Abbotsford Tram Terminus Abbotsford NSW.
“Abbotsford House”, 2 Abbotsford Cove Drive, Abbotsford, NSW, later part of Nestle’s chocolate factory Abbotsford House is located in the Sydney suburb of Abbotsford. It was one of several Victorian mansions built on the subdivision of the Five Dock Estate when the area was used for housing the gentry and market gardens. It was built in 1877 for the physician, philanthropist and politician, Arthur Renwick (1837-1908) (later Sir Arthur).
Arthur was born in Glasgow, and arrived in Sydney at the age of four years with his parents who were bounty immigrants on board the “Helen”. His father was a master plasterer, a skilled modeller in clay and Redfern’s first mayor. Arthur was said to have been permanently lame from an accident on the goldfields but despite this setback was amongst the third cohort of students at the new University of Sydney. He graduated with an Arts degree in 1857 and years later went on to sit as a fellow of the University’s Senate from 1877 to 1908, and for a number of years was its Vice-Chancellor.
Arthur subsequently studied Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and returned to Sydney in 1862. Six years later, in 1868, he married Elizabeth Saunders, daughter of the Rev. John Saunders, the first minister of the Bathurst Street Baptist Church. They had six sons and a daughter. Arthur established a growing medical practice and in 1876 acquired land at present-day Abbotsford from Thomas Sutcliffe Mort. The following year he had this large, two-storey mansion of stuccoed and painted stone erected overlooking the Parramatta River with two-storey verandahs on the front and part of the side.
Arthur called his mansion Abbotsford House, after the home of the Scottish historical novelist, Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) author of “Ivanhoe” and “Rob Roy”. Scott’s works enjoyed great popularity in the nineteenth century and he was said to have been Arthur’s favourite author. The surrounding suburb was subsequently called Abbotsford.
Abbotsford House features magnificent plaster ceilings by Arthur’s father, George. The Renwick family crest and initials “A E R” (for Arthur and Elizabeth Renwick) are in glass above the front door and in plaster on the capped towers. It also displays the motto “fidelis ad mortem” Latin for “And Faithful to Death”. It is not known whether Arthur had any heraldic right to its use, but the same motto is used by the Police Department of the City of New York. Either way, the inclusion of the owners’ initials in the house’s fabric was a popular Victorian convention in nineteenth century Sydney mansions. Also of note are the gas lamp statues on the stair landing and the fine cedar work around the windows and doors.
The gardens were decorated with statues, and five young women in classical attire and two crouching lions still survive. The statues of women were made in Germany in 1888 by Villeroy and Boch, who also supplied statues for Sydney’s Centennial Park when it opened in 1888. The lions were manufactured by E. March and Sons of Charlottenburg, near Berlin, who were said to have been among the leading classical garden statuary makers in the 19th century. Also erected in the bush on Arthur’s Estate was a small timber Presbyterian Mission church, 40 feet (12.19 m) x 25 feet (7.62 m) and capable of seating 150 worshipers.
Arthur was not only a leading physician but undertook much charitable work on various boards and hospitals. He spent some time as the visiting medical officer of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales, honorary physician and later director of the Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary, and honorary surgeon to the New South Wales Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, now the Institute Building at the University of Sydney. He was an examiner in medicine, several times acting dean of the Faculty of Medicine and also undertook a career in politics, being Secretary for Mines in the early 1880s and Minister for Public Instruction in the late 1880s. In 1894 Arthur was knighted and went on to have dealings with various commercial enterprises, reputedly amassing a large fortune. Unfortunately, he suffered great losses from mining ventures in 1904 and his estate and fine library at Abbotsford House had to be sacrificed. Arthur’s estate was mortgaged to the Mutual Life and Citizens’ Assurance Co. Ltd who exercised their power of sale under the mortgage and took possession of the property in 1905. Three years later Sir Arthur died of heart disease at his home, “Woodstock”, in Church Street, Burwood, now used as the Woodstock Community Centre.
The Abbotsford Estate comprised about 90 acres with 4,000 feet of deep-water frontage on the Parramatta River. It was subdivided into 300 lots with 76 acres of thick bush being advertised to be cleared by contractors and the timber to be sold. The Estate was put up for auction in 1905 and the newspaper notice for it described the mansion as a 20-room house with an entrance hall and verandahs with balconies nearly all the way around. There were two long separate rear wings with detached buildings behind each one. The grounds included a large “bush house”, well laid out gardens and an orchard. Its five-room gatehouse lodge was on the corner of the Great North Road and Blackwall Point Road, Abbotsford, and the entrance gates were said to have been some distance away. It was noted that the estate was well served by ferries and trams with cheap fares. The little Presbyterian church on the estate was jacked up and hauled through the bush by eight horses to a more central location on the new Uhr Park Estate on the Great North Road. To cross the road to its allotment, tramway workers had to raise the electric tram wires for the church to pass under.
The house and 80 acres of land was purchased in 1906 by Peter McIntosh but quickly sold the following year to Albert Edward Grace (c. 1863-1938) who acquired the mansion and 16 acres around it for his family home. Albert was one of the founders of the department store chain, Grace Brothers. Albert Edward Grace and his brother, Joseph Neal Grace, migrated from England in the 1880s and sold goods door-to-door. In 1885, they opened their first small shop at 203 George Street West, Sydney, and were its only salesmen. By 1906, they had opened their flagship department store at Broadway (now the site of the Broadway Shopping Centre).
In 1905 Albert married Isabella “Belle” Gross, formerly a member of J.C. Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera Company, at Christ Church, Enmore. The happy couple then spent a considerable amount of time travelling “on the Continent and in the East” before settling down at Abbotsford House. In fact, in July 1908 they celebrated their combined third wedding anniversary with a housewarming dance for 80 guests. Their mansion was decorated inside with palms and bunting while outside was lit with “innumerable lights outlining the avenues and paths” giving a “fairy-like aspect to the grounds and shrubberies”.
Albert did not forget his staff and on the Monday of the 1908 October long weekend he made Abbotsford House grounds available for the Grace Brothers’ Recreation Club, of which Albert was the President. Some 200 staff members and friends played cricket and tennis, went rowing, ate lunch in a marquee, listened to music on the lawn and competed in foot and sack races, one of which was called the Broadway handicap. During Albert’s ownership of the Abbotsford Estate a garden pavilion was added.
In 1917 Albert sold Abbotsford House and its adjoining block which together comprised 24 acres (10 ha), to the Nestle’s chocolate company. The firm had been established in Switzerland in 1867 by Henri Nestle and merged with the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. in 1905. An office was opened in Sydney in 1908 to import condensed milk and other products. Then, in 1911, the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. (Australasia) had a condensed milk plant erected at Dennington, Victoria, followed by the chocolate factory at Abbotsford, begun in 1918. The factory buildings covered some 10 acres, and the company was said to employ 1200 men, women and girls, manufacturing all the Nestle’s chocolates consumed within Australia.
The Nestle’s factory was regarded as a model factory and provided amenities for staff including a ladies’ rowing (sculls) club, especially since the site was right on the water, overlooking Fig Tree Bay. The garden pavilion was converted for use as the Nestle’s bowling club. In 1921 “The Daily Telegraph” reported on the factory’s lawns, flowers, “fine statuary”, and ornamental trees. One progressive initiative was the “wildflower reservation” where flannel flowers “and other favourites of the bush thrive and display their beauty”. The factory had its own power station with a 150 foot (45.72 m) chimney and a light railway transported coal from a bunker on the harbour-end of the company’s wharf to the power station boiler house. In front of the mansion was the word “Nestle’s” spelt out in large letters of white stone while playing fields for cricket and football were constructed on the water’s edge. In 1927 the grounds and foreshore of the factory were used in the filming of the silent classic, “For the Term of His Natural Life”; the popular milk additive, Milo, “the tonic food fortified with vitamin concentrates” was made there from 1934; and during WWII chocolate and cocoa for ration packs were manufactured for the Army’s needs.
Following the closure of the plant on 18 December 1991, the factory buildings were demolished. In 1996 the garden pavilion was moved to 497 Great North Road and has been reused as The Cove Dining café. The site redeveloped by IPM into 460 medium density residential apartments and townhouses known as Abbotsford Cove and was completed in 2000.
Today (2022) Abbotsford House stands with a tiny remnant of its once impressive garden, an island amongst the apartments that now almost engulf it on three sides. It has been preserved, even with its original garden statues of classical ladies and crouching lions. The building is a private home once again and still retains its unimpeded view overlooking the Parramatta River.
Major References
Powell, Carol, “A River Revived: the Parramatta”, 1987.
A PICTURESQUE FACTORY (1921, October 24). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 5. Retrieved August 26, 2022, from nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239716020
Russell, E. Drummoyne: A Western Suburbs’ History”, 1971.
Simpson, Margaret, “Old Sydney Buildings Vol. II”, unpublished manuscript
SOCIAL NEWS (1908, July 12). Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), p. 4. Retrieved August 26, 2022, from nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126741842
US Army WT85 (Protrude) on new Elvina Bay Pittwater Mooring 14th Oct 2020 after tow from Abbotsford Bay, Sydney to Pittwater, 13th October 2020Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The historic US Army WT 85, believed to be the last Tuncurry Wright Shipyards 1943 built boat still afloat had, after a long career, been moored in Abbotsford Bay for more than a year awaiting renovation by the then owner Roger Kyle.
With the vessel rapidly deteriorating and liable to sink on its mooring Matt Palmer of Scotland Island, just off Elvina Bay in Sydney's Pittwater Bay, made an offer which was accepted in early 2020.
Following purchase Matt Palmer made several attempts to engage a towing vessel to tow the boat to the Pittwater just north of Sydney Harbour but found it difficult to get this actually done.
Finally, on Tuesday 13th October 2020, the US Army WT85 (Protrude) was towed by the MV Maltby from its mooring at Abbotsford Bay to Elvina Bay in the Pittwater.
The journey however was not without incident and despite being initially accompanied by what seemed like a dolphin escort coming out of Sydney Harbour, as the vessel reached the Pittwater a plank on the front left side of the vessel gave way.
While the breach was just above the water line, nevertheless water began to flood into the boat. Matt Palmer the new owner, was fortunately on board and ready for such an eventuality. He had 5 pumps working furiously which allowed the boat to remain afloat and reach its new mooring in Elvina Bay.
Matt spent a long night that night making the vessel watertight.
In the days ahead the vessel will be inspected by Colin Beashel Marine at Elvina Bay and a scope of the works required will be prepared. Matt Palmer will then embark on what could well be a lengthy but very worthwhile process of bringing the historic US Army WT 85 back to its former glory as a working boat.
US Army WT85 (Protrude) on new Elvina Bay Pittwater Mooring 14th Oct 2020 with Popped Plank after tow from Abbotsford Bay, Sydney to Pittwater, 13th October 2020Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The historic US Army WT 85, believed to be the last Tuncurry Wright Shipyards 1943 built boat still afloat had, after a long career, been moored in Abbotsford Bay for more than a year awaiting renovation by the then owner Roger Kyle.
With the vessel rapidly deteriorating and liable to sink on its mooring Matt Palmer of Scotland Island, just off Elvina Bay in Sydney's Pittwater Bay, made an offer which was accepted in early 2020.
Following purchase Matt Palmer made several attempts to engage a towing vessel to tow the boat to the Pittwater just north of Sydney Harbour but found it difficult to get this actually done.
Finally, on Tuesday 13th October 2020, the US Army WT85 (Protrude) was towed by the MV Maltby from its mooring at Abbotsford Bay to Elvina Bay in the Pittwater.
The journey however was not without incident and despite being initially accompanied by what seemed like a dolphin escort coming out of Sydney Harbour, as the vessel reached the Pittwater a plank on the front left side of the vessel gave way.
While the breach was just above the water line, nevertheless water began to flood into the boat. Matt Palmer the new owner, was fortunately on board and ready for such an eventuality. He had 5 pumps working furiously which allowed the boat to remain afloat and reach its new mooring in Elvina Bay.
Matt spent a long night that night making the vessel watertight.
In the days ahead the vessel will be inspected by Colin Beashel Marine ant Elvina Bay and a scope of the works required will be prepared. Matt Palmer will then embark on what could well be a lengthy but very worthwhile process of bringing the historic US Army WT 85 back to its former glory as a working boat.
US Army WT85 (Protrude) on new Elvina Bay Pittwater Mooring 14th Oct 2020 with Popped Plank after tow from Abbotsford Bay, Sydney to Pittwater, 13th October 2020Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The historic US Army WT 85, believed to be the last Tuncurry Wright Shipyards 1943 built boat still afloat had, after a long career, been moored in Abbotsford Bay for more than a year awaiting renovation by the then owner Roger Kyle.
With the vessel rapidly deteriorating and liable to sink on its mooring Matt Palmer of Scotland Island, just off Elvina Bay in Sydney's Pittwater Bay, made an offer which was accepted in early 2020.
Following purchase Matt Palmer made several attempts to engage a towing vessel to tow the boat to the Pittwater just north of Sydney Harbour but found it difficult to get this actually done.
Finally, on Tuesday 13th October 2020, the US Army WT85 (Protrude) was towed by the MV Maltby from its mooring at Abbotsford Bay to Elvina Bay in the Pittwater.
The journey however was not without incident and despite being initially accompanied by what seemed like a dolphin escort coming out of Sydney Harbour, as the vessel reached the Pittwater a plank on the front left side of the vessel gave way.
While the breach was just above the water line, nevertheless water began to flood into the boat. Matt Palmer the new owner, was fortunately on board and ready for such an eventuality. He had 5 pumps working furiously which allowed the boat to remain afloat and reach its new mooring in Elvina Bay.
Matt spent a long night that night making the vessel watertight.
In the days ahead the vessel will be inspected by Colin Beashel Marine ant Elvina Bay and a scope of the works required will be prepared. Matt Palmer will then embark on what could well be a lengthy but very worthwhile process of bringing the historic US Army WT 85 back to its former glory as a working boat.
Dolphin Escort out of Sydney Heads - US Army WT85 (Protrude) under Tow from Abbotsford Bay, Sydney to Pittwater, 13th October 2020Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The historic US Army WT 85, believed to be the last Tuncurry Wright Shipyards 1943 built boat still afloat had, after a long career, been moored in Abbotsford Bay for more than a year awaiting renovation by the then owner Roger Kyle.
With the vessel rapidly deteriorating and liable to sink on its mooring Matt Palmer of Scotland Island, just off Elvina Bay in Sydney's Pittwater Bay, made an offer which was accepted in early 2020.
Following purchase Matt Palmer made several attempts to engage a towing vessel to tow the boat to the Pittwater just north of Sydney Harbour but found it difficult to get this actually done.
Finally, on Tuesday 13th October 2020, the US Army WT85 (Protrude) was towed by the MV Maltby from its mooring at Abbotsford Bay to Elvina Bay in the Pittwater.
The journey however was not without incident and despite being initially accompanied by what seemed like a dolphin escort coming out of Sydney Harbour, as the vessel reached the Pittwater a plank on the front left side of the vessel gave way.
While the breach was just above the water line, nevertheless water began to flood into the boat. Matt Palmer the new owner, was fortunately on board and ready for such an eventuality. He had 5 pumps working furiously which allowed the boat to remain afloat and reach its new mooring in Elvina Bay.
Matt spent a long night that night making the vessel watertight.
In the days ahead the vessel will be inspected by Colin Beashel Marine at Elvina Bay and a scope of the works required will be prepared. Matt Palmer will then embark on what could well be a lengthy but very worthwhile process of bringing the historic US Army WT 85 back to its former glory as a working boat.
US Army WT85 (Protrude) under Tow from Abbotsford Bay, Sydney to Pittwater, 13th October 2020Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The historic US Army WT 85, believed to be the last Tuncurry Wright Shipyards 1943 built boat still afloat had, after a long career, been moored in Abbotsford Bay for more than a year awaiting renovation by the then owner Roger Kyle.
With the vessel rapidly deteriorating and liable to sink on its mooring Matt Palmer of Scotland Island, just off Elvina Bay in Sydney's Pittwater Bay, made an offer which was accepted in early 2020.
Following purchase Matt Palmer made several attempts to engage a towing vessel to tow the boat to the Pittwater just north of Sydney Harbour but found it difficult to get this actually done.
Finally, on Tuesday 13th October 2020, the US Army WT85 (Protrude) was towed by the MV Maltby from its mooring at Abbotsford Bay to Elvina Bay in the Pittwater.
The journey however was not without incident and despite being initially accompanied by what seemed like a dolphin escort coming out of Sydney Harbour, as the vessel reached the Pittwater a plank on the front left side of the vessel gave way.
While the breach was just above the water line, nevertheless water began to flood into the boat. Matt Palmer the new owner, was fortunately on board and ready for such an eventuality. He had 5 pumps working furiously which allowed the boat to remain afloat and reach its new mooring in Elvina Bay.
Matt spent a long night that night making the vessel watertight.
In the days ahead the vessel will be inspected by Colin Beashel Marine ant Elvina Bay and a scope of the works required will be prepared. Matt Palmer will then embark on what could well be a lengthy but very worthwhile process of bringing the historic US Army WT 85 back to its former glory as a working boat.
Viability of the Rudder Concern - US Army WT85 (Protrude) under Tow from Abbotsford Bay, Sydney to Pittwater, 13th October 2020Copyright - All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The historic US Army WT 85, believed to be the last Tuncurry Wright Shipyards 1943 built boat still afloat had, after a long career, been moored in Abbotsford Bay for more than a year awaiting renovation by the then owner Roger Kyle.
With the vessel rapidly deteriorating and liable to sink on its mooring Matt Palmer of Scotland Island, just off Elvina Bay in Sydney's Pittwater Bay, made an offer which was accepted in early 2020.
Following purchase Matt Palmer made several attempts to engage a towing vessel to tow the boat to the Pittwater just north of Sydney Harbour but found it difficult to get this actually done.
Finally, on Tuesday 13th October 2020, the US Army WT85 (Protrude) was towed by the MV Maltby from its mooring at Abbotsford Bay to Elvina Bay in the Pittwater.
The journey however was not without incident and despite being initially accompanied by what seemed like a dolphin escort coming out of Sydney Harbour, as the vessel reached the Pittwater a plank on the front left side of the vessel gave way.
While the breach was just above the water line, nevertheless water began to flood into the boat. Matt Palmer the new owner, was fortunately on board and ready for such an eventuality. He had 5 pumps working furiously which allowed the boat to remain afloat and reach its new mooring in Elvina Bay.
Matt spent a long night that night making the vessel watertight.
In the days ahead the vessel will be inspected by Colin Beashel Marine ant Elvina Bay and a scope of the works required will be prepared. Matt Palmer will then embark on what could well be a lengthy but very worthwhile process of bringing the historic US Army WT 85 back to its former glory as a working boat.
St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. 81 Byrne Ave, Abbotsford, NSW.
Former Tram Shelter, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. Great North Rd, Abbotsford, NSW.
Ex Shop, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. 453 Great North Rd, Abbotsford, NSW.
Ex Shop, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. 449 Great North Rd, Abbotsford, NSW.
Ex Tram Line at Terminus, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. Great Northern Road, Abbotsford, NSW.
Ex Tram Line at Terminus, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. Great Northern Road, Abbotsford, NSW.
Ex Tram Line at Terminus, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. Great Northern Road, Abbotsford, NSW.
Tram Shelter, Great North Rd, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. Great Northern Road, Abbotsford, NSW.
Cake, Sydney Rowing Club, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. 613 Great Northern Rd, Abbotsford, NSW.
Chicken Parmigiana, Sydney Rowing Club, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. 613 Great Northern Rd, Abbotsford, NSW.
James Boags Pure, Sydney Rowing Club, Abbotsford, Sydney, NSW. 613 Great Northern Rd, Abbotsford, NSW.
Arthur George Johnston NX 22104 Service Record
Name - JOHNSTON, ARTHUR GEORGE
Service - Australian Army
Service Number - NX22104
Date of Birth -23 Feb 1912
Place of Birth -BOULDER, WA
Date of Enlistment - 28 May 1940
Locality on Enlistment -ABBOTSFORD, NSW
Place of Enlistment - PADDINGTON, NSW
Next of Kin - JOHNSTON, ADELAIDE
Date of Discharge - 29 Nov 1945
Rank - Private
Posting at Discharge - 2/9 Field Regiment
Signs, Schoolground, Abbotsford, NSW, Australia 38503027860_34d08cbde4_b
Instagram Image from @beliefmedia, 18th May 2017 4:16am View of the Nestle factory, Abbotsford, NSW, in the early 1920s showing the wharf on Parramatta River. Nestle, then known as the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, purchased Abbotsford House and its grounds in 1917 to build the 'largest chocolate factory in the Southern Hemisphere'. Abbotsford House was retained for use as offices, while the factory was constructed on three sides of the house.
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#history #concord #concordwest #abbotsford #nestle #sydney #canadabay #parramattariver #drummoyne fat.ly/3sMvf
Instagram Image from @beliefmedia, 28th April 2017 3:58pm Abbotsford House, Abbotsford, NSW, at the time of construction of the Nestle factory in 1918. Nestle, then known as the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, purchased Abbotsford House and its grounds in 1917 to build the "largest chocolate factory in the Southern Hemisphere". Abbotsford House was retained for use as offices, while the factory was constructed on three sides of the house.
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#sydney #history #nestle #abbotsford #abbotsfordhouse #canadabay #concord #concordwest fat.ly/3sybl
Great North Road near Blackwall Point Road, Abbotsford NSW 1954 29601002442_9901488a92_z
Tram along Great North Road, Abbotsford NSW 29085698114_7d0b8588da_b