Comments for Local Notes http://localnotes.wordpress.com Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:41:07 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The Abbey, Johnston Street, Annandale by Kevin Morgan http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/the-abbey-johnston-street-annandale/#comment-170 Kevin Morgan Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:41:07 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-170 As a boy i played in the abbey spending many hours in the underground dungeon. The Ghost of the abbey was a boyhood discussion and we had many occasions being scared off by the presence. The dungeon was located of Weyton street and was a small prison like room with a large Iron gate at it's entrance. If it is still their i don't know. We were also scared away at times by the owner at the time who from memory was a doctor. Brings back memories of many fantisy full days of boyhood play. As a boy i played in the abbey spending many hours in the underground dungeon.
The Ghost of the abbey was a boyhood discussion and we had many occasions being scared off by the presence.
The dungeon was located of Weyton street and was a small prison like room with a large Iron gate at it’s entrance. If it is still their i don’t know.
We were also scared away at times by the owner at the time who from memory was a doctor.
Brings back memories of many fantisy full days of boyhood play.

]]> Comment on Marine Officer, Convict Wife : the Johnstons of Annandale by Graham Groves http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/marine-officer-convict-wife/#comment-168 Graham Groves Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:42:59 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=301#comment-168 I lived in Annandale and grew up there, we used to play in the Abbeys and had friends who lived there Rosevere, was their name, Uncle Joe, and Mrs. Rosevere. very interesting to learn the history of this area, thanks .... Graham Groves formerly 22 Piper St. Annandale, best friend lived at 8 Weynton St,. Annandale. I lived in Annandale and grew up there, we used to play
in the Abbeys and had friends who lived there Rosevere,
was their name, Uncle Joe, and Mrs. Rosevere.
very interesting to learn the history of this area,
thanks ….
Graham Groves
formerly 22 Piper St.
Annandale, best friend lived at 8 Weynton St,. Annandale.

]]> Comment on The Abbey, Johnston Street, Annandale by Simon Pilcher http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/the-abbey-johnston-street-annandale/#comment-164 Simon Pilcher Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:54:29 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=421#comment-164 The Abbey is scheduled to be sold by Auction at 3.45pm on November 7th, 2009. Simon Pilcher of McGrath Estate Agents is looking after the sale and arranging appointments for buyers in the AUD$5M+ price range. See McGrath Esate Agents web link: http://www.mcgrath.com.au/83543/?searchID=184809 The Abbey is scheduled to be sold by Auction at 3.45pm on November 7th, 2009. Simon Pilcher of McGrath Estate Agents is looking after the sale and arranging appointments for buyers in the AUD$5M+ price range. See McGrath Esate Agents web link: http://www.mcgrath.com.au/83543/?searchID=184809

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by Jason Chatwin http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-161 Jason Chatwin Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:06:18 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-161 Hi, I was just looking up "Hockingdon" and found this. I grew up in Greba (70-76), then Hockingdon (76-81) and am a long-term friend of Katriona Davis from The Abbey (We went to Hilda Booler). I am too young to remember Roselle, but I distinctly remember those horrid flats being built. Recently I had cause to go to those flats...they have the same smell as they did in 1975! I attended Annandale Nth and the houses were well known and were also our sporting houses. The then owner of Highroyd, Mrs. Isabelle Godfrey was most pleased that my sport house was hers! I was constantly asked about the houses, as there was much interest...and disbelief of the fact I lived in the Witches Houses. This was dispelled, somewhat, while on a walking tour with our teacher I took my yr6 class into the backyard and opened the back door and came back out with my budgie, George, who was too fat to fly. I was always entranced by the history of the houses and extremely grateful for giving in some of Sydney's most fascinating houses. Even though they were subdivided tenancies, it was a remarkable childhood indeed. Oh, and Hi Fran :-* Hi,

I was just looking up “Hockingdon” and found this. I grew up in Greba (70-76), then Hockingdon (76-81) and am a long-term friend of Katriona Davis from The Abbey (We went to Hilda Booler). I am too young to remember Roselle, but I distinctly remember those horrid flats being built. Recently I had cause to go to those flats…they have the same smell as they did in 1975!

I attended Annandale Nth and the houses were well known and were also our sporting houses. The then owner of Highroyd, Mrs. Isabelle Godfrey was most pleased that my sport house was hers! I was constantly asked about the houses, as there was much interest…and disbelief of the fact I lived in the Witches Houses. This was dispelled, somewhat, while on a walking tour with our teacher I took my yr6 class into the backyard and opened the back door and came back out with my budgie, George, who was too fat to fly.

I was always entranced by the history of the houses and extremely grateful for giving in some of Sydney’s most fascinating houses. Even though they were subdivided tenancies, it was a remarkable childhood indeed.

Oh, and Hi Fran :-*

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by Neil http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-159 Neil Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:31:22 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-159 Hi, I'm the person who wrote the articles about The Abbey and Highroyd on Wikipedia. Thanks for this site, which is fabulous. I intend to put it in the articles as a link. Hi, I’m the person who wrote the articles about The Abbey and Highroyd on Wikipedia. Thanks for this site, which is fabulous. I intend to put it in the articles as a link.

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by 31 July 2009: Haunted and abandoned « Scratching Sydney’s Surface http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-155 31 July 2009: Haunted and abandoned « Scratching Sydney’s Surface Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:44:37 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-155 [...] ranking Mason. The house reflects Young’s Masonic leanings, with its exterior adorned with ‘lions, quatrefoils, chimneys, turrets, a cloister and a tower with copper cladding’. Young never lived at The Abbey and by 1924 it had passed out of family hands and had been [...] [...] ranking Mason. The house reflects Young’s Masonic leanings, with its exterior adorned with ‘lions, quatrefoils, chimneys, turrets, a cloister and a tower with copper cladding’. Young never lived at The Abbey and by 1924 it had passed out of family hands and had been [...]

]]> Comment on The horse trough on Johnston Street. . by Neil http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/the-horse-trough-on-johnston-street/#comment-148 Neil Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:03:43 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=114#comment-148 Do you know if it is possible to still buy those troughs or reproductions of them? Do you know if it is possible to still buy those troughs or reproductions of them?

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by Francesca Davis http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-142 Francesca Davis Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:19:18 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-142 Dear Marcia, I would be very, very interested in anything you have to tell me about your time living in The Abbey. I am particularly interested in exactly that time - prior to when we came there in 1959 - and yes I too can remember many of the names of the tenants in the flats! You can email me directly f.delano.davis@gmail.com if you would like. And Hi Matt - you missed a very, very big weekend! Lots of memories...but it is not over and out, just yet. Francesca Davis Dear Marcia,

I would be very, very interested in anything you have to tell me about your time living in The Abbey. I am particularly interested in exactly that time – prior to when we came there in 1959 – and yes I too can remember many of the names of the tenants in the flats! You can email me directly f.delano.davis@gmail.com if you would like.

And Hi Matt – you missed a very, very big weekend! Lots of memories…but it is not over and out, just yet.

Francesca Davis

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by Marcia Goulding http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-139 Marcia Goulding Sun, 31 May 2009 07:37:38 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-139 Dear Matt, I am writing this letter hoping you may like to know a little about the years I lived in The Abbey. It was 1931 when i first went to live at The Abbey, i was 8 years old and my grandmother and Aunt were the caretakers (Mrs M Denson and Miss D Denson). I was married from the Abbey in 1942. My husband was in the army, so i still lived with my grandmother and Aunt until 1948 or 1949 when we built our own home. The Abbey had 9 flats, I can still remember all the tenants names. My uncle built a boat in the garage in the back where the laundry was. We were told it used to be horse stables. I think it was early 50's when my grandmother and aunt came to live with me. I dont know where the story came from but we always thought that the owner of The Abbey was Sir John Young who had The Abbey built so he could bring his wife out from England but she died on the ship on the way over. Perhaps that is where the story 'lady in white' came from. It was very interesting for me to learn the real story about John Young and that he was the builder of all the other old homes. I would like to hear from you. Marcia Goulding Dear Matt,
I am writing this letter hoping you may like to know a little about the years I lived in The Abbey. It was 1931 when i first went to live at The Abbey, i was 8 years old and my grandmother and Aunt were the caretakers (Mrs M Denson and Miss D Denson). I was married from the Abbey in 1942. My husband was in the army, so i still lived with my grandmother and Aunt until 1948 or 1949 when we built our own home. The Abbey had 9 flats, I can still remember all the tenants names. My uncle built a boat in the garage in the back where the laundry was. We were told it used to be horse stables. I think it was early 50’s when my grandmother and aunt came to live with me. I dont know where the story came from but we always thought that the owner of The Abbey was Sir John Young who had The Abbey built so he could bring his wife out from England but she died on the ship on the way over. Perhaps that is where the story ‘lady in white’ came from. It was very interesting for me to learn the real story about John Young and that he was the builder of all the other old homes.
I would like to hear from you.
Marcia Goulding

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by The Abbey, Johnston Street, Annandale « Local Notes http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-136 The Abbey, Johnston Street, Annandale « Local Notes Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:57 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-136 [...] More info. on The Abbey can be found at: http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/ [...] [...] More info. on The Abbey can be found at: http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/ [...]

]]> Comment on Annandale – the houses of John Young by matt kennedy http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/#comment-135 matt kennedy Sat, 16 May 2009 08:14:56 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=206#comment-135 You may be interested to know that the entire contents of The Abbey are to be auctioned off on the weekend of 23/24 May 2009. The house will be sold later in the year. I grew up in the Abbey - on and off - for the first 10 years of my life, (it was owned by a dear friend of my dad, and one of the first people I knew in my life, Dr Geoff Davis, who sadly passed away last year). It's been the one constant 'institution' in my life, and I can't believe it won't be in the Davis family hands for much longer. You may be interested to know that the entire contents of The Abbey are to be auctioned off on the weekend of 23/24 May 2009. The house will be sold later in the year. I grew up in the Abbey – on and off – for the first 10 years of my life, (it was owned by a dear friend of my dad, and one of the first people I knew in my life, Dr Geoff Davis, who sadly passed away last year).

It’s been the one constant ‘institution’ in my life, and I can’t believe it won’t be in the Davis family hands for much longer.

]]> Comment on Picture of the week by Juliet Bourke http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/picture-of-the-week-7/#comment-132 Juliet Bourke Sat, 02 May 2009 23:40:49 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=308#comment-132 Thanks for this post, can you tell me where I can find more information about Loyalty Square? For example why it was located at the cnr of Beattie and Darling Streets? Whose idea was it to erect the monument? Why the change in name? Thanks Thanks for this post, can you tell me where I can find more information about Loyalty Square? For example why it was located at the cnr of Beattie and Darling Streets? Whose idea was it to erect the monument? Why the change in name?
Thanks

]]> Comment on Picture of the week 5 by Les Robinson http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/picture-of-the-week-5/#comment-126 Les Robinson Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:54:48 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?p=97#comment-126 Dear Sir/ madam, I am looking for information on William Webster and the results of elections he was involved in. I have some old family papers where he was involved in a dispute in Annandale Ward. I do not have a year but it was in the early 1900 and apparently the Mayor changed the voting day from a Saturday to a Tuesday (April 18th) to affect the outcome. I have a pamphlet put out by William Webster whom was originally voted in imploring people to vote. I know it is a tall order but any help would be appreciated. Yours sincerely, Les Robinson Dear Sir/ madam,
I am looking for information on William Webster and the results of elections he was involved in. I have some old family papers where he was involved in a dispute in Annandale Ward. I do not have a year but it was in the early 1900 and apparently the Mayor changed the voting day from a Saturday to a Tuesday (April 18th) to affect the outcome. I have a pamphlet put out by William Webster whom was originally voted in imploring people to vote.
I know it is a tall order but any help would be appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Les Robinson

]]> Comment on my water’s edge by Betty Sparnon nee Knight http://localnotes.wordpress.com/my-waters-edge/#comment-119 Betty Sparnon nee Knight Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:32:08 +0000 http://localnotes.wordpress.com/?page_id=180#comment-119 our family moved to Pashley St in 1957, and myself and the six other Knight children went to Balmain Demonstration school. To grow up in Balmain was a priviledge, in those days very few people had any money and my family was no exception, my mum workes at the Unity Hall hotel for many years when the Honeybrooks had it. they were a wonderful family and whenever we kids went to the pub to see mum or to walk her home as we often did the Honeybrooks would always invite us upstairs to wait with their children. We would often sit on the step outside the pub and many patons would buy us a drink. Everyone loved my mum, known as Eily and she loved being a barmaid. Dad had a day job but also worked for Unity Hall and also the Sacksville in Rozelle. There used to be a horse trough on the corner of Beattie & I think Palmer streets and we had a dog called Whiskey that just loved waiting for mum while splashing around in the trough. That was the days of Sharpe bros on that corner, way before Woolies was there. Sharpes corner was a great place as the glass windows allowed us to play silly buggers by standing on each corner and lifting one arm the person on the other side saw both our arms flapping away. the silly, but pleasurable things we found to do. Another place to play was the old bomb shelter Punches Park, oh the stories of the fun we had there, and many childhood love affairs were formed in this shelter. I started work at Lever Bros aged 14 ( my mum had to get an exemption from school to go to work, as there were 7 children, not all could keep going to school. We were never home there were always people to see and things to do. Our parents were always working but were never in danger when roaming the streets, and we never did anything nasty to get ourselves into trouble. our family moved to Pashley St in 1957, and myself and the six other Knight children went to Balmain Demonstration school.
To grow up in Balmain was a priviledge, in those days very few people had any money and my family was no exception, my mum workes at the Unity Hall hotel for many years when the Honeybrooks had it. they were a wonderful family and whenever we kids went to the pub to see mum or to walk her home as we often did the Honeybrooks would always invite us upstairs to wait with their children. We would often sit on the step outside the pub and many patons would buy us a drink. Everyone loved my mum, known as Eily and she loved being a barmaid. Dad had a day job but also worked for Unity Hall and also the Sacksville in Rozelle.
There used to be a horse trough on the corner of Beattie & I think Palmer streets and we had a dog called Whiskey that just loved waiting for mum while splashing around in the trough. That was the days of Sharpe bros on that corner, way before Woolies was there. Sharpes corner was a great place as the glass windows allowed us to play silly buggers by standing on each corner and lifting one arm the person on the other side saw both our arms flapping away. the silly, but pleasurable things we found to do.
Another place to play was the old bomb shelter Punches Park, oh the stories of the fun we had there, and many childhood love affairs were formed in this shelter.
I started work at Lever Bros aged 14 ( my mum had to get an exemption from school to go to work, as there were 7 children, not all could keep going to school.
We were never home there were always people to see and things to do. Our parents were always working but were never in danger when roaming the streets, and we never did anything nasty to get ourselves into trouble.

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