by Cathy Jones
The Municipal District of Strathfield was incorporated in June 1885, establishing local government (or Council) area. In August 1886, Strathfield Council acquired land from James. R. Powell (owner of ‘Terry-Hi-Hi’ Homebush Rd and descendent of one of the original Liberty Plains land grantees Edward Powell) at the cost of £600 on the corner of Homebush and Redmyre Roads, in order to build the Council Chambers.
Strathfield Council contacted four architects residing in the local area and requested they submit tenders to design the new Council Chambers and Town Clerk’s residence. The architects included Harry C. Kent, John Sulman, William Gratus Coward and Ferdinand Reuss.
Sulman, of the architectural firm Sulman and Blackmann, was the successful tenderer. Sulman had recently arrived from England and was residing in ‘Glencoe’ Torrington Rd Strathfield, when he submitted the tender. The builder was John Morrison. The cost of the Chambers and Town Clerk’s residence was £1635.13.0.
The Council Chambers were completed and opened in 1887. The Council Chambers were officially opened on 31st October 1877. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 1 November 1877 that:
The formal opening of the Strathfield Council Chambers was celebrated last night by a public banquet, at which a large number of residents and visitors set down. The Mayor, Mr. Von Der Heyde, presided, and among the visitors were the Hon. James Inglis, Minister for Public Instruction; Mr. Piggott MLC: Mr Toohey, MLA: Drs Sydney Jones and Jackson, Messrs Kirkaldy, D. Veron, Buzacott, H S Bird, R. Betts, Dr G J Sly and Rev. Mr Raynor.
The new building is centrally situated, and he’s built upon plans and in scale in keeping with the rapid progress of the borough; the rooms, offices, &c., being of dimensions which would necessitate no additions or alterations for many years to come. The toasts of the evening were “The Queen”, “The Governor”, “The Parliament and Ministry” and “Success to Minister in Municipal Institutions”.
In responding into the toast of the parliament and ministry Mr. Inglis briefly complained of unfair and partial criticism to which the members of the cabinet had been, in his opinion, subjected at the hands of various writers in certain sections of the press. He felt thoroughly grateful for honest, genuine, sound, impartial criticism, in as much as that was only under bona-fide comment that real progress can be looked for. The government, he maintained, was solely actuated by a desire to carry into effect the lines of action and pledges which they had submitted to the country so, with the least possible delay, and in as perfect a manner as was consistent with fear and straightforward comment and discussion. In answer to an interjection, Mr. Inglis remarked that he had always been, and still was, very strongly in favour of the extension of the railway from Redfern Station and to the Circular Quay. It was his firm belief after no small amount of thought up on the manner that no system of railway transit to the metropolis could be a perfect one until the waters of Port Jackson were tapped.
Remarks were offered by Mr Piggott, Mr Toohey, The Mayor of Strathfield and by others, and an enjoyable gathering was brought to close shortly before 11 o’clock.
The Council Chambers building contained the Chambers (Council meeting room) and office space for the Town Clerk. The Council Chambers building provided rooms for Council meetings and council administration. Until the opening of the new Strathfield Town Hall in 1923, the Council Chambers also operated as a Town Hall and used for a variety of community activities.
Extensions to the building may have occurred in 1911. Tenders were called on 16 February 1911 for additions to the Municipal Chambers by architects Kent & Budden architects, 129 Pitt Street (Construction, 1911 February 13, p2). It is unknown what the additions involved, but the additions are likely to be at ground level and intended to provided additional office space for Council staff, which was increasing in numbers.
In February 1923 and also in May 1923, contracts were awarded for extensive additions to the Council Chambers to Kent and Massie, architects and Kell & Rigby, builders (SMH 1923 February 28 p11 and 1938 May 13). This included the Strathfield Town Hall, but may have involved other alterations or additions to the Council Chambers building.
Photographs of the Council Chambers in the 1920s and early 1930s feature a single storey building. Therefore, it is likely the construction of the first floor addition occurred in 1938. On March 15 1938, Council resolved to ask the architect to submit plans and specifications for the new Chambers and also for the alterations to the officer’s quarters. In July 1938, a contract was let for alterations and additions to the Strathfield Council Chambers by the architects to J Kennedy, builder, Burlington Road Homebush (SMH, 1938 July 12 p4).
Further office extensions were undertaken in 1969 and 1984 by the architectural firm of D T Morrow & Gordon, who also designed many other Strathfield Council Municipal buildings including the former Baby Health Centre in Redmyre Road and former High St Branch Library (now demolished).
Strathfield War Memorials
The Strathfield War Memorials for the two World Wars are located in the front of the Council Chambers.
The World War I war memorial was dedicated on 11th October 1925 by the Governor of NSW, His Excellency the Governor, Admiral Sir Dudley de Clair, KCB, MVO. The memorials for World War I consist of Honour Roll tablets erected on a wall of the Council Chambers and a globe of the world erected on a granite pillar. Countries forming the British Empire were originally signified on the globe in gold lettering, which has now faded.
The World War II memorial was dedicated on 26 September 1953 by the Governor of NSW, His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Northcott. The memorials for World War II consist of a trachyte seat and a bronze plaque containing the names of all those residents of the Strathfield Municipality who died in the Second World War.
Council Administration Building
The Council Administration Building facing Homebush Road is a former house called. ‘Ravenswood’, which was acquired by Strathfield Council in 1961. ‘Ravenswood’ was built in 1902 for Edgar Boston, Director of E. Way & Co, a prominent city department store. E. Way & Co was located in Pitt St Mall, next to Myers (the façade is still visible).
Edgar Boston died in 1906 and the property was transferred to his wife, Susan. The plan of the house design is dated 28 July 1902 and signed by G H Dale, contractor. George H Dale was master builder from Meryla Street Burwood. Dale also served as an Alderman on Burwood Council.
Mrs Boston continued to reside at ‘Ravenswood’ until her death in 1948. ‘Ravenswood’ was then purchased by Ernest and Elsie Melheuish, leather goods manufacturers, who owned the property until 1961. Council records note that this property was used as a boarding house.
In 1961, Strathfield Council sold the former Town Clerk’s residence ‘Halloween’ (69 Redmyre Road) and acquired ‘Ravenswood’ to accommodate the administrative offices of the Council. Though the expansive front gardens have been well maintained, the rear and side gardens have been reduced with further extensions to the Council Chambers and building of a new office block in the late 1990’s at the rear of ‘Ravenswood’. Though the grounds surrounding ‘Ravenswood’ have been reduced, the building has been well maintained and most internal original features of the house are in-tact.
Ravenswood was converted to accommodate the Engineering Office, Parks Supervisor’s Office and Mayor’s Room. The back of the building was used as a residence for the Council caretaker, a position that has since been abolished. Despite the Council using ‘Ravenswood’ for over forty years as office accommodation, most of the original features of the home have been retained including fireplaces, pressed metal ceilings, leadlight doors and internal archways. ‘Ravenswood’ also provides accommodation for the offices of the Mayor and General Manager of Strathfield Council.
The former Town Clerk’s residence at 69 Redmyre Rd has been reacquired by Strathfield Council. The building has been restored and renovated and is now used for offices.
Heritage Status
The Strathfield Council Chambers, Strathfield Town Hall and ‘Ravenswood’ are heritage listed items on the Strathfield Council Local Environmental Plan. The Council premises are also located within the Redmyre Road Heritage Conservation Area.
References
Burwood Council, 1924, Burwood Jubilee Souvenir
Fox and Associates, Strathfield Heritage Study, 1986, Strathfield Council.
George H Dale (obituary). (1931, October 29), Sydney Morning Herald, p13.
Jones, C, (2005, December), ‘Strathfield War Memorial’, Strathfield District Historical Society Newsletter.
Kell, A., ‘A brief history of Kell & Rigby [Builders] Pty Ltd’, Strathfield District Historical Society vol. 15 no. 11, Nov-Dec 1992
Malcolm, C.S., Strathfield Council Chambers, Strathfield District Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 3 October 1979.
News in Picture (1923, September 20). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930), p. 10. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246062600
Sands Sydney and Suburban Directory for Strathfield Municipality 1881-1932
Strathfield War Memorial [World War I] – Opening ceremony booklet dated October 11th 1925, Strathfield Council.
Survey of Sculpture, Monuments and Outdoor Cultural Material, Strathfield Council, 1999.
Strathfield Council, (1887, April 19), Meeting Minutes of Council meeting
Strathfield Council (1922, August 17), Minutes of Special Meeting of Council
Strathfield Town Hall. (1923, October 2). The Sun, p.15.
Strathfield. (1893, November 24). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 3.
Strathfield. (1897, July 14). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 11.
Strathfield Council Valuation Books.
“Strathfield Town Hall”, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 Oct 1923, page 14.
Sydney Morning Herald 1 November 1877
© Cathy Jones 2005, updated 2017. This article is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the author.
Strathfield Heritage 
Hello my name is Maria Keith i live at 63 Cardigan street Guildford n.s.w. I would like some information if you could help me i have an oil painting of Thomas Fitzgerald my great grandfather and a hand painted certificate thanking miss m fitzgerald for being a assistant town clerk while mr balmain was ill and after died i am wondering if you could give any information
LikeLike
Maria
John Hope Balmain was the Town Clerk of Strathfield Council until 1907, when he died. The Inspector of Works and Overseer of Works at this time was James Fitzgerald, who worked at Strathfield Council from 1888 – 1918. Fitzgerald Park at Homebush is named after him. I am unaware of a Miss Fitzgerald occupying position of Deputy Town Clerk. It was not uncommon for relatives to be employed in these positions but very rare in those days for a woman to occupy this position. I’ll see if I can find any further information.
Cathy
LikeLike
Grateful for shharing this
LikeLike