Sydney Rental Records - mid 1930s to mid 1940s

[sparrett]

  But he makes no mark on the electoral rolls though between his return to Australia in 1935 and this sole appearance in 1943.  He died in 1945.

The 1939 address found by Judith is that of his sister and brother-in-law, William and Ethel Lavinia BOYD.
Same as before he went to England.

[sparrett]

I think you are right Peter, that he was in lodgings after the above sighting and died at Darley rd.

Here is an advertisement for lodgings in 1942 at what might be the right address??
Though the suburb is Centennial Park not Randwick.
Possibly it was a different suburb on different sides of the road looking at the map.
 


https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17817619?searchTerm=%225%20darley%20rd%20%22

 
CENTENNIAL PARK-Fine Fiont Room
charm local f Board 45/ 5 Darley Rd.

Sue
 

[maddys52]

Yes, Darley Rd runs along the edge of Centennial Park. Houses are only on one side of the road, so technically it is in Randwick, though could be said to be Centennial Park (the Park, rather than the suburb). Know it well, grew up just around the corner.

[PeterProg]

Thanks again everybody for these very helpful responses.

I had searched the Ancestry listing for Australian Electoral Rolls but had not previously found the 1939 entry in Bondi (living with his sister Ethel and her husband) for some reason, so that is great.  Another marker for his time back in Sydney after returning from the UK. 

And the classified advertisement from 1942 for rental accommodation at 5 Darley Rd might very well be the advertisement to which he responded given that he was living there in 1943.  (Though he could have moved there earlier too of course.)  But I'm interested in how to interpret the detail of the advertisement.  These days the property is listed as a 5 or 6 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms.  Assuming similar then, this would seem to imply that he would have been just one of several people lodging there?

And would the 'fine front room' mentioned imply that this space was at the front of the house?  Would 'full board' imply that there was a live-in housekeeper or landlord/landlady?

My thinking now is that he probably boarded somewhere currently unknown in Sydney between 1935 and 1938-1939, before returning to live with his sister for a while and then moving on to Darley Road.  It would be terrific if we could find any marker for him between 1935 and 1939, but I cannot think of any further options at this stage. 

It's been very good progress to date though, for which many thanks!

[maddys52]

I'll be interested to see what others say, I think "full board" means he got a room and meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I suspect the "fine front room" could be either a common room, or a description of the room available, though I think the former.

[sparrett]

  But I'm interested in how to interpret the detail of the advertisement.  These days the property is listed as a 5 or 6 bedroom house with 3 bathrooms.  Assuming similar then, this would seem to imply that he would have been just one of several people lodging there?

And would the 'fine front room' mentioned imply that this space was at the front of the house?  Would 'full board' imply that there was a live-in housekeeper or landlord/landlady?

Looking at the history of the premises though newspaer advertisements.

It was a boarding establishment from as early as 1908.  The house name was Normandy
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238097669

Glancing through the papers using the address of part of it, there are lottery wins, marraiges and deaths for people who lived there over the years .

Example. One of many.
  1945  Mr Jones lottery win
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263371331
 
A bridegrooms mother’s address in 1943
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179257864

The landladyin 1929 was    Mrs Withers.

Her advertisement is clear in what was offered.

MANLY
AVOID THE COLD WEATHER!
Comfortable Boarding Establish
ment, 1 minute from Surf and Boat.
Good ' Table. Winter Terms.
"Normandy," 5 Darley Road.
MRS. N. WITHERS, Proprietress.
Tel. YU 2585

From the expression Good Table we infer 2 or 3 meals per day.
Lunch (sandwich etc) for a working man may have been provided also at extra cost.

I found no further reference as the name Normandy after 1934, but the establishment was a divided accommodation well after that 

Seems to have declined in terms of fine lodgings by 1983 

Still divided into Separate units in 1983
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231362731

DISORDERLY HOUSES ACT, 1943
IT is hereby notified that the undermentioned premises were,
by order dated 10th June, 1983, declared a Disorderly House
pursuant to section 3 of the Disorderly Houses Act, 1943:
Unit 28, 5 Darley Street, Darlinghurst;
Unit 33, 5 Darley Street, Darlinghurst.
(8746)
E. S. SHEPARD,
Detective Inspector of Police.

[maddys52]

I think the property "Normandy" was in Darley Rd, Manly - not the Darley Rd in Randwick. 

[sparrett]

I must admit to confusion on that point and will gladly accept your local knowledge on the subject, Maddy


Peter, was there any kind of event in the life or living arrangement of Edith and William BOYD which might necessitate a move being required by MCCRAY?

I see them still at their Randwick home after 1939.
Sue

[judb]

"Full board" usually means 3 meals plus a room.  If he was still working he may have been given a packed lunch.  I think the 'fine front room' would be a bedroom for one occupant and was probably let at a dearer rate than others further back in the house, as it had 'charm' and would have had a bit of a view.

My great aunt and uncle ran a similar boarding house in Prahran (Melbourne) up to the mid 1950s and I remember visiting them and meeting what seemed to me vaguely shadowy men in the hallway of their place. They, however, didn't provide meals and the lodgers had use of the kitchen. They themselves had a bedroom and private sitting room.

The shipping record has him ticketed to Brisbane - did he stay in Qld at all, or perhaps he actually disembarked in Sydney?

Judith