Henry F Halloran, Beyond Port Stephens, continued.
An example of the type of home Henry grew up in, Glebe, NSW.
Henry F Halloran’s Background & Upbringing
Henry Ferdinand Halloran was born in Glebe, NSW, on 9 August 1869. He was born the son of Edward Roland Halloran, a bank clerk, and Adeline Burgess Reuss. Henry was the eldest child in a family of 3 boys and 1 girl. He was named for his two grandfathers. For this reason, Henry adopted the name Henry F to distinguish himself from his grandfather, who was named Henry.
Henry Descended from German Business Merchants
A study of Henry’s ancestry highlights the influences that helped shape his character. On his mother’s side, he was descended from a long line of German business merchants from Frankfurt. His maternal grandfather was a successful architect, builder, and surveyor involved in property development.
Henry’s grandfather was Henry Halloran, a well-known Colonial public servant and sometimes poet, a good friend of Henry Kendall and Sir Henry Parkes. By coincidence, it was his grandfather, Henry, who signed the original Crown Grant in 1831 of Tanilba to Lieutenant William Caswell.
Henry’s Working Life Begins
Henry’s working life began in 1886 when he became a pupil surveyor to Arthur Stephen of Blue Gum Flat near Ourimbah on the Central Coast.
After gaining his license, Henry went into partnership with Arthur. Henry, now a qualified surveyor, decided to make property development his career. It seemed that he had a great flair for selling real estate.
Display – Portrait of a Businessman. Source: Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery.
Reality Realizations Established
Henry’s working life began in 1886 when he became a pupil surveyor to Arthur Stephen of Blue Gum Flat near Ourimbah on the Central Coast.
After gaining his license, Henry went into partnership with Arthur. Henry, now a qualified surveyor, decided to make property development his career. It seemed that he had a great flair for selling real estate.
Lithograph of Seaforth Estate by Henry F Halloran. Source: Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery.
Development of Seaforth
Seaforth – Henry’s original intention was to call it “Balfour” in honour of the British Prime Minister at the time. His wife suggested Seaforth, so he changed it. The central wide street, Allen Av,e was named after his son, who later became a prisoner of war in Singapore. Battle Avenue was named because he had to fight 5 battles with the former owner to have the boulevard opened. In Edgecliffe Avenue, he transferred a lot to his mother, upon which was built a house designed by his architect father.
Lithograph of Stanwell Park Estate by Henry F Halloran. Source: Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery.
Henry on the South Coast
Henry’s association with Stanwell Park began in 1907. He called it “The Gem of Australia’s Coast.” He believed it was destined to become the most selected and fashionable marine resort, not merely of Sydney but of the Commonwealth.
However, with the depression and slowing of land sales, Stanwell Park & Stanwell Tops were never really developed because of their isolation & difficult access. Some of Henry’s stonework can be seen there, a stone pillar (intended to be an entrance and part of a wider arrangement that was never added).
Lithograph of Avoca Estates by Henry F Halloran. Source: Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery.
Henry on the Central Coast
He then focused on acquiring land on the central coast at Avoca (1908), North Avoca, and Terrigal. At the same time, he was also subdividing an estate at Lithgow. Avoca Estate was sold to Halloran and Company, who arranged to subdivide it into farm blocks and township allotments. Henry built a bridge across the lake and built the original Avoca House, which was quite a modern affair, generating its own electricity. He then built the present oval, and also a very fine golf course and tennis courts.
Lithograph of Birmington Estate, Jervis Bay by Henry F Halloran. Source: Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery.
Henry Plans – Other Ambitious Subdivisions
Between 1915 and 1924, he planned a series of ambitious subdivisions at Jervis Bay, Pacific City, St Vincent City, Orient Point, Jervis Bay City, Wandandian, and Culburra.
Lithograph of Environa Queanbeyan by Henry F Halloran. Source: Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery
Premature Land Subdivisions
Henry Halloran’s idea of providing freehold residential sites, almost overlooking the capital city of Canberra, was a bold one, and he flamboyant nickname for such elegant slogans as “Canberra City is the stage and Environa Freehold the dress circle” and, “A capital idea, increase your capital by buying at the capital”, and “Everybody should have at least one block”.
The plan of Environa provided for over 1,700 blocks and included sites reserved for businesses, banks, theatres, recreation and parks. Blocks were advertised at small deposits and payment of 10 shillings each month for every 25 pounds of the purchase value, with terms extending over 5 years.
The design of Environa is not unlike the plans for Canberra, but the one feature of the plan, which would probably not endear it to Canberra’s workers, is the choice of quirky street names. What public servant would wish to return home from work to Clerk Crescent, Committee Avenue, Revenue Ellipse, Audit Crescent, Hansard Road or Committee Promenade?
Article Canberra Times, 11 Nov 2012.
Hopes & plans dashed
Henry’s hopes for Environa were blighted by the same shadow of the 1929 Depression that stiffled the growth of Canberra, and over the years, only the grass has grown.
This is the unfinished stonework of forgotten Environa, being called, “Canberra’s Stonehenge”. Another example of Henry’s stoneworks that now sit forlornly in a paddock near Canberra.
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