34 Johnston Street, Annandale NSW 2038
Every home has a story — whether it spans generations or is only just beginning.
The story of this home
This entry concerns the former house at 34 Johnston Street, not the later apartments. Gwen Ashton recalls visiting her great-aunt Elise Francis there in 1926, shortly after the death of Elise’s husband Henry Burdett Francis.
Her recollections describe a two-storey house with gardens, a summerhouse and former coach accommodation. After Elise’s death in 1929, the house was divided into four flats; the journal captions date the conversion to the 1930s.
An editorial note records demolition in the late 1960s and replacement by a block of brick home units. The photograph shows the earlier house during the Francis family period.
Source: Gwen Ashton, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11 (1982), pp. 3–5; the demolition date is in the captions/editorial note. Journal pp. 3–5
Historic people
People whose lives form part of this house’s story.
Elise Francis
Gwen Ashton’s great-aunt, remembered at 34 Johnston Street. Ashton records her death in 1929.
View full profile →Gwen Ashton
Ashton’s memoir preserves her visits to the house and her recollections of the Francis family.
View full profile →Henry Burdett Francis
Ashton identifies him as Elise’s husband and a Riverstone Meat Company manager; his death preceded her first visit in 1926.
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Myee Nea Francis
Ashton recalls Myee at the family home and later in its upstairs front flat.
View full profile →Sidney Claude Francis
Ashton recalls Sidney and records that he and his wife occupied the downstairs rear flat after conversion.
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.
Elise Francis — Resident · By 1926–1929
By 1926–1929
Gwen Ashton’s great-aunt, remembered at 34 Johnston Street. Ashton records her death in 1929.
Sources:
Gwen Ashton, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11 (1982), pp. 3–5; the demolition date is in the captions/editorial note.
Gwen Ashton — Family visitor and memoir author · From 1926
From 1926
Ashton’s memoir preserves her visits to the house and her recollections of the Francis family.
Sources:
Gwen Ashton, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11 (1982), pp. 3–5; the demolition date is in the captions/editorial note.
Henry Burdett Francis — Resident · Before 1926
Before 1926
Ashton identifies him as Elise’s husband and a Riverstone Meat Company manager; his death preceded her first visit in 1926.
Sources:
Gwen Ashton, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11 (1982), pp. 3–5; the demolition date is in the captions/editorial note.
Myee Nea Francis — Resident · Family-house and flat periods
Family-house and flat periods
Ashton recalls Myee at the family home and later in its upstairs front flat.
Sources:
Gwen Ashton, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11 (1982), pp. 3–5; the demolition date is in the captions/editorial note.
Sidney Claude Francis — Resident · Family-house and flat periods
Family-house and flat periods
Ashton recalls Sidney and records that he and his wife occupied the downstairs rear flat after conversion.
Sources:
Gwen Ashton, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11 (1982), pp. 3–5; the demolition date is in the captions/editorial note.
Timeline
4Events are grouped into 20-year spans by their starting year. Full date ranges are retained.
1920–1939 (3 events)
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1926
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1929
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1930s
1960–1979 (1 event)
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Late 1960s
* Historical information for marked Timeline entries sourced from Gwen Ashton, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, p. 3.; Gwen Ashton, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, p. 5.; Gwen Ashton, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 11, “Recollections of 34 Johnston Street, Annandale”, p. 4.
Memories from people
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