George Street houses

Our appeal for information about George Street, Manly, has turned up this 1926 image of 'Ohio', built circa 1905, demolished in the late 1950s. 'Ohio' was the home of the Custer family. David Walter Custer was born in Ohio, USA, in 1865 and came to Australia in 1890. He founded the firm of D W Custer & Co Ltd, importers of fine Italian marble. Marble imported by the company was used in the construction of the magnificent State Theatre. Mr Custer was well-known in Manly Masonic circles. he was Worshipful Master of Lodge St John, and held office in several other lodges. He was a president of the Manly Bowling Club, and a vice-president of Manly Life-Saving Club. According to family recollections, the front room nearest the camera was dominated by a billiard table. The house would have had uninterrupted views out towards Sydney Harbour Heads.

Manly in 1910

A small display of photographs in Manly Library looks back to the events of 1910. Manly was a bustling place that year. Under Mayor James Bonner, new streets were constructed, the Corso was tar-metalled, and over 180 new buildings were put up. The Rolfe Estate, the North Steyne estate and the Roslyn Hall Estate were under development.
A new cricket pavilion was erected, and the old Clarendon Hotel was demolished. The tram-line was extended to Brookvale. The Port Jackson Company took delivery of its new ferry, the Bellubera.
You could see Shakespeare performed at the Victoria Hall, or attend an evening class at the new School of Arts (now Manly Community Centre). You could hear Manly Band beat all-comers in the NSW Championships at Manly Oval. You could compete in the first ever Manly ‘Marathon’. Or for sixpence you could be driven up and down the Steyne in a new-fangled motor-car – would they ever catch on? Perhaps the look of apprehension was justified.

The Willis family

New to our reference collection is The Willis Family History, compiled by Shirley Doolan, a privately published monograph. It gives new information on two influential figures in the early development of Manly: Thomas Willis and his brother, Reverend Robert S Willis, who was minister of St Matthew’s Church. The family history goes back to Cumberland, England, where their father, Joseph Scaife Willis was born in 1808. Joseph was briefly the occupant of Fairlight House, circa 1875-6. Joseph’s wife, Janet Speir, was from Renfrewshire, Scotland. The book contains photos of each of them.
Robert Willis was a member of the first class to graduate from the BA course at Sydney University, in 1856. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1865, and ministered at Shoalhaven, where he met his future wife, Julia MacKenzie, who is commemorated by a memorial in St Matthew’s Church. He was minister there 1876-1894, and was a significant landowner in the Manly and Manly Vale area.
Thomas Willis was a shipping agent and insurance agent, with offices in Pitt Street, Sydney, and was one of the signatories to the 1876 petition which successfully lobbied for the establishment of Manly as a municipality.
It’s good to see such well researched family history being made available.