John Oxley's Sydney town house

MARGIN: Life & Letters in Early Australia, April, 2004 by Richard Johnson

Later in 1845, some twenty five years after it was first proposed, the house and the southern portion of the general land grant was allocated as the Parsonage for St. James's Church. The rector, Reverend Robert Allwood took up residence in the house the same year. (42)

CATALOGUE FOR THE AUCTION OF THE HOUSE CONTENTS.

The catalogue of house contents, auctioned on Monday 23 May 1828 is reproduced in the following pages in a type and arrangement which closely follows the original held in the Mitchell Library of the State Library of New South Wales. (43)

While self explanatory, this list and various views of the house still available, help provide a record of the home that stood on the corner of King and Macquarie Streets Sydney during the early Colonial period and which was first occupied by John Oxley.

MODERN FURNITURE, BEAUTIFUL CUT GLASS, DINNER SERVICES OF PORCELAIN, AND ELEGANT MODERN PLATE, KINGS' PATTERN.

CATALOGUE,

to be sold

BY MR. BODENHAM.

ON THE PREMISES IN MACQUARIE STREET, LATELY OCCUPIED BY THE LATE AND RESPECTED

John Oxley, Esq SURVEYOR GENERAL OF THE TERRETORY,

On Monday, June 23rd 1828,

Sale to Commence at 11 o'clock.

THE EFFECTS:

MAY BE VIEWED FROM 10 TO 4 O'CLOCK, FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE SALE.

PRINTED BY A. HILL, 81, GEORGE STEET.

DINNING ROOM.

LOT

1 10 Very Superior Spanish mahogany chairs with horse hair cushions, brass bound, 2 arm ditto.

2 A Hansome Spanish mahogany Travalgar side board.

3 1 Dining Table.) these are bracketted

4 1 Round Table) as 3 in pencil

5 A Japanned plate warmer. (numbered as 4 in pencil)

6 A quantity of India matting and Brussell's heath rugs

7 1 pair bell pulls, Black silk velvet.

8 Brass Fender and polished steel fire irons.

9 4 Handsome Chintz curtains, curtain rings, &c.

10 2 Elegant papier mache tea trays.

11 Set of table mats and 2 patent cork screws.

12 2 Proof plates of the proposal and congratulation in gilt frames.

DRAWING ROOM.

13 2 Elegant rosewood card tables.

14 1 richly turned rosewood sofa table

15 1 Rosewood couch chintz squabs and cushion

16 12 Chairs with stuffed squabs chintz covers, 2 arm do.

17 1 pair figured silk bell pulls

18 1 Handsome Carpet 17 feet by 17.

18 An elegant cottage cabinet Piano Forte.

19 1 Handsome cut brass fender and polished fire irons.

20 1 Sofa with handsome Chintz covering and cushion. Mrs. Dixon *

21 1 Pair of curtains.

BREAKFAST ROOM.

22 1 Sofa with squab and cushion cover

23 8 Arm Chairs

24 2 Arm Chairs with cushions and stuffed backs.

25 1 Sideboard and 3 drawers and double locks

26 1 Steel cut fender

27 1 Breakfast Table

28 1 Manilla mat 3 y 17 and 1 Brussels hearth rug.

29 Large Press (this item has been pencilled in)

* Mrs. Dixon's name had been pencilled in, she was John Oxley's sister.

HOUSEKEEPERS ROOM.

29 1 Capacious double cupboard with looks and shelves complete

30 1 ditto ditto

31 1 Brass Fender

32 1 Table with Drawers

33 8 Wash hand basins and 4 soup dishes

ENTRANCE HALL.

34 1 Arm Chair

35 1 Mahogany slab table

36 1 Elegant bronze Sinombria Lamp, spare shade, Chimney Wicks &c.

36 1 Eight day clock

37 1 ditto