This was the home of the Offszanka family from 1913; they came to Surrey Hills from Richmond. Carl Theodore Offszanka (1874-1944) was a furrier. Both he and his wife Ida, nee Schade, (1882-1963) were born in Germany. They married in Victoria in 1908. Their home was called 'Westfalia' (ref: 1919 electoral roll), presumably after the region in NW Germany. They had at least 4 children: Carl Bernard - b 1909 Marie Eliese - b 1910 Erna Helena - b 1913; d 1996 - listed at Guildford Road in electoral rolls. Bernard George - b 1914; d 1987 (Surrey Hills) - listed at Guildford Road in electoral rolls. The family were associated with Our Holy Redeemer and also donated class photos of the school to the collection. Carl and Ida are buried in Box Hill Cemetery (RC 032-0034). The semi-circular bay window is not original to the house. This home has had a 2nd storey added to it in late 1990s. According to a family descendant (REF: Email 1/8/20 from grandson) Carl Theodor Offszanka purchased the home in 1913 for £616. He also purchased the adjoining vacant block of land at 42 Guildford Road and ran a large orchard on it before later selling it. This appears to have been between 1920-1930. The family continued to occupy the house until after 1980 when Erna Helena and Bernard George are listed in the electoral rolls. Our property register lists Erna Helena Offszanka as the last member there. She died on 5 May 1996. Members of the Offszanka family lived in this property from its beginnings for more than 70 years. Such longstanding tenancy is unusual.Black and white photo of a timber Edwardian home at 44 Guildford Road Surrey Hills. The home has 2 bricks chimneys, a corrugated iron roof, timber fretwork to the verandah and a semi-circular bay window. The facade of the house is partially obscured by mature garden, possibly including large camellias, with rock-edged garden beds and a central path. The front fence is not visible.edwardian style, guildford road, offszanka family, carl theodor offszanka, ida schade (miss), carl bernard offszanka, bernard george offszanka, westfalia, ida offszanka (mrs), erna helena offszanka (miss), marie eliese offszanka (miss)

The gentleman in the photo is an estate agent. According to a grandson (REF: Email 1/8/2020) the original photos is thought to have been a publicity photo for the real estate agency. Carl Theodore Offszanka (1874-1944) was born in Germany. He is listed in electoral rolls at 44 Guildford Road from 1915, occupation furrier, with his wife Ida (nee Schade, 1882-1963), also born in Germany. They were married in Victoria in 1908. In later electoral rolls at the same address are Erna Helena (b 1913; d 1996) and Maria Eliese (b 1910; m Benedict Francis Rieusset in 1936). Both daughters are listed as typists. Also listed is Bernard George (b 1914; d 1987) who in later electoral rolls is described as a process worker. He served in the AIF in the Second World War. Not listed is Carl Bernard b 1909. The Offszanka family lived at 44 Guildford Road from 1913 until post-1980; they came to Surrey Hills from Richmond. Their home was called 'Westfalia' (ref: 1919 electoral roll), presumably after the region in NW Germany. It is not known when Carl and Ida migrated from Germany. This home has had a 2nd storey added to it in late 1990s. According to a family descendant (REF: Email 1/8/20 from grandson) Carl Theodor Offszanka purchased the home in 1913 for £616. He also purchased the adjoining vacant block of land at 42 Guildford Road and ran a large orchard on it before later selling it. This appears to have been between 1920-1930. The family continued to occupy the house until after 1980 when Erna Helena and Bernard George are listed in the electoral rolls. Our property register lists Erna Helena Offszanka as the last member there. She died on 5 May 1996. Black and white photo of a ? dark-stained timber Edwardian home at 44 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills. It has 2 brick chimneys, a corrugated iron roof and timber fretwork to the veranda. There is a single window to the veranda, 2 single windows down the LHS (facing) side of the house and a double window to the RHS (facing) side of the house. This appears to have coloured glass to the top section. The gable is decorated with timber and stucco and has a simple finial. The house has a simple timber picket fence and a driveway down the LHS (facing), in which a carriage is located. A gentleman in a hat stands on the veranda. A tall Victorian building can be seen in the far distance, on Canterbury Road.edwardian architecture, houses, guildford road, mr bernard george offszanka, mrs ida offszanka, miss ida schade, miss erna helena offszanka, miss marie eliese offszanker, furriers, mr carl theodor offszanka, westfalia, mr carl bernard offszanka