It’s stood at the entrance to Richmond for well over a century, and now it’s on the market.
‘Osier Bank’ can be glimpsed through the gates of its stuccoed brick fence on the corner of Windsor and Bourke streets.
The home has 12’ ceilings with ornate cornices and fretwork, six inch wide Baltic pine floorboards and ornate fireplaces. It even has a grand ballroom at the rear of the home, and a semi-circlular driveway.
Constructed in 1897 for Richmond bootmaker William Sullivan, ‘Osier Bank’ was his home for nearly 20 years (osier is another term for willow).
William was born in 1830 in Ballytruckle, Waterford, Ireland and came to Australia at age 8 when his parents emigrated. Local studies librarian Michelle Nichols said his family came to live at Enfield, now North Richmond, in 1841. His father ran a private school there.
Ms Nichols said in June 1852 William married Sophia Ezzy at St. Peter’s at Richmond, and started business as a bootmaker at 217 Windsor Street Richmond in January, 1853.
He also owned 90 acres at Grose Vale between the properties of John Ezzy and George Woodhill.
Ms Nichols said Sophia and William had 13 children, 10 surviving to adulthood.
In 1860 Wiliam moved his bootmaking business to his own premises at 225 Windsor Street.
Ms Nichols said Wiliam was one of the seven residents who worked to establish Richmond School of Arts and Library. He was also a justice of the peace and later a magistrate in the Local Court.
In 1872 he was elected to the first Borough Council of Richmond. George Bowman was the first mayor.
Around 1893 he owned four adjoining lots along Bourke Street from the block the house is now on through to Francis Street, according to historical maps. Now the house sits on two titles totalling half an acre.
In 1895 he sold his 90 acres at Grose Vale. Ms Nichols said in those days with no super funds for retirement, he bought and rented out several properties in Richmond. His 1905 rate notice showed he owned 10 properties by that point, including Osier Bank which he built as his retirement residence.
In 1902 William and Sophia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Osier Bank, as reported in the Windsor & Richmond Gazette.
He died two days before Christmas in 1906. He was buried in the Methodist section of Richmond General Cemetery.
