Historic houses - "Riverside" House

“Riverside House” was a pretty two storey house built in 1886 by Mr George Stone on the banks of Parramatta River. It was said that the house was built on concrete foundations and had panoramic views of the former old King’s School grounds (now Bayanami Public School), the river, and Parramatta Park. It cost about £1,600[2] (which in present value would cost an estimated $207,028 as of 2019).[3]

George Stone (1843-1907)was part of a well known Granville district family then known as the Parramatta Junction. His family established the first Vauxhall Inn in Granville[4] in 1885. In 1884, he transferred his license to Sam Hill and then went onto manage Emu Hotel[5] of George Street, Parramatta until his death on 30 January 1907, aged 64[6]. Stone’s sister Eliza Jane was married to Henry Tucker Jones (1833-1902), Mayor of Prospect and Sherwood and returning officer for the State electorate of Parramatta.[7]

In December 1888, Riverside house was severely damaged by a disastrous storm which undermined the house and flooded the river. A portion of the house was washed away by the Marsden Street dam.[8] 

At the time, it was leased for 7 years to Mr Andrew Hardie McCulloch, junior (c.1845 - 1908), a solicitor and pastoralist. From 26 October 1877 to 1 May 1888, McCulloch was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Central Cumberland before he absconded to avoid arrest for alleged misappropriation of trust funds and other offences.[9]

An account of the event has been written by The Sydney Morning Herald correspondent (17 December 1888, page 4)[]: 

Due to the nature of the disaster, it was not covered by insurance. Stone thus had to take Council to court with solicitor McCulloch represented Mr Stone v. Borough Council of Parramatta claiming £2,000 worth of damage. After inspections, Mr Stone received the funds in 1889 as compensation .[12]

Photos of the flood are in the Local Studies photographic collection and below in the top left corner is an image that shows the damage to "Riverside" house after the December 1888 flood.

Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021

References

1. City of Parramatta (Local Studies Library) (2021). Riverside House, Marsden Street, Parramatta, view of front exterior of two storey house with balconies on both stories, 1886. Local Studies Photograph Collection, Object Number LSP00654. Retrieved from https://heritagecentre.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/objects/8715/riverside-house-marsden-street-parramatta-view-of-front-exterior-of-two-storey-house-with-balconies-on-both-stories-1886 
2. A severe storm. Great excitement in Parramatta. Landslides at the dam. (1888, December 22). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86270854 
3. Blake, Thom (2020). How much is it worth?, Thom Blake Historian. Retrieved from https://www.thomblake.com.au/secondary/hisdata/calculate.php 
4. Roberts, Mick. (2017, July 3). Vauxhall Inn at Granville marked railway opening with “buckets of rum”, Time gents : Australian pub project [website]. Retrieved from https://timegents.com/2017/07/03/vauxhall-inn-granville/; Kuhle, David & Barker, Geoff. (2015). Granville forest and Sydney’s first railway. Retrieved from https://historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/blog/2015/06/18/granville-forest-and-sydneys-first-railway ; Parramatta licensing court. (1884, April 23). The Cumberland Mercury, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248784729 ; 
5. Parramatta licensing court. (1903, April 11). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85692252 ; Roberts, Mick (2017, May 18). Emu Hotel, Parramatta, Time gents : Australian pub project [website]. Retrieved from https://timegents.com/2017/05/18/emu-hotel-parramatta/
6. Family notices (1907, January 31). The Daily Telegraph, p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238029113 ; Death of Mr. Geo. Stone. (1907, February 2). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86161779 
7. Howell, Edwin. (1902, September 13). Our surroundings.—Prospect and Sherwood. Its representative men— Henry Tucker Jones, J.P., The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86202101 
8. Disastrous Floods in Parramatta. Terrific thunderstorm : Destruction of the town dam bastion : The ruin of “Riverside” : A Niagara in miniature. : Disappearance of the pier. : A memorable day. : Cows swept away and drowned. : A household swamped and ruined. : The cottage homes cataract. : Drenched damaged drapers. (1888, December 19). The Cumberland Mercury, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248808543 ;  A severe storm : Great excitement in Parramatta : Landslips at the dam. (1888, December 22). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86270854 ; Current news. (1888, December 22). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86270846 ;Current News. (1889, April 27). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86273081 ; Brevities. (1889, May 16). Evening News, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108896095
9. Globe Photo. Company. (1888). The landslide at “Riverside,” Parramatta, The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86270846 
10. A.H. McCulloch, ex-M.L.A. (1908, July 4). The newsletter: an Australian Paper for Australian people, p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103247505 ; Wikipedia contributors. (2020, October 18). Andrew McCulloch (politician). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_McCulloch_(politician) ; Parliament of New South Wales. (n.d.). Mr Andrew Hardie (Junior) McCulloch. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/Pages/former-member-details.aspx?pk=181
11. The storm at Parramatta. (1888, December 17). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28339701 
12. The wreck of Riverside : Interviewing the minister. (1889, July 13). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86270513 ; Parramatta. (1889, July 16). The Australian Star, 2nd ed., p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227575177 ; The wreck of Riverside. Special meeting of the council another deputation. (1889, July 20). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86264766 ; 1889. (1890, January 1). The Cumberland Mercury, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248808857 
13. City of Parramatta (2021). Marsden Street Wier, dam, on the Parramatta River after a flood, circa 1888. Local Studies Photograph Collection, Object number LSP00293. Retrieved from https://heritagecentre.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/objects/8092/marsden-street-wier-dam-on-the-parramatta-river-after-a-flood-circa-1888