – all sympathetic additions. 

The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.

Copeland Rd East 155 Holme Lacey 1

155, Holme Lacey (formerly Elim) is an early Federation 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. It was the home of the Nathan family from at least 1915 to after 1933. Squire Nathan ran a young people’s club for many years [1].

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.

Copeland Rd East 157

157 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 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.

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

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.

Copeland Rd East 159 1

From 1910 Mr & Mrs R T B Andrews lived in Uralla. The family sold the home in 1926 to Mabel Cape and Edith Nathan.

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.

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.

 

Copeland Rd East 161 1

This 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.

Copeland Rd East 163

 

163,   is almost identical with 161 but here the bay window runs to the floor. 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 and garden are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.

167    was originally built as a 1970s American ranch style house but was more recently 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. It is a fine example of a modern house being inserted in a heritage precinct by being built upon the former tennis courts, orchards or gardens of the earlier houses (often termed ‘in-fill’).

173    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.

This was the address of D Clarke for membership of the Civic Trust in 2004.

175, Somerset, is one of the oldest houses in Beecroft.

From at least 1915 until 1918 it was the home of Oswald Alfred Neale and his wife Ruby Elizabeth (nee Kneeshaw). Her 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. [1] 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. [2]

The house was most recently sold in 2021.

[1]      Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 25 May 1918

[2]      A Corbett “Frederick Percival Kneeshaw (1883-1955)” Australian Dictionary of Biography (Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1983) Vol. 9.

  1.    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.

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 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. In 1915 it was occupied by Miss Sophie Henry. In 1925 Nicholas Bellamy was in residence having moved from the southern side of the street.

As the road continues to the east, there had previously been the poultry farm of Edward Kinney 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.

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.

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 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.’