26/10/2026
Vincent Crow Alert on
A historically significant property will be put up for auction at 6pm on Wednesday November 11 through Highland Inner West Real Estate. The house (Louisa Cottage, 1888) at 142 Alt Street, Haberfield is the only extant house from the 1885 Second Division of the Dobroyde Estate- see page 264 of the book "Tours of Haberfield: Past and Present, Part Three".
It is probably more historically significant because, in 1904, it was the birthplace of the noted Australian composer John Antill- see page 267 of "Tours of Haberfield".
The estate agents selling this property were informed of its historical significance but no response from them has been received.
This property was not included in the Haberfield Heritage Conservation Area in the 1980's probably because it was built pre-Federation and, in this area, the boundary of the HHCA was 'squared off'. Despite attempts since about 2011 to have this property included in the HHCA, neither the Ashfield Council nor Inner West Council have done so.
Hopefully, someone sympathetic to Australia's heritage will purchase this property and maintain the house in any future development. Ideally, it will be kept as a home and an extension made to its rear as with many other Haberfield properties.
