65-69 Albert Rd, Strathfield, the onetime home of Arnott’s Biscuit’s founder William Arnott.
What a treat, two stunning mansions once owned by the famous Arnott’s biscuits family, for sale at once.
The latest is ‘Arnotholme’ in Albert Rd, Strathfield, built for the founder of Australia’s largest biscuit company, William Arnott (1822-1901).
The Scottish migrant and baker had opened a small bakery in Newcastle in 1865 and it became a major biscuit business that now produces everything from Shapes crackers through to Mint Slice, Monte Carlo and Tim Tams.
In 1894 Arnott opened a factory on Parramatta Rd, Forest Lodge.
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The Arnott’s family in about 1900. Picture: Strathfield Heritage.
After William’s death in 1901 — a year after his Queen Anne mansion Arnottholme was finished — Leslie Arnott and his brothers took over.
The second Arnott family mansion currently for sale is Brockby Lodge in Homebush Rd Strathfield, which was once the home of Harold Arnott (1888–1971), Leslie’s son and William’s grandson, who was a director of Arnott’s Biscuits.
William and his wife, Margaret, who died the following year, had moved to Strathfield for his retirement, but these two homes — and a range of other homes associated with the Arnotts family — were no doubt chosen for their proximity to the large Arnotts factory built on a 2.4ha site at Homebush in 1907-1908. It was the largest biscuit factory in the Southern Hemisphere.
The grand Arnott homes are:
1. Arnotholme
The grand estate is on a massive 3,790sqm block.
This grand estate, at 65-69 Albert Rd, Strathfield, is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom residence on a whopping 3,790sqm block.
It’s currently listed with Tarun Sethi and Michael Murphy of McGrath, who are yet to set a guide, though sources say buyer feedback is between $10m-$12m.
Although most famous as the William and Margaret’s residence, the Queen Anne masterpiece is also notable for its long history as an educational institution owned by the NSW Government since 1954.
The building features elaborate timber detailing to the verandah with balustraded valance, turned timber posts, tessellated tiles and French doors.
It comes with DA-approved award-winning architect’s plans for a new state of the art residence with pool and additional extensions.
Records show it’s currently a private home owned by a company which have Anthony and Corriene Karam and Tony Saad who are behind a logistics company called Ticket Manufacturers.
2. Brockby Lodge
This home was built for the late Harold Arnott, William Arnott’s grandson.
This grand five-bedroom 1923-built home at 123-127 Homebush Rd, Strathfield, with a studio and six bathrooms, with a separate two-storey four-bedroom residence, plus a pool and tennis court, is on a 4500sqm block, the suburb’s largest private land holding.
The main home, which is classified by the National Trust and listed by the Royal Institute of Architects as a building of major 20th-century significance, was built for the late Harold Arnott.
It’s listed with Steven Chen and Yioti Apostol of The Agency with a $20m price guide.
The vendors are Ralph and Maria Mesiti, who own Citywide Chemist Group. They’ve paid a whopping $28.9m for an incredible four-level residence in Lyons Rd, Drummoyne, which sold via Chen.
3. ‘Waratah’
Waratah, at 37 Homebush Rd, Strathfield, sold for $5m last March.
The realestate.com.au sale notice for this home, known as Waratah at 37 Homebush Rd, Strathfield, makes no reference to its links to the Arnott’s family, simply describing it as a “grand estate” when it sold for $5m last March. Yet Strathfield Heritage notes it was built in 1899 for William Arnott, founder of Arnotts Biscuits. He apparently lived at Waratah for a brief time before moving to Arnotholme and the two properties shared a common boundary and access. It was called ‘Waratah’ after the Newcastle suburb where the bakery and biscuit business was established. Arnott transferred ownership of the house to his daughter, Janet Dunman Perry, the wife of broker James Simpson Perry in February 1901. The six-bedroom home on a 1414sqm block is now owned by the Wang/Zheng family.
4. Balnagowan
Balnagowan, at 15-17 Wakeford Rd Strathfield, was the home of Walter Arnott, grandson of William Arnott.
This Federation Arts and Crafts style house at 15-17 Wakeford Road Strathfield, was the home of Walter Esmond Arnott [1879-1955], grandson of William Arnott.
‘Wally’ built ‘Balnagowan’ in 1915 and lived there with his wife Mary until his death in 1955.
He was to become general manager of Arnott’s Biscuits, later a director, and he was a renowned sportsman: singles bowling champion of NSW between 1901-1911 and the doubles champion in 1912. He also won a range of yachting competitions.
The residence, on a 1775sqm block, is in the name of Melinda Edstein who bought it for $1,365,000, according to property records.
5, ‘Wawona’
96 Albyn Rd, Strathfield, was built in 1916 for Percy Arnott.
Wawona, which is sometimes called Arnott House, is located at 96 Albyn Rd Strathfield. It was built in 1916 for Percy Arnott. He was a grandson of William Arnott and a director of Arnott’s Biscuits.
The Californian Bungalow, classified by the National Trust, was designed by Herbert Dennis.
This Arnott played in the Australian Cricket team that toured the US in 1913; captain and president of the Concord Golf Club and a member of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and the Prince Alfred Yacht Club.
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom house on a 2488sqm block is currently owned by the Bova family, who bought it for $1,046,000 in 1988.
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