“Lauriston” Bowden Street & Victoria Road - Ryde - New South Wales
“Lauriston” was built in the 1880’s by James Johnson And Phillipina Shuttleworth and was located on the corner of Bowden Street And Victoria Road, Ryde.
James, an Architect, was related to Albert Bond, the Architect Of Choice for Anthony Horderns.
The interior was ornately decorated and it had a ballroom reputed to be, the most beautiful around Sydney.
James turned the grounds into a bird sanctuary. In 1916 the property was subdivided and “Lauriston” was sold to Alfred and Jane Gorrie. Their Daughter Irex, a Dancing [Note: the post breaks off here. City of Ryde continues: Irex, a dancing teacher, conducted lessons in the ballroom “with a special class for married folk”. The house fell into disrepair after World War II when it was turned into flats, and was demolished in 1959; a motel now stands on the site.]
At a glance
- Location: corner of Bowden Street and Victoria Road, (West) Ryde
- Built: 1880s for James Johnson (architect) and Philippina Shuttleworth
- Features: ornately decorated interiors; a ballroom “reputed to be the most beautiful around Sydney”; grounds made a bird sanctuary
- Later: subdivided 1916 and sold to Alfred and Jane Gorrie; their daughter Irex ran dancing classes in the ballroom; flats after World War II
- Fate: demolished 1959; site now the Metro Motor Inn
Sources
More on Lauriston
Merged from the 2024 post “Lauriston – Corner Bowden Street & Victoria Road – Ryde – NSW”.
- Traditional Custodians: Wallumedegal / Wallumattagal people of the Eora Nation (Ryde area).
- 1930: a photograph of the Victoria Road / Bowden Street intersection, taken during tram-track works, shows Lauriston on the right (Ryde Library, City of Ryde “Progress” page).
- On the demolition in 1959 the Sydney Morning Herald wrote: “every week brings news of the dismantling of another gracious old Sydney home. One more to fall beneath the wrecker’s sledgehammer is Lauriston.” The Leader added: “its gracious day is nearly over.” A Shuttleworth daughter recalled: “I remember the years when it was cool, shady, graceful, lovely. Its ballroom was a joy…” (quoted by City of Ryde).
- Not to be confused with the different Lauriston still standing at 49 The Boulevarde, Strathfield (now part of Santa Sabina / Santa Maria del Monte).
Further sources
- City of Ryde – Demolished Houses of the Parramatta River: https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/Historic-Ryde/Historic-Buildings/Demolished-Houses-of-the-Parramatta-River
- City of Ryde – 150 Years: Progress (1930 intersection photo): https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Library/Local-and-Family-History/150-Years-of-the-City-of-Ryde/Progress
