Cheltenham Road was initially called Kent Street as it was an extension from Kent Road, Epping through what was colloquially called at the time “Devil’s Pinch”.
Northern (even numbered ) side
2-4 iis a good example of a 1940s to 1950s bungalow of ‘international style.’ It has curved lines, wrought iron trim, Gosford sandstone chimneys and a double garage underneath. Windows are designed to capture the northern sun. This was the address of D Gambrill for membership of the Civic Trust between 1982 and 1996.
8, Inverrughie was built in 1924 for Mr Athelstane Hubert Whitney, solicitor. The Whitneys were here until at least 1953. Again it is a rambling bungalow style and has made good use of the dark blue Thornleigh brick. It has sidelights at the front door, leadlight windows and timber for the upper portion in which vents can be seen.
The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
The house is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
10-12, Ardbeg was built in 1925 for Alexander King. It is a good example of a rambling bungalow with Federation overtones. As with other houses in the street, it has a split gable.
King was born in Glasgow and arrived in Australia in 1902. He was a principal in the firm McLeod & King in Rockhampton and was then the Queensland Government marine engineer in Rockhampton. He relocated to Sydney in 1920 where, amongst other things he was a director of the Australian Provincial Insurance Association. He died on 3 February 1935 [1].
In 1937 the house was occupied by the son, James McEwen King an architect and his family.
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] Daily Telegraph, 4 February 1935 p6; Daily Commercial News & Shipping List, 5 February 1935 p5.
16-18, Mornington. This was built in 1925 for Charles John Potts, a grain and produce merchant. It is an impressive bungalow with Federation overtones. Prior to this in 1920 to 1925 the Potts were living in Rosmon, 11 The Boulevard Cheltenham. In 1928 the youngest son, Keith, married Meryl, only daughter of Mr & Mrs David Bertrm of Maida Vale, The Boulevard. The family were still here until at least 1936. This property was sold in 2023.
20, By-Way. Built in 1937 by Burt H Porter it has magnificent deodars in a park like setting – originally with a significant rose garden. While some have described it as being of restrained art deco in style, most recent commentary has called it ‘waterfall austerity’ style which reflects the use of brick the strong horizontal lines and the softness of the curvature. It has boxed eaves and hidden gutters. There are wide curved sandstone steps, glass brick side lights, curved corners (both inside and outside of the house, light coloured bricks and slim line steel railings). The horizontality of the designed is emphasised by the pitch of the roof, the boxed eaves, the wide band windows and the broad steps. Originally there was a sandstone path, centred by a sundial that led to the corner of the lot facing the railway – where the gate comprised a ship’s wheel from grandfather Porter’s favourite yacht. During World War 2 an air raid shelter was dug into the front yard. The only difficulty, Miss Porter used to recall, was that when it rained it acted like a tank and so filled with water.
Burt Humphreys Porter was a salesman for Anthony Hordern’s department store living in Croydon when he purchased this land from William Chorley in 1939. He went on to be head of the Fine Arts section of the store. It was then inherited by two of his daughters Jocelyn (Joy) (died 1988) and Gwen (died 2010). These maiden aunts raised one of their nephews, William (Bill) Gummow who went to be a student at Beecroft Grammar before reading law, co-authoring significant text books and becoming a Judge of the High Court of Australia.
22. The two storeyed brick house was built in 1938 for May Chorley after her parent’s home was demolished. The corner gateway was deliberately designed to give the shortest path to the railway. It is notable for its largely intact 1940s garden including a prominent cypress and sandstone fence with evidence of the original wrought iron top. The crazy paving is of the era. The white pool fence erected by Council on the corner is unfortunately discordant.
Between 1943 and 1949, at least, it was the home of Harry Keen, manufacturer, and his family.
In 1954 it was occupied by Lily May Chorley (1896-1988) and her sister-in-law Mabel Mary Chorley (widow of William Charles Chorley who had died in 1951). Mabel died in 1980. In 1958 Lily May Chorley now shared the house with Albert Edward Tulloch and his wife Alice Annie (nee Chorley). Lily was still living here in 1968 but by 1977 had moved to Eastwood.
The garden is listed on the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Register which comprises Schedule 5 (Environmental Heritage) of the Hornsby Local Environment Plan 2013.
28, Narani was occupied in 1914 by Ernest G Seale. A new house was presumably built here in the 1940s and was occupied in 1943 by David Douglas Eyre, architect, and his family. The Eyre family were still living here into the 1950s.
30, A house was built on this site in 1930 by Roland Isherwood. This house is said to have been built in 1951 it had a second storey added in the 1990s [1].
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 1 August 2018.
32 Cooyong was occupied from 1920 by Alexander Neil Brodie, dentist (1878-1944) and his family. Alexander died here in 1944 and his widow, Ellen Elizabeth Savage Brodie was still living here in at least 1972.
34 was also occupied by a member of the Arnott family in 1914 and from 1932 by Geoffrey Harold Arnott, engineer. He died here in 1986.
Fairhaven was built prior to 1915 when we know that it was the home of Percival Greaves. He stayed there until 1923 when he left and Henry Buckle lived there.
36, Kailoa was occupied in 1924 by Arthur E Snowball, who had been married the year before in Drummoyne to Jean McGregor Fairweather. In 1931 the Snowball family moved to 4 The Promenade. The brother of Arthur, Frederick Restell Snowball, lived around the same time at Woongara 46 Cheltenham Road.
From 1931 to at least 1943 it was the home of Meopham Methuen Gardner, civil servant, and his family.
38, Wilfran was occupied from 1924 to 1927 by Mrs R Parnwell and then from at least 1930 by Robert William Pearse, machinist (1885-1965). His wife was Elizabeth Frances nee Lavor and so the house name presumably derives from William and Frances. The Pears family left by 1949. The current house may be a replacement.
40 This property was sold in 2023.
42, Rowallan was occupied in 1926 by William Francis Milne, engineer and his family. In 1927 Milne was declared bankrupt. He died here in 1943 and his widow and children remained living here until at least 1958.
44, Haslemere was occupied from 1921 by James Aubrey Gibbes Murray [1]. From 1927 to no later than 1933 by W B Curvengen, medical practitioner then 1935-1937 by Catherine Jane Moody and in 1943 by William Goldsworthy Cowman.
[1] For more information on the Murray family see on this website under People – Lady Sybil Murray.
46, Woongara was occupied from 1924 to at least 1937 by Frederick Restell Snowball and his family. In 1943 the occupants were John McKeekin McCaw, marine superintendant, and his family. They had previously lived at 17 Chorley Crescent.
48, Berowra and later Ballentrae was occupied from 1930 to at least 1937 by Ernest Arthur Edwards (furniture warehouseman) and his family. In 1943 the occupants were Denver Forrester Joyce, labourer, and his family.
50 From at least 1935 to 1968 this was the home of Edward Alfred Briggs, his wife Flora and their family. Professor Briggs DSc eventually held the Chair of Zoology at the University of Sydney. In 1931 he and his wife sought to separate on the grounds of his temperament, lack of empathy and possibly he seeing another person, however the Court ordered him to return living in the family home. In 1937 he travelled to China to investigate the China Man and was accompanied by Mrs Briggs. He also worked on the discovery of oil in Papua New Guinea and problems with the Great Barrier Reef. One student described his lectures as a marathon: “He dictated sentence by sentence, masses of anatomy and life cycles, between spasms of which marathon we grabbed a few seconds to copy down his intricate diagrams from the blackboard.” [1]
[1] C Turney, U Bygott & P Chippendale, Australia’s First: A History of the University of Sydney Volume 1 1850-1939 (University of Sydney, Sydney, 1991) p 533. Truth, 17 May 1931 p 10; The Sun, 11 May 1931 p 7, The Telegraph, 20 May 1937 p 12.
52 5trathnairn originally Heather Brae and Montello, was occupied 1916 to 1918 by John Bell and then from 1919 to at least 1945 by William Hugh Beattie and his family [1]. This was the address of J Allen for membership of the Civic Trust in 2000.
[1] The Beattie and Meurant families were subject to an article by Dame Mary Gilmore published in Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga), 4 July 1933.
54 Beaufort was occupied from 1913 to the early 1930s by Richard Parsons, draper and his family. In 1935 it was the home of David Edward Limburg, architect, and his family.
56, Normanton was occupied from at least 1912 to 1935 by Joseph Arthur Peach and his family. He was a painter of china and porcelain and had taught this subject since 1895. His son, Harold Sydney Peach was an architect. In 1935 the family moved next door to 58 Cheltenham Road. In 1943 this was the home of Edward James Holland, clerk, and his family.
58 from at least 1935 to 1937 this was the home of Joseph Arthur Peach and his family – for whom see 56, Normanton.
60. Colriffa is on the corner with Boronia Avenue, and was occupied in 1912 by Herbert George Beaumont (1874-1950) and then became a small private school, Echallens College (1915-1929) [1]. It was run by Miss Harriet Millichamp Jones with assistance from her two sisters. The Jones were still living here until 1943.
Later, this was the boyhood home of Russell Huntley Tucker, nurseryman and his wife Jessie Allison. Their son, who grew up here was the Australian actor Gil Tucker (born 1947) best known for his role as Constable Roy Baker in Cop Shop (1977-1984).
[1] For more information on the school see a separate article on this web site under Early Schools.
62, Downend was on a block of just over 3 acres and occupied from at least 1907 to around 1919 by Charles Rundle Wills. This house appears to have been demolished in 1929. From at least 1917 to at least 1943 there was at this number the home of Walter J Grant and his family. The house was sold for unpaid council rates in 1939 however the family were still in occupation thereafter.
This, possibly second house, was subsequently demolished and a new house built by the operator of Gregory Shoes. He was a White Russian who had fled the Russian Revolution and then travelled to Sydney via Vladivostock and China. He left China in 1949 following the Communist revolution. His daughter, Olga lived in the house until her death in 2023.
72, Kings Lynn was the home of Travers Brett (1892-1962) and his wife Louise Estelle (Essie) (nee Mutton) from 1921 until at least the 1950s. Travers was recorded in the Electoral Rolls as a Manager however before this he had served in World War 1. He married Essie in 1916 as a Lieutenant. During World War 2 he again enlisted and served as the officer in charge of a major recruitment camp at Dubbo. Essie’s sister married Ray Rothwell who also has connections with the District [1]. The son of Travers and Essie was Oswald Brett (Essie’s father being Oswald Mutton) the famous marine artist. Oswald remembered that his mother was an artist in the garden of this home [2]. Travers died in 1962 in Chile. Essie was still living in the house in 1972 but she died in 1981 at Roseville.
[1] Daily Telegraph 21 July 1916 p9; National Advocate 1 April 1927 p2.
[2] For more information on Oswald Brett see elsewhere on this website under People.
74 Culpaulin seems to have been first occupied in 1927 by Helen Louise (Ellen) King. She leased the property in 1929, 1930 and 1932. She was living here in 1936 with boarders David McCall, insurance agent and Evelyn Oakes McCall. King died in 1945 in Hornsby Hospital. In 1952 it was the home of Archibald Bertram Booth. The home was then purchased by Allan George Brown who demolished the house and built a new home on the site for his daughter.
[1] For more information on the school see a separate article on this web site under Early Schools.
76, The Castle is a rare example of a reinforced concrete of art deco designed house in the District. It was built by Allen George Brown (an engineer working with Public Works) and his father, Herbert Allen Brown. A G Brown purchased the vacant land in 1946 (according to the street design, on the corner of Cheltenham and Castle Howard Roads) and the house was finished in the early 1950s. It has large cantilever slabs. In the lounge room there is a rectangular pattern embodied in the ceiling with a plastered cast mural made by Herbert in the wall. There is a spiral staircase with variable tread widths. The parquetry contains hardwood from all Australian states. The walls are of double brick, cement rendered inside and out, with flat concrete roof sections. The land was later subdivided into three lots of equal size.
Southern (odd numbered) side
1, was occupied from 1937 by Harry Keen.
3, Stonehenge, was built for Ada Chorley by her father as a result of her marriage in 1922 to Joseph Allison. After marriage they went to Queensland. They first appear in the Sands Directory in 1930. In 1933 they lived at 4 The Promenade. Then in 1936 back in this house before moving to Newcastle in 1937.
The walls are rendered cement over brick. It is still possible to see some of the stonework edging on the garden beds that was done by Allison. The house has valley views.
7, Bedarra, was built for Ada Chorley by her father as a result of her marriage in 1922 to Joseph Allison. After marriage they went to Queensland. They first appear in the Sands Directory in 1930. In 1933 they lived at 4 The Promenade. Then in 1936 back in this house before moving to Newcastle in 1937.
The walls are rendered cement over brick. It is still possible to see some of the stonework edging on the garden beds that was done by Allison. The house has valley views. 11 was built in 1936 by George G Savage.
11A was built c 1997.
15, Highclere, was built in about 1927 for Charles McKenzie who had a timber firm. As with its neighbour, 19, it has the dark Thornleigh brick. It has a tile verandah and sandstone drive. It has its original fence and tecoma hedge.
19 Lochindaal, formerly Kings Stanley, was the first house built in this part of the street in 1925. It was built by William Chorley for his daughter Alice Annie, who had married Albert Edward Tulloch whose family owned Phoenix Engineering (later Tullochs) at Rhodes. Kings Stanley was the town in which Alice Tulloch’s mother, Lily Chorley, was born. In 1958 Albert & Alice moved to 22 Cheltenham Road.
Water and electricity were taken across the railway when this house was built. It uses sandstone in the foundations, half the wall of the verandah and in the path. The stone was quarried from the block as the house was being built. The house has leadlight front windows and sidelights.
This was the address of R Lennox for membership of the Civic Trust in 2007. This property was sold in 2023.
21, was occupied in 1943 by Herbert J Alexander.
23 was occupied in 1943 by Eva E Allen.
25 was occupied in 1943 by Albert C Wilson.
33, Hopetoun was occupied in 1923 by Edwin Sydney Taylor. He moved in 1930. In 1937 Isaac Joll Broad and his wife Monica Irene were living here and remained until 1955.
35 Fairhaven was occupied:
– 1913 Percival Charles Greaves, accountant and Ellen his wife
– 1923 Henry Buckle
– 1927 Roland Isherwood
– 1943 Florence Margaret Whittle
37, formerly Snaefell and then Lillianfells, was purchased as vacant land from William Chorley in 1913 by Oliver Wallace, a mining engineer. He built this home shortly afterwards. He sold the house in 1917 to Arthur Pierce, an optician in the City. They moved to Cheltenham to help with Mrs Pierce’s health. They changed the house name to reflect both Mrs Pierce’s name and because of a house they admired in Katoomba. They built a tennis court alongside the house and laid out extensive gardens as Mr Pierce was a keen gardener. They employed a gardener to help one day a week. Mr Pierce was the foundation Master of the Beecroft Masonic Lodge.
The Fennell family owned the property from at least 1962 to 1965 and then George Robins from 1965 and 1968 after that the property was owned by Hugh and Shirley Sefton.
47, 49 and 52 are similar in design and may all have been built around 1915.
47, Lyndhurst was occupied in 1930 by Edgar Charles Bond. He and his wife Florence moved to 78 The Crescent in 1933. In 1943 it was the home of Harold Walter Dunstan, customs agent, and his wife.
49, Cornucopia House formerly Wiahola. was occupied:
– 1916 Albert Arthur Armstrong, manufacturer
– 1918 Aileen Shepherd
– v1932 Raymond J Brown
– 1934 Frank Speight, draughtsman. He and his wife had moved to Ferndale Road by 1958.
51, Mooredean was occupied in 1920 by John William Johns, boot manufacturer. His widow, Lilian, died here in 1950.
53 Woorilla formerly Halmarstan and subsequently Malahide was occupied in 1917 by Thomas Kinninmont. Then in 1921 by Henry Layton James, a retired solicitor. His widow, Mary Ann, died here in 1933. In 1943 it was the home of Thomas Edward Jones, clergyman, and his wife Lucy. In 1949 it was the home of Elizabeth Ann Hooper.
57 Bombala formerly Narani. This home was built in 1914 for Ernest G Seale, public servant, and his wife Rose. In 1931 the widow moved to 33 The Crescent and in that year Septimus Jonas, printer, was living here with his family. In 1943 Arthur James and Phyllis Brear were living here. It was sold in 2013 by Yong Eun and Eun Ho Lee [1].
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 19 June 2013, p3.
61, Ballindrum previously Egilabra was occupied in 1930 as the home of T Bridge and then by Cecil Arthur Osborne Sindel between 1931 and 1933 then from 1933 by Walter Charles Cover, electrician, who later moved to 24 Sutherland Road. In 1937 it was occupied by James Thompson, retired, and his wife until at least 1953.
61A, Roldor then Ascot then Lorric appears was occupied in the Hornsby Council Rate Books 1906-09 as owned by Mrs Redshaw and then in the 1913 Electoral Rolls as the hresidence of George Redshaw, school teacher, and his family. He eventually became Master of English at Sydney Boys High school. In April 1915 Fanny Redshaw was Secrtary of the local Red Cross. In 1921 to 1924 it was the home of George Matthews with the Redshaws being again there in 1932 to 1934. George Redshaw died here in 1939. In 1943 it was occupied by Cyril and Ruby Mandelson.
63, Brackland (corner Beecroft Road) was built in 1912 by James Murray. For the early owners see under Lady Sybill Murray in this website under People. In 1932 the house was leased to John and Dorothy Wilson. In 1934 the house was occupied by Cecil Trives, grocer, and his wife Nellie. Who were still there in 1954.
65, between 1917 and 1921 this may have been the home of William J Rule. From 1922 to 1932 it was occupied by Thomas Bellamy and he appears to have continued to own it until 1940. In 1943 it was occupied by Stanley Rey Bailey, gear cutter, and his family.
67, Ettalong and later Lorna Doone was occupied in:
– 1915 Richard C Mumford
– 1917 Andrew C Miller
– 1918 Ernest G Bourne
– 1919 John C Bell
– 1920 to 1922 Robert Love
– 1923 to 1924 Charles E Barnett
– 1926 to 1927 Mrs C O’Neil
– 1930 F Badger
– 1932 to 1933 Albert George Rothery, engineer
– 1934 to 1935 Cecil Trives, grocer, and Nellie Trives having moved from 63 Cheltenham Road
– 1943 Alan Tranter Brown, clerk, and family.
69 Jesmond Dene was built around 1900 [1]. It was occupied in 1913 by Charles William Peacock, clerk at the University of Sydney from 1902 to 1928. His widow was still living here in 1949.
[1] Northern District Times, Property Supplement, 19 June 2013.
71 Strathspey was the home of Rev Dr Robert Dey from 1907 until his death in 1936 [1]. The home was named after the river Spey in Scotland.
In 1937 it was the home of Margaret Ashenden, widow of Benjamin Ashenden.
[1] For more information on Rev Dr Robert Dey see elsewhere on this website under Churches-Congregational. The grandson of rev Dr Robert Dey lived at 7-9 Chorley Ave Cheltenham for which see elsewhere on this website under Houses-Chorley.
73, Shaugh was occupied:
– 1906 – 1924 Robert McKay, clerk and family
– 1925-1927 Harry S Gulliford
– 1930-1932 Sydney Sargent Merrifield MRCS LSA, AKC, retired medical practitioner. His estate sold the house in 1945.
– 1937-1977 William Allen Jackson, concrete hand
79 was occupied from about 1931 to 1943 by George Henry Brown, labourer and his family.
81 This property was sold in 2024.
87. This international style house is a former home of pianist and a former Channel 9, musical director, Geoff Harvey OAM (1935-2019). He sold before 2002.