Wednesday, August 31, 2016

75 Cowper Street

This address,75 Cowper Street, Randwick (in Sydney, NSW, Australia),  appears several times in my genealogy database. The property has now been demolished and replaced by block of apartments.

Location of 75 Cowper Street
It was the home of my grandmother's cousin, Loretto Kealy (Aunty Ettie) and her husband George Stach and must have had elastic walls as it was refuge for many family members who lived there at some time or other.

Trove tells me "Under instructions from Perpetual Trustee Co. (Ltd.), trustee of the estate of the late Patrick Ryan Larkin, and in conjunction with Richardson and Wrench,Ltd., residence, 'Glenomera,' No. 75 Cowper-st, for £1625. (1929 'ANOTHER FOR SYDNEY.', Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), 10 November, p. 12, viewed 14 July, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131641744). I don't think this refers to the Stach's purchase as they were not married until 1932. Another cousin, May Nolan and her husband, Robert Neill, were resident in the property in 1932 as a birth notice for their son shows.

1932 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 21 May, p. 12. , viewed 28 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16865058
Electoral Rolls show that Aunty Ettie lived at number 75  between 1943 and 1969 when she died.

In September 1943 Ettie's brother, Herb died at Number 75. (1943 'MR. H. F. KEALY.', Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), 3 September, p. 5, viewed 14 July, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96433049). Another of Ettie's siblings, Margaret, also died at 75 Cowper Street in 1947 (1947 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 7 June, p. 37. , viewed 28 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27900749)

When he first came to Sydney in the late forties my father also stayed with Aunty Ettie until he found more permanent accommodation.

Dad's cousin Molly also lived for a time with Aunty Ettie:

1944 'BLUEBELL'S PLAYGROUND',Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1942 - 1954), 6 July, p. 18. , viewed 28 Jul 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146487018
 I can remember visiting this house several times and admiring Uncle George's budgerigars when I was a small child. Many years later when Mr GeniAus and I were looking for a new house we inspected this property and considered purchasing it.

Although George and Ettie had no children their house was a very busy family home.

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