Historical Archaeological Assessment - SMDA - NSW Government

AECOM
Historical Archaeological Assessment - The Grange - North Eveleigh Affordable
Housing Project, Wilson Street, Darlington, NSW
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In the following two years, again, no definitive evidence is provided in the Directories regarding who, if anyone,
was living in the house. In 1871 the Directory lists Thomas M’Culloch as resident of The Grange. No directory was
produced in 1872 and in 1873 Andrew McCulloch is listed at The Grange. The directory for 1874 has not been
digitised, but The Sydney Morning Herald records the marriage of Thomas M’Culloch, of The Grange, eldest son
in 1874 (The Sydney Morning Herald 10 July 1874:6b).
The lack of stability in occupancy rates may have resulted from the death of Felix Wilson on 24 September 1865
(The Sydney Morning Herald 25 September 1865:1a). On his death, the property was administered by a series of
trustees.
From 1875 until 1884 John Little is consistently listed as the resident of The Grange in the Sands Directories. In
the later years his occupation is listed as auctioneer. Rate assessment records, available online for the period
1863 to 1892 (see Table 3 for a summary), confirm the Little family’s occupation between 1878 and 1883. Rate
assessment records prior to 1878 cannot be conclusively tied to the property.
Directories indicate that between 1892 and 1895 The Grange is occupied by William Coker. The Primary
Application for the property indicates that William Coker became a trustee of the property in 1883. Sometime
thereafter he appears to have married Felix Wilson’s widow, Mary Caroline Stewart Wilson, as they are listed,
together with Mary’s five children, in the Primary Application in 1872 under the surname Coker. In 1896 and 1897
The Grange is listed as being the residence of Mrs W. Coker, possibly indicating that William had passed away.
In 1898 Sands Directories indicate the house may have been used as “The Maternity Home” of which Miss
Rachel Hill was the matron. It is not possible, however, to definitively tie the listing to The Grange. In the following
year there is no listing and then between 1900 and 1902 the property is listed as a private school run by Mrs M.
Best. The connection between The Grange and Mrs Best’s school is confirmed by the announcement of the
marriage of Mrs Best’s youngest daughter from The Grange in 1902 (The Sydney Morning Herald 25 January
1902:1a). The Primary Application suggests that the property was purchased by Augusta Sophia Quigley in 1900,
although it does not appear that she resided at The Grange.
Between 1903 and 1905 the Sands Directories indicate the school was taken over by Miss E.C. Gray and seems
to indicate she shared The Grange with William Webb and his wife, Eliza (nee Fowler). It is unclear if there is any
connection between Miss Gray and the Webb’s. William and his wife seem to have wholly occupied The Grange
from 1906 until 1908. In 1906 The Sydney Morning Herald reports on the golden wedding anniversary
celebrations of the couple:
A pleasant evening was spent on Friday evening, August 17, at The Grange, Wilson street. Newtown, in
celebration of the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. William Webb. Many friends and relatives assembled,
including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The house and grounds were tastefully decorated
for the occasion, and presented a gay and animated scene. It may be interesting to note that Mrs. Webb
appeared in the same wedding dress in which she became a bride 50 years ago. During the evening an
adjournment was made for supper, at which the health of Mr. and Mrs. Webb was proposed and honoured.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb were the recipients of many costly and valuable presents.
(The Sydney Morning Herald 25 Aug 1906:11d)
There are no further references to The Grange in the Sands Directories or The Sydney Morning Herald past 1908,
indicating it was demolished in that year or soon after. This fits with the Certificate of Title (CT1674-19), which
records the purchase of the land by the Minister for Public works in June of 1908. It seems likely that the house
was demolished and the site leveled shortly thereafter.
5.2.1 Physical Description and Architecture of The Grange
The public submission suggested that The Grange may have been designed by John Verge, one of the earliest
and the most important architect of the Greek Revival in Australia (1782-1861). This was based on the external
visual similarity between an 1865 sketch of The Grange (Plate 1) and the one known photo held by the National
Trust (Plate 2), and John Verge’s Rose Bay Cottage.
There is no definitive evidence to suggest that The Grange was designed or built by John Verge. A search of John
Verge’s surviving ledger was undertaken for the present assessment and it reveals no references to The Grange
or any residence in the area which could possibly have been The Grange (Verge, 1962). The house does,
however, share stylistic similarities with many of his works, as evidenced by surviving photographic and pictorial
evidence of the property.
24 July 2012