People in history
Walk Report: The Glebe Estate — St Phillips and Bishopthorpe
Posted on 1st July 2024
Max Solling led Glebe Society Walks fifty years ago to raise awareness of the Glebe Estate’s significance. A successful campaign resulted in the protection of the Estate by the Whitlam government. Max led another fascinating Walk of the Glebe Estate in May this year.
Gone and Forgotten on Glebe Point Road, Part 2
Posted on 1st July 2024
Gone and forgotten are Gurth, Wamba and Mussett, three of the six dwellings replaced by the Anchorage at 451 Glebe Point Road. Read about some of the families that occupied these beautiful waterfront homes.
Supporting a fellow community group: Pyrmont History Group
Posted on 1st May 2024
Following the seminal work ‘Women of Pyrmont’, first published in 2017, ‘Men of Pyrmont’ was finally produced in 2024. The new book has been glowingly described as ‘surprising, entertaining, a joy!’. It is a collection of 42 most diverse reflections on life in Pyrmont. The Pyrmont History Group is offering the two books for sale.
Max Solling’s 2024 Anzac Day address
Posted on 26th April 2024
Glebe historian, Max Solling’s 2024 Anzac Day address touching on war memorials, Indigenous Australians in the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the women of Glebe.
It’s official: A Blue Plaque for Dorothy Drain
Posted on 28th November 2023
She charmed Frank Sinatra into giving her a rare interview. Journalist, war correspondent, and editor, Dorothy Drain’s home in Glebe will be remembered with a Blue Plaque.
A successful Blue Plaque nomination for Dorothy Drain
Posted on 30th October 2023
Heritage NSW has accepted our nomination for a Blue Plaque at the former home in Toxteth Road, Glebe, of journalist, war correspondent and Women’s Weekly Editor, Dorothy Drain.
Glebe’s Blue Plaque Nominations, Part 18: Harry Hopman
Posted on 5th October 2023
This month, the Society’s continuing series of nominations for a Blue Plaque recommends the home of Harry Hopman at Minerva Terrace, Wigram Road. Harry Hopman was the successful captain-coach of 22 Australian Davis Cup teams from 1939 to 1967. As architect of Australia’s post-war tennis supremacy, his stint as non-playing captain-coach became known as ‘the Hopman era’, during which he won the Davis Cup 15 times.
Lyndhurst St home of Robert Askin: Glebe’s Blue Plaque Nomination #17
Posted on 29th August 2023
NSW Premier Robert Askin lived in Glebe from 1920 to 1931. He’s probably not our favourite son, but the Glebe Society will nominate his home for a Blue Plaque.
A letter from Lodge Street
Posted on 1st August 2023
His mother didn’t want him to go, but Glebe’s Frank Hurley persuaded Douglas Mawson to employ him as the official photographer on the 1911 Antarctic expedition.
Who lived in your street? John George Bryen and St Helen’s
Posted on 30th July 2023
What did John George Bryen have in common with Toad of Toad Hall? They were both terrible drivers, and as Lyn Collingwood recalls, Bryen lived in a well-known house in Glebe but was not a fictional character.
Who Lived in Your Street? The Herron and Ayre families of ‘alphabet’ house, Divo
Posted on 26th June 2023
The Herron then Ayre families occupied ‘Divo’, one of the ‘alphabet’ houses in the terrace at 433-445 Glebe Point Road. The other alphabet houses are Gaza, Favo, Edna, Cama and Boro.
Glebe’s Blue Plaque nominations: Sir Douglas Mawson
Posted on 30th April 2023
Sir Douglas Mawson, a key figure in Antarctic exploration, lived in Glebe for much of his youth. 28 Toxteth Rd was his home while he was a student at Sydney University. This is the thirteenth site nominated by the Society for a Blue Plaque.
Max Solling’s 2023 ANZAC Day Address
Posted on 30th April 2023
Historian Max Solling spoke to a large gathering of residents at the Glebe War Memorial on 25 April. this year. He described the identity of Glebe during the World Wars and gave an insight into the daily lives of its residents. He also spoke of the evolution of war literature, in particular the memoirs of prisoners of war, stories he says ‘rarely rate a mention in the military histories of Australia.’
Blue Plaque Nomination – 23 Avenue Rd
Posted on 14th December 2022
The NSW Government has called nominations of places linked to notable personalities and events for recognition as part of the NSW Blue Plaques program. The Glebe Society made a number of nominations. The tenth site nominated by the Society is 23 Avenue Rd, Glebe. the former home of Bernard and Kate Smith and where the Glebe Society started from a meeting held on 27 February 1969.
Society nominates home of Dorothy Drain for a Blue Plaque
Posted on 30th November 2022
In September last year the NSW Government called for communities to nominate places linked to notable personalities and events for recognition as part of the NSW Blue Plaques program. The Glebe Society made a number of nominations. The ninth site nominated is 52 Toxteth Rd, Glebe, the former home of Dorothy Drain, once one of Australia’s best known journalists.
‘Toby Tosspot’, Glebe resident and Australia’s first prime minister
Posted on 9th August 2022
Australia’s first Prime Minister was nicknamed ‘Toby Tosspot’, a reference to his love of long dinners with more than a few glasses of wine. Another prime minister was nicknamed the Silver Bodgie …
Who worked in your street? Missionary James Henry Mills
Posted on 9th August 2022
J.H. Mills was a missionary who worked in the Glebe-Pyrmont district for 35 years. He ran the Glebe branch of the Sydney City Mission from an office in the Mission Hall in Bay St, which opened in 1894. Drinking and gambling were viewed by Mills as major social evils. Read more about his life and his activities as a missionary.
Blue Plaque Nominations Part 6: 148 St Johns Rd Glebe
Posted on 9th August 2022
In September last year the NSW Government called for communities to nominate places linked to notable personalities and events for recognition as part of the NSW Blue Plaques program. The Glebe Society made a number of nominations. The sixth site nominated is 148 St Johns Rd Glebe, the home of activist Lucy Eatock.
A tale of two Prime Ministers
Posted on 6th June 2022
Australia’s first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton (1849-1920), was born in Glebe and our 31st Prime Minister, The Hon. Anthony Albanese also has a close association with Glebe. His childhood home was on Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown, just next to Forest Lodge
Glebe’s Blue Plaque Nominations (Part 5): 97 Derwent St, once home of Bessie Guthrie
Posted on 6th July 2022
In September last year the NSW Government called for communities to nominate places linked to notable personalities and events for recognition as part of the NSW Blue Plaques program. The Glebe Society made a number of nominations. The fifth site nominated by the Society is 97 Derwent St Glebe, lifelong home of Bessie Guthrie (1905-1977), designer, publisher, feminist and campaigner for children’s rights.
Who lived in your street? Leslie John Roberts Jones (1886-1970)
Posted on 7th March 2022
Inspired by reports he heard of the flying exploits of the Wright brothers and lectures he attended given by Lawrence Hargrave, ‘Jack’ Jones built an aeroplane frame and engine in the backyard of his 108 Hereford St house.
Sarah (Sadie) Murdoch King passes away days after her 100th birthday
Posted on 7th March 2022
It is with great sadness that we heard about the death of Sadie King, just a few days after her 100th birthday. Read more about Sadie’s fascinating life.
The story behind the packaging – Sydney Flour
Posted on 6th March 2022
1 Glebe Rd, Glebe, now the site of 279 Broadway, was the home of Federation Flour sold by Sydney Flour Pty Ltd. The site had been purchased by Adolph Frederick Brockhoff, and his sons Frederick and Charles, in January 1906
Blue Plaque nominations for Glebe & Forest Lodge
Posted on 4th March 2022
The Glebe Society has made a number of nominations to our local member, Jamie Parker, for Blue Plaques to be erected in Glebe and Forest Lodge. Blue Plaques will recognise and celebrate important people and places in NSW. Our first nomination was 27 Catherine St, Forest Lodge, which was the home of the civil rights activist Charles Perkins and his wife Eileen and daughter Hetti while he was studying at the University of Sydney.
Vale Janet Venn-Brown
Posted on 13th September 2021
Well-known Australian artist, Janet Venn-Brown, died on 6 August, aged 96. Janet had a long association with Glebe and the Glebe Society. Read more about her fascinating life.
A man who punched above his weight – John McColl
Posted on 12th September 2021
A much-loved boxing trainer and community member, John McColl, died in August at the age of 81 years. After a successful boxing career he set up and ran the Glebe Estate Boxing Gym that was once located on Wentworth Park Rd. As well as training state and national champions, the gym played a vital social role in the Glebe community.
Queen’s Birthday Honours for Glebe local, Ann Curthoys
Posted on 4th August 2021
In the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List Glebe local, Ann Curthoys, received the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to tertiary education, to social history, and to research. Ann has a long association with Glebe, both as a resident and as an intellectual and an activist participating in Glebe’s progressive environment. Find out more about this Glebe treasure.
Who lived in your street? Catherine Anna Korff (1862-1938)
Posted on 4th August 2021
Catherine (Kate) Korff was one of eight daughters of Frederick James Robert Korff. The last unmarried sister to die, Kate’s passing marked the end of her family’s 80-years’ residency on Hereford St. In 1940 two brick semi-detached houses replaced the old home. They remain standing, as numbers 19 and 19A.
100 Years ago in Glebe & Forest Lodge – June 1921
Posted on 7th June 2021
100 years ago, June 1921: Double shipping tragedy off the NSW North Coast felt in Glebe & Forest Lodge
Who Lived in your Street? Peter Lewis Tighe (1860-1946)
Posted on 7th June 2021
Real estate salesman Peter Tighe enjoyed a fleeting moment of celluloid fame in 1913 when he featured in Picturesque Stanwell Park a 20-minute silent film advertising a new land release. Tighe and his family are seen leaving their home Kareela 154 Glebe Point Rd and squeezing into a taxi waiting outside.
