Malton Rd (or even numbered) side
The avenue of brush box on the southern side of Malton Road commencing at the corner with Sutherland Road together with the turpentine and other older street trees (especially the turpentine) are listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
2, Cranbrook. The land was first purchased out of the Field of Mars Common in 1891 by Robert Henry Carter, who sold it in 1903 to Robert Fowler MLC of Camperdown. He sold in 1908 to George Sargent (who had already bought other lots in the same subdivision in 1903) and he in turn sold in 1910 to John Vernon 1844-1924). It was known as the Cranbrook Estate prior to 1903.
The house was designed by architects Charles Slayter and Nicholas Shiels and built in 1911 for John Vernon who had just retired from the position of NSW Auditor-General [2]. The chimneys are plain and the house has very little decoration, but originally on both the northern and southern sides facing Malton Road verandahs were open. The brackets on the front verandah posts are heavier than usual for the time. While the main door fronts Sutherland Road there is a second door onto Sutherland Road which originally led to a dental surgery for Harry Vernon, their son, who also practised in the city.
John Vernon spent his retirement years in his garden and grew annuals, roses and shrubs around a curving path the house. The rear of the house has been substantially re-modelled and the garden has fallen into disrepair during these lengthy renovations. He died in 1924.
In 1937 the property was sold to Charles Horton a carpenter of 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.
[1] Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 6 June 1903 p10
[2] For more information on Vernon, see the separate article on him elsewhere on this web site under People.
4, Karinya formerly Kelburne is a Federation house that was built in 1909. It was lived in (at least) from 1915 until 1922 by the Bradford family – Ernest and his wife Clara. He was a photographer working, in 1905, for the Electric Photo Engraving Co of Australasia. The house name changed when Mr E S Ransom JP became the owner in 1923. His three daughters continued to live here until the last surviving daughter died in 1977. During this period another family were also in the Electoral Roll as living (at the same time) in the house from 1924 to 1931. This was Arthur & Mylie Campbell Baird who had recently retired and sold their property Multagoona station near Bourke. Their son Athol is on the war memorial – having been killed at Milne Bay fighting with the 2/5th Field Regiment of the 7th Division. Mylie was a close friend of Winifred Caddy. After some time elsewhere, such as Chatswood and Point Clare, they returned to the district and Arthur died in 1947 at 32 Cheltenham Road. Mylie later lived at 118 Sutherland Road.
This house was then sold to Terrence John Gilchrist who stayed a short period of time before selling to Vivien Margaret Schinckel nee Tuck (1921-2000). She was a noted pianist (originally from South Australia) and accompanist. She and her two children moved here from 130 Beecroft Road – which had been the family home since at least 1958 with her husband, Philip Gurner Schinckel (1917-1963) a veterinary surgeon.
At the rear of a house a corrugated iron garage was in existence by at least 1945. The corrugated iron was imported from Wales (Pontnewynydd Sheet and Galvanising Co.) before Australia started local manufacture of corrugated iron [1].
[1] https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Pontnewynydd_Sheet_and_Galvanising_Co
6 This land was originally part of over 2 acres sold to Robert Thomas Carter in 1891 upon the sale of part of the Field of Mars Common. He sold the land to Robert Fowler MLC in 1903. Fowler subdivided the land into 8 lots.
This property was transferred to Elizabeth Muir, wife of an engineer James Muir in June 1915. She then sold the property to Rosina Eaton wife of Russell Eaton in 1922. The Eaton’s moved from elsewhere in Beecroft. It was then sold in 1936 to Victor George Humphrey Partridge who, with his wife Olive Frederica Pat Partridge, stayed there until 1971. The Partridges appear to have moved from 15 Malton Road as that is their address in the 1932 Sands Directory. The Eatons were living next door in no. 8. It is presumed that the Eatons built the house. The first home on this site was built in 1941, it was designed by the architect (Charles) Bruce Dellitt (1898-1942) who also designed the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park [1]. He was a noted exponent of the art deco movement in Sydney. He had been a student of Professor Leslie Wilkinson and elements of Wilkinson can also be seen in this house. At the time of his death Dellit was living in Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga. Because of his involvement in this house it is possible that Dellit may also have designed the alterations to Finkiltagh and that these may have all happened at the same time. The second storey was a later addition.
From 1971 until 1990 it belonged to David Alexander Hill (another engineer) and his wife Helen Violet who moved from elsewhere in Beecroft. In 2016, together with 8 Malton it was re-developed into a number of units.
The developer has included a plaque about the history of the house in the front yard.
[1] Northern District Times, 11 July 2018.
8, Finkiltagh. This land was originally part of over 2 acres sold to Robert Thomas Carter in 1891 upon the sale of part of the Field of Mars Common. He sold the land to Robert Fowler MLC in 1903. Fowler subdivided the land into 8 lots.
Rosina Eaton purchased the property formerly known as 8 Malton in 1913. The Eatons remained there until 1949. It was purchased by Edward George Calcraft a chartered accountant of Five Dock whose widow sold the property in 1963. Robert Vivian Godden, a company executive of West Ryde purchased the property and remained there with his family. His widow died in 2015 and the property was sold to the developer of the units. Barbara Godden was a member of the Civic Trust from 1991 to 2008. The Godden’s son is the noted heritage architect.
The house was built in 1914 to a design by Williark Nixon and was originally of Federation style. It was much altered in the 1930’s with a touch of art deco – large prominent chimney with diagonal brick panel and a large horizontal verandah with brick pillars [1].
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 11 July 2018.
12, Lynwood. As with Cranebrook, this land had been owned by Robert Henry Carter and Robert Fowler MLC. It was purchased in 1904 by Ada Nixon the wife of William Mark Nixon [1]. Ada Emmeline Fox was born in Tumut and married an architect William Mark Nixon in 1886. Following their marriage they lived in Ashfield however decided to move to a healthier climate because of the asthma suffered by their youngest son, Alan. William designed their new home Lynwood in Malton Road on land purchased in 1904. The house was named after the town where his parents lived in England. They sold this home in 1911, once their sons left home. Mr & Mrs Nixon moved into smaller homes as their children left home – on the other side of Malton Road (designed by Nixon) at number 11 (now known as Kunaware) before again down-sizing into 7 until each died in 1931 and when Mrs Nixon was 80 [2].
William Mark Nixon was an architect and he designed the house built on the property as their family home. This property was purchased in 1911 by Mary Bell North, the wife of John George North, stockbroker. This family established North Stockbrokers and had many commercial interests across Sydney. The family had land holdings of over 2500 acres in the Blue Mountains where they engaged in mining operations. They were active in the Presbyterian Church and a family relative, Mary Vernon, who grew up in Cranbrook further along Malton Road, lived as an adult nearby in Wandeen Avenue, and went on to become while working in Norths, Australia’s first female stockbroker [3].
This was the address for Geoff Goldman’s membership of the Civic Trust from 1986 to 2003.
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] For more information on Nixon see on this web site under People.
[2] H Barker & M Elven, Houses of Hornsby Shire Vol 1 (Hornsby, 1989)
[3] For more information on Vernon see elsewhere on this web site under People.
14-18, Mindaribba. This land was originally purchased by John Mason of Petersham in 1891. He sold the land in 1895 to John Seale [1]. John Seale had been a Station Master at Maitland and he named the house which he built on this site after a town near Maitland.
The house was built by Joseph Fowler who was married to John Seale’s sister Mary. Joseph Fowler founded Fowler’s Potter Works.
16 was the address for Graham Karoll on his membership of the Civic Trust from 1989 to 2002.
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] For more information on Seale see elsewhere on this web site under People.
24 has a garden with a very old jacaranda, a remnant of the now demolished Boronia, the home of Edward Seale. Edward’s wife was a lover of Australian native plants and filled her garden with them at a time when exotics were more fashionable. She did have some exotics as the jacaranda testifies. Seale Close was put through the tennis court when Boronia was demolished in the 1970s. The Seale family had a long and deep connection with Beecroft and tennis.
Alan Seale, was a well known gardener and broadcaster who was also a familiar sight around Beecroft, where he was much loved. His address was 36A Malton for his membership of the Civic Trust from 1993 to 2006.
28, Normanton. This is an interesting house with Arts and Crafts influences. It has a jerking head roof, cantilevered balcony and two front doors. The dormer windows are thought to be an addition. There is an interesting casement window on the western side. The house has extensive rear renovations that do not detract from the front. The garden is however entirely new. The old turpentine at front has been coppiced resulting in three trunks. During World War 1 it was the family home of James Loxton. He was an engineer but his daughter, Hilda, was a nurse who had written a monograph for the Children’s Hospital on treating diphtheria in children. She then enlisted and served as a nurse in Belgium. Her name is on the war memorials in the Presbyterian Church.
This was the address for W Moxham’s membership of the Civic Trust from 1988 to 2008.
The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
28A, Originally built in 1962 it was significantly re-designed by the owner architect Gabrielle Morrish who sold in 2009 [1].
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 8 April 2009 p. 6
- This is the second home in Beecroft of William Abram [1] who was a successful bee-keeper and honey producer. (Although people have often thought that Beecroft was named after bee-keeping activities, the name comes from the maiden name of the wives, yes he successively married sisters, of Henry Copeland the Minister for Lands when Beecroft was originally subdivided.)
Abram’s first home still stands on the high ground at Shirley, 35 Wongala Crescent opposite the railway line and near Arden. That site proved too windy for bees and so, in 1894, he built a new weatherboard home here in Malton Road. The style is transitional from late Victorian into Federation. It has the then new fashion for leadlights in the front door, sidelights and transom. Blackbutt and turpentine still grace the verge.
The home was bought in 2001 by June Swanton who sold in 2009 [2].
[1] For more information about Abram see elsewhere on this website under People.
[2] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 18 February 2009 p. 6
36. This house of 1910-20 vintage has a slate roof which is rare for this street.
38. This is a large home from the 1950s with a steep and dramatic roof. Built in an English manor house style. The porch is much later than the rest of the house. This was the address for R Henderson’s membership of the Civic Trust from 1985 to 2006.
42, Anna, is a 1994 copy of a late Victorian residence.
46 Doon, has a similar band of coloured brick as 48. From at least 1915 to 1921 this was the home of Mrs Annie Crawford. One of Mrs Crawford’s sons, Harry, was killed on the Western Front in the First World War. Her younger son, Walter [1], had a very distinguished career. After attending Beecroft public school he, like his brother, went to Sydney Grammar and then to Sydney University and St Paul’s College. While there he won University blues for cricket and rowing and also won the Rhodes Scholarship for 1915. He enlisted in England and so returned to Oxford University in 1919. He went on to become the Governor of Northern Sudan before retiring to England where he served on a number of committees dealing with North Africa. He was knighted.
When his mother left this home then it became the home of Sydney Reginald Innes-Noad (1860-1931) and his family from 1922 until his death in 1931. Innes-Noad was born in England and arrived in Melbourne in 1883. He worked as a tea importer and eventually established his own business in 1891 which he sold in 1897. He had married Gertrude Howard-Smith of the famous Australian shipping family in 1885 and from 1903 he appears to have lived by independent means. His wife’s family’s company (which by that time also included Bunnings) was eventually (like that of the Blackwoods) taken over by Wesfarmers.
Innes-Noad was a strong worker for what is now the Liberal Party and became a Member of the Legislative Council in 1917. In 1911 he became a Life Governor of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 1922 he was the inaugural President of the Royal Society for the Welfare of Mother’s and Children (Tressillian), and he (and his wife) were instrumental in establishing Twilight House. In 1919 he was on the Influenza Administrative Committee and a Royal Commissioner in 1922-23 on lunacy and again in 1925 on health. He was active playing bowls for the Beecroft Club throughout the 1920s. He was awarded the British Imperial Honour of being a Commander of St Michael and St George in 1929. Following his death this house was sold in 1931 for 950 pounds.
[1] For more information on Crawford see elsewhere on this web site under People.
48 is a house of 1910 with later rear additions. Its verandah is tiled rather than timber showing a later age than a number of neighbouring houses. See the decorative band of coloured brick in the front wall and the walk through windows to the front verandah. The garden has been significantly altered including the removal of a hot house and the growth of a tall front hedge. In the 1910s and 1920s this was the home of Mr Edmund Antrobus and family and whose widowed sister lived next door. Mrs Lily Antrobus (his widow) died in 1942 at 1 Park Avenue Beecroft. Until recent renobations in the early 2000s there used to be a glasshouse that could be seen from the road on the western side of the property. This is noted because Mr Antrobus had been the internal auditor of the Horticultural Society of NSW and vice-President of the Beecroft Amateur Horticultural Society in 1910.
62 is one of the few Spanish Mission style houses in the area and was built in the 1930s. There is a triple arched front verandah, cream roughcast walls, ventilator pipes set in the gable and decorative wrought iron screens on the windows. The old garden layout is
62A, was built around 2002 for Ken and Anna Davis, who also designed the home [1]. This was the address for the membership of Ken Davis of the Civic Trust from 2005 to 2006.
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 12 December 2012 p.3
Malton Road