Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 14 January 1941, page 5
TO MAKE WAY FOR THE DOCK
THE historic homes of Potts Point which have been resumed for the graving dock are a tangible link with the past of Sydney. They were the scenes of former gaieties and the foundations of traditions.
FORMERLY one of the loveliest building sites in Sydney, with green gardens slop-ing to the water's edge, Wylde Street is gradually becoming more dejected as one after another of the old homes is destroyed.
The destruction has been gradual from private homes to boarding houses & apartments & from flats to dockyard extensions.
Standing forlornly near the end of the Point is Agincourt, mourning the loss of its neighbour, Crecy, which has already been demolished. Agincourt, which was built by the Goodwin family in 1901, is aptly described by one of its tenants as an "International Irish stew." It has a French name, British lions in the garden, Italian armoured men as light fixtures, German plaques, a Turkish crescent moon & stars carved in the woodwork, Moorish domes, & a Persian cat!
In the beginning of the century, Agincourt was the scene of many bright parties, & naval guests came by pinnace from their ships to the jetty at the foot of the garden.
NEXT to Agincourt is Kismet, a red brick house, covered with Virginia creeper, where Mr. & Mrs. Philip Bushell & their daughters, the Misses Amber & Pamela Bushell, have lived for 18 years. Mr. Bushell bought the house from its original owner, the late Sir Rupert Clarke,
A view from the harbour of Mr. W.A. Crowle's home, Once Upon a Time, which he built over his boatshed in the groups of Wyldefel Gardens. The yacht in which he travelleled for three years can be seen in the foreground.
whose son, the present Baronet, was born in the elaborate nursery wing.
From Kismet, we go to Fairhaven, one of the many homes built by the late Mr. Walter Hall. It was built in 1814, & after Mr. & Mrs. Hall's death it went to an employee, Mrs. Sheppard. She has lived there almost alone for 20 years, & is now lying seriously ill in the old home.
Mr. Hugh Ward's old home, Bellevue, which is now the site for the water-front flats. Bellevue Gardens, was a great social centre several years ago. Mr. & Mrs. Ward still live on the property, but on the land behind the flats.
Chatsworth is another of the old homes which has been resumed. It was built by Mr. C. J. Roberts
