No 141 ‘Northridge’ was built for Harold Thompson on a one acre corner of Victoria St and Seaview St (the land went back to what is now Yeo Ave). It used to be known as “the pink house” (you can still see the pink paint when looking from Seaview St). The first residents, John and Fanny Thompson had five children, aged 2 to 11 when they moved in, with 3 more girls and a boy (who died) born during the next 12 years. They were probably playmates with the younger five of the Clissold children who were aged 1 to 13 when they moved into Glentworth, just across Seaview St.
After John’s death in 1909, Fanny Thompson remained at Northridge until 1920. By this time her youngest child was 22 and Glentworth had become the Good Shepherd Convent. Northridge was briefly (1921-1922) a Red Cross War Chest Home for war orphan boys and those living under very undesirable conditions, but it closed because very few guardians and parents would entrust their children to the institution about a year later.
From 1924 the house was owned by the Brierley family, who named it Brierloch (Mrs Brierley’s maiden name was Loch). The family was not always in residence; for example, in 1927-1928 it was leased as a private hospital. Early in the 1930s Northridge was converted to flats. In 1935 the land was subdivided – a block of flats was built on the corner and houses at the rear on Yeo Ave.
Northridge continued to be used as flats, with a series of different owners, until the 1980s when the tenants’ leases were terminated, the doors taken off, and the house thrown open, seemingly intentionally, to damage. It became almost derelict through small fires and vandalism. A proposal to demolish the house and replace it with flats was submitted to Ashfield council, but Northridge was saved by a NSW Heritage order.
The current owners have carefully restored Northridge as a family home.
Northridge has enjoyed an interesting history and has survived. It is currently enjoying its return to heyday condition.
(The Sydney Mail, Dec 1921, from Pratten, 2003
From 1978 ADHS Scrapbook No. 3:
Post-Regency mansion with striking Italianate stucco ornamentation built in the mid or late 1880s. Classical double portico over front door with single iron-roofed verandah on three sides; cast verandah columns, lace brackets; lace in upper portico set in stuccoed brickwork; exaggerated modillions under eaves, heavy stucco quoins; art-nouveau style stained glass in paned main door and surround; original?
Gates. Powerfully set in large grounds, ornamentation picked out in red on white background. Defects include tiled roof, cement block front fence, right hand verandah partially filled in, additions at rear. In general however a striking mansion of a design not seen elsewhere in Ashfield.
A lot of what was described as defcts earlier have now been made good by the current owners.