79 Cambridge Street ...

Gee it looks like June is selling month on Cambridge Street.  Number 47 selling today (& the McGrath agent door-knocking the street to let us all know the eye-watering price it sold for) and now 79 is up for grabs.  Marketed by Belle Property who are good on the styling but probably need to brush up on the Sands Directory, describing this 1895 terrace as 'turn of the century'.  I've been through this terrace before so the open house was an opportunity to see if there's been any renovations apart from the new grey paintjob to the exterior.  I think they are sensibly leaving it to the new owner to decide!

I've included a shot of the 1895 Sands Directory above.  This is 79's first appearance so it looks like Joseph Chamberlain was the original inhabitant.  Not much on Joseph in the archives but a resident of 79 Cambridge in the early 1900s shot to fame with a few wins in the Sydney Sunday Times quizzes.  S. Robberds picked up 5 shillings for the monogram on a quite a few occasions!  That was about it for Trove but this house has also featured on the blog's art section, with a nice pencil drawing appearing in the book the Paddington Pictures.  Link here.

47 Cambridge Street ...

47 Cambridge Street is on the market.  Scheduled for auction on the 21st we did what every self-respecting Paddington resident does ... swung by the open house for a sticky beak around.  This is marketed by McGrath, breaking the streak that Di Jones had on the street lately.  They had quite a bit to say about this "Grand Paddington terrace of unique proportions".

"Distinguished by its substantial tri-level layout and unique street presence, this grand 'Westbury' terrace is graced with a selection of casual/formal interiors blah, blah." Some of the highlights were that it is "located on one of Paddington's most sought after streets" (well, I believe that, but I am sure they say that about any street in Paddo), and its "elegant formal lounge and dining rooms with period details" as well as its "four original marble fireplaces, high ceilings, alarm system" (presumably the alarm is not original).

Before going I tried to do a little bit of historical research.  Not many hits.  We've mentioned Westbury once before in some internet miscellany here.  A former resident used to complain about blasting at the Cascade quarry causing his ceiling to collapse (note to McGrath - the fireplaces might be original but the ceilings are repro!).

Off to the inspection then.  I wasn't surprised by the sense of calm I had in this very large terrace.  Turns out this was the first venue of the Paddington Meditation Centre back in 2001!  (I know, terribly unfunny transition but hey, you have to work with what you've got).  My favourite historical details were the corbels, and if we were moving across the road I'd want to work out a way onto that widows walk above the date!