Leadlight of Inner Western Sydney

1880’s through to the current era.  The first subdivisions created the gardens and the mansions with many acres of land. In the early 1880’s subdivision began apace. One of the first to go under the hammer was Marrickville House and the land bordering Livingstone and Warren Roads. The Sydney Mail and Advertiser (Sat 11th March 1882) recorded that Richardson and Wrench ‘….. sold by private contract, Marrickville House and grounds..’ for £3000 to Mr Kingsbury… who apparently bought all five lots. This was later divided and Marrickville House demolished. There are now many Californian bungalows in this area.

 

Warren Road is a road in two parts. The south-eastern end was called Creek Street in 1881 when the warren Grove estate was auctioned. The following year, when the unsold lots went up for auction the name had changed to Warren Road.

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Thomas Holt had built ‘The Warren’ in 1859 and it became a significant feature of Marrickville. When Holt returned to England in 1883 the estate was subdivided.

 

Harnleigh House was owned by Frederick Bretnall and occupied several acres between Warren Road and Harnett Street. It was advertised for sale in the Evening News on Monday 29 Aug 1887 and described as ‘a most desirable Suburban residence and grounds occupying one of the best and most elevated positions on the heights of Marrickille’ It was advertised again in March 1886 and eventually it too was demolished and a part of the estate is now the Louisa Lawson Reserve.