– Hi, it’s Adrian Bo here, and today I’m at Gilderthorpe Avenue in Randwick at number 17 here behind me to talk about this property, which is known as the oldest farmhouse in Randwick, as well as being the oldest house in the Randwick municipality altogether. Now in 1847, local Councillor George Hooper bought a 65 acre parcel of land, and initially built a single story cottage, using 12 acres of it, later selling off the rest. This single story cottage later became used as the main property servant’s quarters. Hooper had landed in Sydney from the Cotswolds in England, and nine years later, established a market gardening business here. And the main house, which we know as Hooper’s cottage, was built very much in the Cotswold style from the sandstone as you can see behind me. If you have been around that area of Gloucestershire, you would recognise it. 

However, Hooper used Hawkesbury sandstone rather than the Cotswolds limestone. George Hooper became Council Auditor and played a significant role in the early development of Randwick. At this stage, Randwick was rather cut off from the rest of the city. The area was full of swamps and sand hills, though eventually a bus service driven by horses evolved, taking passengers to the city. Apparently it was common, however, for the bus to get bogged down on the track, requiring the passengers to get out and actually give it a push themselves. Interestingly, the name Randwick also came from Gloucestershire from a town of the same name as a result of one of the main movers and shakers in the Randwick era, Simeon Pearce, who was born in Randwick in Gloucestershire. The land had a very deep, rich soil, and faced North. And a creek supplied water, so it was ideal for growing fruit and vegetables. 

It was also convenient to deliver to the Sydney markets, as a main road to the city developed being Frenchmans road, very close from here, which links into Gilderthorpe Avenue, where we are today. Now this road, Gilderthorpe Avenue, was originally called Orange Street, would you believe? But in 1930, quite an amusing thing happened. Council proposed to honour local Councillor TR Gilderthorp, without an “e” at the end, for his service by changing Orange Street to Gilderthorpe Avenue. However, when the council advertised this change of street name, the “e” at the end of Gilderthorpe was inadvertently added. And so the new street name was different to the Councillor whom it was named after. Can you believe it? The extension of Orange Street was renamed as Clovelly Road and in 1860, FigTree Avenue was established, running alongside of Hooper Cottage, just here to the north of me. And in the 1940s, 19 Hills Weeping Fig trees were planted along FigTree Avenue to form a canopy, including two adjacent to Hooper’s cottage here. 

The cottage was purchased by Catherine Hooper in 1887, who was the widow of George Hooper’s brother, James. She lived in the cottage with her daughter Mary Ann McQuigan. And in fact it remained in the ownership of the McQuigan family until the 1970s. Now, according to the records, Gilderthorpe Avenue has 213 units, 6 townhouses and 40 homes. The units built at Number 23 have been setting street records recently, apartment one, selling last year for $1,710,000 and apartment three selling for $1.65 million. The houses here are extremely tightly held. And in fact, the average owner occupier has lived on Gilderthorpe Avenue here for 12 years and four months, with 48% of owner occupiers living here for over 10 years, being a great testament. In the 32 years, I’ve been selling property in the Randwick, Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra markets. I’ve handled many sales around this local precinct, including unit number 19 at 63 Gilderthorpe Avenue, as well as 2 at 81 Gilderthorpe Avenue. Just before Christmas, I also sold a smaller freestanding home at 20 Pine Street, which is just at the end of FigTree Avenue here, for a record price of $3,561,000. Hooper Cottage was added to the State Heritage Register in 1999. It’s a highly significant property for the history and development of Randwick and I hope you found this story really interesting, as I love maintaining and retaining our local municipalities’ history, Please enjoy our amazing community, and always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.