Welcome it’s Adrian Bo and this week I’m on the Avenue in Randwick to talk about the iconic row of nine Italianate homes known as “Avonmore Terrace”. In 1847, a five hectare parcel of land bordered by Botany Street, High Street, Alison Road and Belmore road was sold to George Hooper, a farmer who was establishing a market gardening business to supply food to the growing Sydney market. Hooper sold a portion of this land to Simeon Pearce, who used it to build St Jude’s Church on what is now Avoca Street, less than a minute’s walk away from my new Ray White office at 126 Avoca Street on the corner of Alison Road. The excess land next to the church was used as an official cemetery from 1853, however, mysteriously tombstones dated back to 1843, in fact many of the early prominent settlers in Randwick were buried there. In 1886, the New South Wales State Government decided that the church should sell off an unused parcel of the cemetery. Witnesses were established that no bodies were buried in that particular parcel of land being half a hectare and it was sold to local builder, John Walsh, who built the first of the nine Terraces in 1888, as you can see behind me, the largest in the middle, now number 34 called “Avonmore” as his own family home.

Walsh had made his fortune building railway lines throughout Queensland and having eight daughters the story goes that he built four more houses, either side of his own home to house each of the daughters. The development was originally known as Walsh’s Terrace and the street name was John’s Avenue. Walsh passed away in 1893, leaving Walsh’s Terrace to his wife, Margaret, who moved into number two, “Etruria” was the name and rented the other eight. In 1895, John’s Avenue was renamed to The Avenue as it is now currently known. In 1903, Avonmore was turned into the Lotaville Private School for Young Ladies. When the school moved from the former Star and Garter Inn on the corner of Avoca Street and Belmore Road. The school included boarders and it developed a strong reputation. In 1909, it morphed into Brighton College under Miss Minnie Amos. In 1905, the whole Terrace was sold to the estate of B.O.Holterman and renamed “Randwick Mansions” just before the First World War. John Walsh’s original home, Avonmore, is now a Boutique Hotel called “Avonmore on the Park” with the other eight being privately owned properties.

There are a few sales here worth mentioning 28 The Avenue, a five bedroom and four bathroom home sold for $5.4 million in 2019, having previously changed hands for just under $2.4 million in 2006. 36 The Avenue, five bedroom, two bathroom home sold in 2017 for just under $4.3 million, having previously changed hands for $820,000 in 1993. Then 26 The Avenue, six bedroom, three bathrooms sold for $3.715 million, having previously changed hands for $2.315 million in 2005. During 2021, there have been four unit sales on The Avenue ranging from $935,000 to $1.47 million. Avonmore Terrace is one of Randwick’s most prized heritage features and in fact, it was added to The New South Wales State Heritage Register on the 2nd of April in 1999. I think it’s very important, we keep the stories alive of how our community has evolved. Having spent the last 32 years selling real estate in Randwick, Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra areas, I’ve sold many houses and in particular for street records in recent years. So if you’d like a market appraisal of your existing home or investment, please give me a call on 0418 278 316 or send me an email at adrian.bo@raywhite.com Keep smiling and always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.