19 Donnelly Street, Balmain NSW 2041
Every home has a story — whether it spans generations or is only just beginning.
About Donnelly Street
Historical/alternate name evidence: Dunolly Street. Formation or subdivision evidence is recorded from 1842. Land-purchase evidence is recorded from 1842. The first extracted Sands reference is 1861.
- 1843; 1846 — Part of Adolphus William Young's subdivision 1843-1846 from the corner of Vincent Street.
- 1852 — The street was extended to Booth Street from the dog-leg but still unnamed on Charles E Langley's 1852 plan.
- Timothy Donnelly, sailmaker — land in the Duke subdivision.
- Dunolly 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
Leumah
Leumah at 19 Donnelly Street was built in 1881 by James Milne junior, an insurance agent, accountant and broker. He occupied the detached, single-storey brick house from 1881 to 1891. After he defaulted, the mortgagee let it to David Cumming in 1894–1895.
Grocer Robert Loudon occupied the house from 1896 and bought it from the mortgagee in 1897. He died there on 9 February 1902. His estate let the house to several tenants, and it passed to William John Loudon in 1905 and later to Percival John Loudon.
In May 1921 Percival sold Leumah to Edith Anita Therry Crawford, wife of engineer John Crawford. Mark Estelle remained a tenant until 1924. The Crawfords subsequently lived there until Mrs Crawford sold to engineer and fitter Emil Frederick de Wall in November 1929. After his death at Leumah on 3 May 1947, the house passed to his widow Amy Elsie.
The journal identifies Leumah as Victorian Italianate. Its architectural details include a faceted bay, decorated chimneys and unusual propeller-like motifs on the window architraves. Bruce Crosson’s photograph shows the individual house.
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3, printed pp. 27–29. View journal source photograph.
Historic people
People whose lives form part of this house’s story.
Amy Elsie de Wall
Leumah passed to Amy Elsie after the death of her husband Emil Frederick de Wall in 1947.
View full profile →Edith Anita Therry Crawford
Edith Crawford bought Leumah in May 1921, initially continuing a tenancy. She later lived there with John Crawford before selling in November 1929.
View full profile →Emil Frederick de Wall
An engineer and fitter, de Wall bought Leumah in November 1929 and died there on 3 May 1947.
View full profile →See 2 more historic peopleShow fewer historic people
James Milne junior
Milne was an insurance agent, accountant and broker. He built Leumah in 1881 and lived there until 1891.
View full profile →Robert Loudon
Loudon was a Balmain grocer. He lived at Leumah from 1896, bought it in 1897 and died there in February 1902.
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.
Amy Elsie de Wall — Inheriting owner · 1947
1947
Leumah passed to Amy Elsie after the death of her husband Emil Frederick de Wall in 1947.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3, printed pp. 27–29.
Edith Anita Therry Crawford — Owner and resident · 1921–1929
1921–1929
Edith Crawford bought Leumah in May 1921, initially continuing a tenancy. She later lived there with John Crawford before selling in November 1929.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3, printed pp. 27–29.
Emil Frederick de Wall — Owner and resident · 1929–1947
1929–1947
An engineer and fitter, de Wall bought Leumah in November 1929 and died there on 3 May 1947.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3, printed pp. 27–29.
James Milne junior — Builder-owner and resident · 1881–1891
1881–1891
Milne was an insurance agent, accountant and broker. He built Leumah in 1881 and lived there until 1891.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3, printed pp. 27–29.
Robert Loudon — Owner and resident · 1896–1902
1896–1902
Loudon was a Balmain grocer. He lived at Leumah from 1896, bought it in 1897 and died there in February 1902.
Sources:
Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3, printed pp. 27–29.
Timeline
4Events are grouped into 20-year spans by their starting year. Full date ranges are retained.
1880–1899 (2 events)
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1881
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1897
1920–1939 (2 events)
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May 1921
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Nov 1929
* Historical information for marked Timeline entries sourced from Peter Reynolds, Leichhardt Historical Journal No. 19, “From Adolphus Street to Gladstone Park: Part 3”, p. 28.
Memories from people
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A preview of photos connected to this house.
