Historical information

One of the oldest homes in Surrey Hills.
The photo was taken in 1924 when the property was purchased by Mr John Francis Evans, father of Mrs Lillian Austin. The Evans family came from Gembrook. John Evans was born in Wales; he and his wife Mary had 3 children, 2 daughters and one son. Mary Evans pre-deceased her husband, who died on 23 October 1924 at Hillsborough, 6A Thistle Street.
The first owner of the property was Mrs Rachel Sweetnam (nee Lewis) who married Thomas Edward Sweetnam on 24 September 1884 at St John's Church, Camberwell.
REF: THE ARGUS 4 Oct 1884 Thomas second eldest surviving son of Matthew Sweetnam married to Rachel (Ray) third eldest daughter of Captain T.D. Lewis, Culm Haven, Camberwell.
Thomas was active in land sales and variously described as a land agent, real estate agent and auctioneer.
The property - Hillsboro or Hillsborough - was originally a house on a farm of 10 acres owned by her. It became 6A Thistle Street. According to the Alan Holt property register Rachel Sweetnam owned the property prior to 1890 and a family tree on Ancestry.com has that it was owned by her in c1886. It is likely that at this stage the property was an investment rather than the Sweetnam's family residence.
Other property owners or residents are:
1890 Selina Gaylor
1900 Stephen Pullen
1910 William Murray (draftsman)
1920 George C Hughes
1930 Arthur Leslie Austin (tram driver)
1980 Mrs Lillian Evelyn Austin
Lillian Austin died on 19 August 1983 and the property was sold that year for $87,000.
The house is still extant (January 2025).
Note that we also have material / photos regarding George Hughes and family.

Physical description

Black and white photo of a timber home with brick chimneys and a (?) corrugated iron roof. There are sheds and outbuildings attached to the house. The garden looks untended. In the background a mature eucalypt tree can be seen.