Printable house story47 Waterview St, Balmain NSW 2041
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Alicia Villa — AI-assisted reconstruction
Alicia Villa, 47 Waterview Street. Photograph date unknown. Photograph: Bruce Crosson. Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), p. 57 (PDF p. 59).
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47 Waterview St, Balmain NSW 2041

47 Waterview St, Balmain NSW 2041

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Cover photo: Alicia Villa, 47 Waterview Street. Photograph date unknown. Photograph: Bruce Crosson. Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 24 (2014), p. 57 (PDF p. 59). — Date unknown

Year built1893
Timeline entries11
Memories0
Photos2

At a glance

  • Known asJolowen (later name; recorded by 2014)
  • House typeCottage
  • StyleChoose Option
  • HeritageYes

The story of this house

Alicia Villa and the O’Dell estateAlicia 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 ownerProduce 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 nameIn 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…

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Timeline highlights

A compact summary of key moments. Scan the QR code to read the full timeline online.

  1. Isabella Alicia Burgess received the land in March 1892

    The partition of Thomas O’Dell’s estate allocated Isabella Alicia Burgess the land on which Alicia Villa was built the following…

  2. The Burgesses build Alicia Villa

    Isabella Alicia O’Dell Burgess and John Burgess built Alicia Villa in 1893 at 47 Waterview Street.

  3. Henry Connell lives at Alicia Villa

    Produce merchant Henry Connell was Alicia Villa’s first listed tenant in 1893.

  4. The Burgesses live at Alicia Villa

    The Burgesses lived at Alicia Villa in 1897; Mrs Burgess alone is listed in 1898–1905.

  5. James Scott purchases Alicia Villa

    James Scott, a Balmain foreman shipwright, purchased Alicia Villa in June 1905 and lived there until 1916.

  6. John W Benton lives at Alicia Villa

    John W Benton was listed at Alicia Villa in 1917–1918.

  7. Frederick Hetherington lives at Alicia Villa

    Frederick Hetherington was listed at Alicia Villa in 1919–1921.

  8. The Tathams purchase Alicia Villa

    John Robert Tatham and Lottie Tatham purchased Alicia Villa from James Scott in December 1921 and occupied it.

  9. Alicia Villa passed to Lottie Tatham after July 1947

    After John Robert Tatham died on 1 July 1947, Alicia Villa passed to his widow Lottie. The journal does not give a separate…

  10. Lottie Tatham died in February 1949

    Lottie Tatham died on 12 February 1949. Her trustee later sold Alicia Villa to tenant Robert Richard Shepherd in February 1958.

  11. Robert Richard Shepherd purchases Alicia Villa

    Following Lottie Tatham’s death, her trustee sold Alicia Villa to tenant Robert Richard Shepherd in February 1958.

  1. Isabella Alicia Burgess received the land in March 1892

    The partition of Thomas O’Dell’s estate allocated Isabella Alicia Burgess the land on which Alicia Villa was built the following…

  2. The Burgesses build Alicia Villa

    Isabella Alicia O’Dell Burgess and John Burgess built Alicia Villa in 1893 at 47 Waterview Street.

  3. Henry Connell lives at Alicia Villa

    Produce merchant Henry Connell was Alicia Villa’s first listed tenant in 1893.

  4. The Burgesses live at Alicia Villa

    The Burgesses lived at Alicia Villa in 1897; Mrs Burgess alone is listed in 1898–1905.

  5. James Scott purchases Alicia Villa

    James Scott, a Balmain foreman shipwright, purchased Alicia Villa in June 1905 and lived there until 1916.

Memories, sources & further reading

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Selected photos

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