47 Waterview St, Balmain NSW 2041
Every home has a story — whether it spans generations or is only just beginning.
About Waterview Street
Historical/alternate name evidence: George Street. The first extracted Sands reference is 1861.
- 1840 — Called George Street in 1840s for George Cooper.
- 49 Waterview Street, c1855, built by Captain William Sawyer, later called Regimbah .
- George Street
Some historical information was obtained using Streets, Lanes, and Places 1836–2017 by Yvonne Davidson and Kathleen Hamey, The Balmain Association Inc. (2017).
The story of this home
Alicia Villa and the O’Dell estate
Alicia Villa at 47 Waterview Street was built on land inherited by Isabella Alicia Burgess, née O’Dell. In March 1892, the division of Thomas O’Dell’s estate gave her part of lots 11–13, with frontages to both Caroline and Waterview Streets. Her husband John Burgess was the lighthouse keeper at Montague Island. The couple had the brick house built in 1893. [1]
The journal’s illustrated description draws attention to the house’s decorative timberwork and fine brickwork, identifying an Arts and Crafts character. This is the source’s architectural description, rather than a claim about an identified architect or building contractor. [2]
Early occupants and a shipwright owner
Produce merchant Henry Connell rented Alicia Villa in 1893. The house is not listed for 1894–1896 in the sequence reported by the journal, so those years do not establish a continuous occupancy. The Burgesses were recorded there in 1897, followed by Mrs Burgess alone in the listings for 1898–1905. [1]
In June 1905, the Burgesses sold the house to Balmain foreman shipwright James Scott. He lived there until 1916, then let it to John W Benton in 1917–1918 and Frederick Hetherington in 1919–1921. These successive occupations connect the house with Balmain’s working and maritime community. [1]
The Tathams, the Shepherd purchase and a later name
In December 1921, Scott, by then living at Hunters Hill, sold Alicia Villa to Balmain oil miller John Robert Tatham and his wife Lottie. They occupied the house until John died on 1 July 1947. The property then passed to Lottie, who died on 12 February 1949. Her trustee sold it in February 1958 to the tenant, Balmain waterside worker Robert Richard Shepherd. [1]
Writing in 2014, the journal records that the house had been known as Jolowen for several years. It does not identify the exact renaming date. Alicia Villa and Jolowen therefore refer to the same house in this account, not two separate buildings. [1]
The dated ownership narrative reaches 1958. Later ownership and changes need further research. [1] Printed p. 58 (PDF p. 60). [2] Photograph and architectural caption, printed p. 57 (PDF p. 59), photograph credited to Bruce Crosson.
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), “From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3”, printed pp. 57–58. Built in 1893. Jolowen is a later name recorded by the 2014 journal, with no precise renaming date. No building contractor is identified.
Historic people
People whose lives form part of this house’s story.
Frederick Hetherington
Frederick Hetherington rented Alicia Villa in 1919–1921.
View full profile →Henry Connell
Produce merchant Henry Connell rented the newly built Alicia Villa in 1893.
View full profile →Isabella Alicia O’Dell Burgess
Isabella Alicia Burgess, née O’Dell, received the land in the March 1892 division of Thomas O’Dell’s estate. She and John Burgess had Alicia Villa built in 1893. They were recorded there in 1897; Mrs Burgess alone appears in the 1898–1905 listings. They sold to James Scott in June 1905.
View full profile →See 7 more historic peopleShow fewer historic people
James Scott
Balmain foreman shipwright James Scott bought Alicia Villa in June 1905 and lived there until 1916. He then let it to tenants and, while living at Hunters Hill, sold it to John Robert and Lottie Tatham in December 1921.
View full profile →John Burgess
John Burgess was the lighthouse keeper at Montague Island and husband of Isabella Alicia Burgess. The couple built Alicia Villa in 1893 and lived there in 1897. The house was sold to James Scott in June 1905.
View full profile →John Robert Tatham
Balmain oil miller John Robert Tatham and his wife Lottie bought Alicia Villa in December 1921. They lived there until John died on 1 July 1947, after which the property passed to Lottie.
View full profile →John W Benton
John W Benton rented Alicia Villa in 1917–1918. The source supplies a middle initial, not an expanded name.
View full profile →Lottie Tatham
Lottie and John Robert Tatham bought Alicia Villa in December 1921. The property passed to Lottie after John died in 1947. She died on 12 February 1949; her trustee later sold the house to its tenant Robert Richard Shepherd.
View full profile →Robert Richard Shepherd
Balmain waterside worker Robert Richard Shepherd was the tenant when he bought Alicia Villa from Lottie Tatham’s trustee in February 1958. The source does not establish the end of his ownership.
View full profile →Thomas O’Dell
Part of Thomas O’Dell’s estate passed to Isabella Alicia Burgess in the March 1892 partition. Alicia Villa was built the following year. His connection is to the preceding estate, not residence in the later house.
View full profile →Existing people — add information or manage entries
People associated with this house
Residents, owners, builders and others whose connection forms part of this house’s history.
Frederick Hetherington — Tenant · 1919–1921
1919–1921
Frederick Hetherington rented Alicia Villa in 1919–1921.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
Henry Connell — Tenant · 1893
1893
Produce merchant Henry Connell rented the newly built Alicia Villa in 1893.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
Isabella Alicia O’Dell Burgess — Owner; commissioned house; resident · 1892–1905
1892–1905
Isabella Alicia Burgess, née O’Dell, received the land in the March 1892 division of Thomas O’Dell’s estate. She and John Burgess had Alicia Villa built in 1893. They were recorded there in 1897; Mrs Burgess alone appears in the 1898–1905 listings. They sold to James Scott in June 1905.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
James Scott — Owner and resident · 1905–1921; resident to 1916
1905–1921; resident to 1916
Balmain foreman shipwright James Scott bought Alicia Villa in June 1905 and lived there until 1916. He then let it to tenants and, while living at Hunters Hill, sold it to John Robert and Lottie Tatham in December 1921.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
John Burgess — Co-commissioner and resident · 1893–1905; recorded resident 1897
1893–1905; recorded resident 1897
John Burgess was the lighthouse keeper at Montague Island and husband of Isabella Alicia Burgess. The couple built Alicia Villa in 1893 and lived there in 1897. The house was sold to James Scott in June 1905.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
John Robert Tatham — Owner and resident · 1921–1947
1921–1947
Balmain oil miller John Robert Tatham and his wife Lottie bought Alicia Villa in December 1921. They lived there until John died on 1 July 1947, after which the property passed to Lottie.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
John W Benton — Tenant · 1917–1918
1917–1918
John W Benton rented Alicia Villa in 1917–1918. The source supplies a middle initial, not an expanded name.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
Lottie Tatham — Owner and resident · 1921–1949
1921–1949
Lottie and John Robert Tatham bought Alicia Villa in December 1921. The property passed to Lottie after John died in 1947. She died on 12 February 1949; her trustee later sold the house to its tenant Robert Richard Shepherd.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
Robert Richard Shepherd — Tenant, then purchaser · Purchased February 1958
Purchased February 1958
Balmain waterside worker Robert Richard Shepherd was the tenant when he bought Alicia Villa from Lottie Tatham’s trustee in February 1958. The source does not establish the end of his ownership.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
Thomas O’Dell — Earlier estate owner; land association · Estate partitioned March 1892
Estate partitioned March 1892
Part of Thomas O’Dell’s estate passed to Isabella Alicia Burgess in the March 1892 partition. Alicia Villa was built the following year. His connection is to the preceding estate, not residence in the later house.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835–1970: Part 3, printed pp. 58.
Timeline
11Events are grouped into 20-year spans by their starting year. Full date ranges are retained.
1880–1899 (4 events)
-
1892
-
1893
-
1893
-
1897
1900–1919 (3 events)
-
Jun 1905
-
1917–1918
-
1919–1921
1920–1939 (1 event)
-
Dec 1921
1940–1959 (3 events)
-
1947
-
1949
-
Feb 1958
* Historical information for marked Timeline entries sourced from Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24, “From Cooper Street to Waterview Street: Waterview Estate 1835-1970: Part 3”, p. 58.
Memories from people
This home’s story is just beginning. Share a memory connected to this place.
A preview of photos connected to this house.
