Cambridge Street's Australian of the Year.

Happy Australia Day!

The 2013 Australian of the Year is Ita Buttrose.  Known primarily for her magazine exploits (founding editor of Cleo, editor of the women's weekly etc) she also works extensively for a number of medical charities.  Less well known is that Ita was a former resident of Cambridge street!  We are still trying to work out the exact dates but I have spoken to her former landlord who confirmed the story, I think late 70s or early 80s.  We will try and get an interview with her.  Until then we will keep you guessing as to what number she was at ...

The Hon. John Hepher

The Hon. John Hepher MLC, who lived in Cambridge street in the late 1920's.  He would've been in his 70s when listed as resident at 67 Cambridge Street in the Sands Directory of 1926.  He was an MLC (Member of the Legislative Council, NSW's upper house) from 1899 until his death in 1932 at the age of 83. You'd think that is a pretty good electoral record but you would be wrong. From 1856 to 1934 the upper house was filled by appointment. And once appointed the term was for life. That is a pretty good gig but even that was a watering down of what Blue Mountains explorer William Charles Wentworth wanted (he had asked Britain for a hereditary peerage for the NSW upper house!).

You can find a brief biography of John on the NSW parliamentary website here.  He was born in 1850 in Cambridgeshire England and arrived in NSW c. 1882 where he set himself up as a tailor. He was an ALP man and trade unionist (how times change!), becoming the President of the NSW Tailors Union and also leading the Eight Hours Committee (as in 8 hours work, 8 hours rest, 8 hours play) which was a huge movement back in his day.  I have included an example of a great 8 hours banner from the Pressers Union which is on display at the Sydney Trades Hall.  Sydney was the first place to get the 8 hour day (and then only for stonemasons), most of the rest of world worked over 10 hours a day, six days a week so we do have a bit to thank these guys for.  The 8 hour workday only became standard across Australia in the 1920s.

As befitting an MLC there are a few old newspaper articles available on Trove.  One notable incident of his parliamentary career was his being physically carried in to the upper house to vote on the Mortgages Taxation Bill whilst he was seriously ill.  Now that is dedication.

Charles Oertel

In the 1890s it was not uncommon to have an occupation listed after a residents name in the Sands Directory.  One such example is Charles Oertel, listed as an 'aerated water maker', who lived at 65 Cambridge street in the 1890s.

That occupation provides a little bit to go on, and searching the old SMH on trove does turn up quite a few references to the commercial enterprises that Oertel ran.  Initially, the firm was Dalm & Oertel, although during the 1890s it appears Oertel was running the whole show by himself.  And doing pretty well, winning medals at the Chicago Exhibition according to the following article ...

If you are a collector of old glass you may see an old Oertel, or Dalm & Oertel bottle turn up.  The photo above is from an auction earlier this year and this example was estimated at $150-$200. 

The favourtie advertisement that I came across is transcribed following.  If true I might just have to make a pitcher of lemonade this summer in honour the man who was quenching Cambridge Street's thirst 125 years ago ...

"18 November 1885
Reform in the Manufacture of LEMONADE
The LEMONADE, prepared by Australian grown lemons by Messrs Dalm and Oertel, Mineral Water and Cordial manufacturers, 403 Pitt-street Sydney, has proved a decided success. We are in receipt of letters from leading Sydney physicians, members of leading Clubs, families, etc, who admit in laudable terms the superiority of our LEMONADE, and pronounce it to excel by far every article of that kind they have hitherto tasted. It has an exquisite flavour. It is free from substances injurious to health. Every drop of water used is carefully filtered. It is well aerated with thoroughly cleaned carbonic acid gas.

REASONS why in Australia, where the finest lemons grow, one rarely tastes good Lemonade - "Oil of Lemon", commonly used by lemonade makers, is an imported article, extracted from lemon peel. Owing to its high price when pure, it is often adulterated. It is only a poor substitute for the geniune article. Messrs DALM and OERTEL have entirely discarded it.

Ask or send for DALM and OERTEL'S LEMONADE,
Delivered regularly in town and suburbs by our carts.
All orders punctually attended to."

The Terrace Times cookbook, Paddington edition

I have a collection of Paddington books (although some are more accurately described as pamphlets) and none is as random as the Terrace Times Cook Book.  Published in 1975 it contains a number of recipes of that age that we are yet to experiment with.  The local history section at Paddington Library, which has an interesting collection of material available for reference, has a copy.  Or you can often find copies on ebay for not very much, I think my copy cost $3.

As well as the recipes the book does have some interesting pencil sketches of local terraces illustrated by Pauline Clements.  Copied above is a sketch of 52 Cambridge Street.  I nearly skipped straight past until I recognised some of the distinct features of the house.  Pauline has used a bit of artistic licence with the proportions but if you stand outside the door of 302 Glenmore you will spot the resemblance.

Recipe wise, the book contains many gems of mid-70s dinner party cuisine.  You'll need a pantry with quite a few tins and a decent booze cupboard to make any of the desserts.  They divide it into courses and meats etc but surprisingly even Aspics gets its own category!

Happy new year ...

We've already posted about Cambridge Street's own poet laureate, Christopher Brennan, but we have uncovered another one.  The following verse is referenced in the book "Paddington Sketchbook" by Unk White and Patricia Thompson and also "Paddock full of houses" by Max Kelly.  It is from Brennan's friend, Professor John Le Gay Brereton, who wrote:

     "Tomorrow night expect me where the cows
      Of rural Paddington serenely browse
      Where Cambridge Street o'erlooks the placid Chows"

Well the dairy at the Alma street end of White City is gone and so are the Chinese market gardeners.  But the peaceful atmosphere that Brennan was attracted to still remains, although not as rural as it was then.  Happy new year!