Hi, it’s Adrian Bo here and today I’m literally on the corner of Belmore Road and Avoca Street which is known as High Cross Park. As you can see behind me is a World War II Memorial and I’m here to discuss a local confusion as well as talk about a man who once lived here and led an extraordinary life becoming known as the ‘father of Australian music”. Isaac Nathan was born in London in 1814 and became a collaborator with the famous poet, Lord Byron. His skill was to use Byron’s poems to create Jewish chants, an early form of music, they were called “Hebrew melodies”. Unfortunately Nathan had a gambling addiction and prize fights were where he lost most of his money, it appears he spent some time in debtors prisons in the UK as a result of his gambling losses and eventually emigrated here to Australia in 1841. He brought his musical talents to Sydney, opening a singing academy, transcribing aboriginal music as well as becoming a choirmaster of St. James Church, St. Mary’s Cathedral as well and also the Sydney Synagogue.

He created the first ever written opera in Australia in 1847. The opera was called “Don John of Austria,” a romance about a love triangle. In fact his musical contribution to Australian society led to him being known as “the father of Australian music”. Interestingly one of Nathan’s modern day descendants, Alexander Briger, was awarded the Order of Australia in 2016 for services to the arts having become a world classical conductor. Now to the local confusion, because in 1853, Isaac Nathan bought a five acre block of land right here opposite High Cross Park for 120 pounds. He then spent approximately 2,000 pounds building a house called Byron Lodge named after his friend, Lord Byron. Confusing, because there is another Byron Lodge at 25 Byron Street in Coogee, which I’ve actually been through myself. And that was originally named “Ocean Spray,” built in 1868 which is a beautiful sandstone home standing historically significant for different reasons all together. The Byron Lodge built right here where I am, opposite me, became a black hole of money due to Nathan’s perfectionism and by 1860, having already sold off two acres of the five acres, he was now forced to put the house on the market.

The house had 11 bedrooms, a detached servant’s quarters, stabling for 10 horses, a double coach house rather than the modern double garage, as well as a coachman’s quarters. It proved hard to sell at the time so it ended up being leased to a Scotsman named Archibald Mosman after whom the suburb of Mosman was named. Now, unfortunately Nathan was killed while getting off a city horse-tram in 1864, falling under the wheels as they moved away. In 1912 the Byron Lodge here was demolished and the land was subdivided. Now I’ve been selling real estate in this area for 32 years including many properties in the local radius here. Last year I sold the brand-new, Coco Republic designed townhouse development which was at 2 Llanfoyst Street known as Elevate. I also sold a two bedroom unit at 7 at 5 William Street for $1 million and also a house at 20 Pine Street for a record price of $3,561,000. A renovated unit also at 1/2 Roberts Avenue for a whooping $1,250,000 as well as a one bedroom plus study apartment being 4701 at 88 King Street in the Centennial Complex for a record price of $1,250,000. I’ve also just listed Apartment 3 at 30 Cowper Street which is live on the market this week. It’s a two bedroom unit with a price guide of $875,000. Now the story of Isaac Nathan and the confusion over Byron Lodge is again a story that needs to be told, our local evolution and history must never be forgotten. I hope you enjoy the wonderful autumn weather and always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.