Avonmore Terrace facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Avonmore Terrace
Avonmore, Randwick, pictured in 2015
Location	26-42 The Avenue, Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1888–1891
Architectural style(s)	Victorian Italianate
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Avonmore Terrace; Randwick Mansions
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	565
Type	Terrace
Category	Residential buildings (private)
Builders	John Walsh
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Avonmore Terrace is a special group of nine old houses in a row, called terrace houses. You can find them at 26-42 The Avenue in Randwick, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. These houses were built a long time ago, between 1888 and 1891, by a builder named John Walsh. They are also known as Randwick Mansions.

Today, most of these houses are private homes. One of them is even a small, fancy hotel. Because they are so old and important, Avonmore Terrace is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means they are protected and recognized for their historical value.

History of Avonmore Terrace

Early Land Use in Randwick

The land where Avonmore Terrace stands was originally given to the Church of England in 1864. Much of this land was used for the St. Judes Church Cemetery. Other parts were for the Municipal Council Chambers.

A map from 1864 shows that a park across from the terrace was meant for other religious groups to use as cemeteries. However, these groups did not use the land in time. So, the government took it back and turned it into a cricket ground.

Selling the Cemetery Land

In 1886, a special group from the NSW Parliament looked into selling some unused cemetery land. They wanted to check if any bodies were still buried there. They also wanted to know how the money from the sale would be used.

Earlier, in 1868, a law was passed to stop new burials at Randwick Cemetery. Local people were worried about the cemetery polluting their water supply.

Witnesses, including a surveyor and the church leader, said no bodies were left in the section to be sold. A few years before, the remains of two babies and one adult had been moved. Everyone agreed that money from the sale would help make the church bigger. It would also provide housing for the caretaker and keep the cemetery tidy. Some money would even go towards building a new church in Coogee.

John Walsh Builds the Terraces

In May 1888, the Church sold a piece of land, about half a hectare, to John Walsh. John Walsh was a building contractor. He started building the middle terrace first, which was the biggest of the nine. This house became his own family home.

He then continued building the other houses next to it. By February 1891, all the terraces were finished. Most of them already had people living in them. The Randwick records from 1889 show that John Walsh was charged rates for all nine houses. The smaller houses were valued at $280 each, and his own home, "Avonmore," was valued at $320.

About John Walsh

John Walsh was a successful builder and railway contractor. He was born in Ireland in 1843. He built railways in Queensland, Australia. In 1867, he married Margaret Jane Clohesy.

By 1888, John Walsh had earned enough money to build these nine large, three-storey houses. He and Margaret had six daughters. So, their home, "Avonmore," was very big, with about 16 rooms. It had enough bedrooms for each daughter, guest rooms, and even rooms for servants. People think the large living rooms on the ground floor were used for parties. This was a way to introduce his daughters to important local families.

Famous Residents of Walsh's Terrace

In 1891, some notable people lived in Walsh's Terrace. Here are a few:

• No. 2: David Storey, who was a merchant. He later became Sir David and was the first Member of Parliament for Randwick.
• No. 5: John Walsh, the builder and railway contractor, lived in "Avonmore."
• No. 6: Rev. J. Campbell, a church leader, lived here. He wrote a book about finding gold and solving unemployment. He was also a curate at St. Nicolas Church in Coogee.

Naming the Houses

In 1892, names for the houses in Walsh's Terrace started appearing in a local directory. It's not known if John Walsh chose these names for the houses he rented out. Some of the names included:

• "Etruria"
• "Wattsbridge"
• "Eurotas"
• "Avonmore" (John Walsh's home)
• "Laleham"
• "Kylemore"

After John Walsh's Death

John Walsh passed away on February 13, 1893, at the age of 50. He was buried in Waverley Cemetery. His wife, Margaret, then moved to No. 2. She continued to rent out the other eight houses. In 1905, all the houses were sold to the Estate of B.O. Holterman. Just before World War I, the row of houses was renamed 'Randwick Mansions.'

Schools at Avonmore

From 1903 to 1908, a private school for young ladies called Lotaville Private School was run at Avonmore. It was managed by Professor Patrick Henry Hughes and his wife Mary Jane. Students could also live there as boarders. The school had high standards, and some students even went on to university.

From 1909 to about 1916, Brighton College took over at Avonmore. It was run by Miss Amos and Richard C. Amos. They likely took over the students from Lotaville School.

Today, No. 34 is a small, fancy hotel. The other houses are still privately owned homes.

What Avonmore Terrace Looks Like

Avonmore Terrace is a group of nine large, three-storey houses. They are built in the Victorian Italianate style. Number 34, in the middle, is the grandest of them all. The houses are made of strong brick and have timber roofs.

The central house (No. 34) has a large tower that makes it stand out. This tower is a main feature for the whole row of houses. The other houses in the row have two main sections with rounded verandas.

The front of the houses has a heavy, decorative wall at the top. The central house has a special broken arch shape with an urn on top. The word "AVONMORE" is built into the wall here. Inside, you can find carved staircases and fancy designs on the ceilings. The large front door has beautiful stained glass. Many rooms also have marble and tiled fireplaces.

Outside, there is a decorative fence. You can also see beautiful cast iron lace work and detailed designs. Some of the original tiled verandas and paths are still there.

Condition of the Houses

As of September 2011, the houses were in good physical condition.

Why Avonmore Terrace is Special

Avonmore Terrace is a group of nine impressive Italianate-style houses. They were built by John Walsh and finished in 1888. This row of houses is important because of its beautiful Victorian Italianate design. It also has many decorative details and large rooms.

Being located across from Alison Park, it adds a lot to the historic area around St. Judes Church. The most important parts of the houses are their entire front, including the central tower. The verandas with their cast iron railings and corrugated iron roofs are also very significant. The insides of some houses, like the hallways, front rooms, stairs, and fireplaces, are also highly valued.

This group of houses shows how Randwick grew and developed in the late 1800s. It also shows the wealth and hopes of people during that time.

Avonmore Terrace was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.