|
| |
George Todman
by Cathy Jones
George Todman, an early resident of
Strathfield, has often been mentioned in previous newsletters of the
Strathfield District Historical Society, though not in great detail. Though
he died in 1924, his name is still prominent in Strathfield as Todman Avenue
and Todman Reserve are named for him.
George Todman and members of his family were influential and highly
prominent in Strathfield’s history from the late 1880’s to the 1930’s.
George Todman was a wealthy tobacco merchant establishing a City based
business in partnership with Wilheim von der Heyde. Though Todman never held
political office, von der Heyde served on the first Strathfield Council and
was the second Mayor of Strathfield.
The 1888 Adeline Centennial History features a short entry on Heyde & Todman
Tobacco Merchants:
HEYDE, TODMAN, AND CO., Importers and Tobacco Merchants, 51 York Street. The
business of which these gentlemen are the proprietors was established in
1875, and is a wholesale house of great importance. The firm are connected
with the leading tobacco manufacturers in Richmond, Virginia, and are the
agents for the most prominent manufacturers of cigars in Havana, Island of
Cuba, from which places the choicest brands of tobacco and cigars are
constantly imported by them. Representatives are always visiting the
Australian colonies as well as the mother colony of New South Wales to
enable the firm to freely disseminate their importations. William Von Der
Heyde was born in Germany, his partner George Frederick Todman, being a
native of London.
Todman and Heyde built large mansions in Albert Rd called ‘Milroy’ and
‘Elwood House’ respectively. Both have been demolished and Strathfield Girls
High is built on this site. Both houses were much photographed and subject
of many contemporary articles.
The partnership between Heyde and Todman, however, came to an abrupt halt
with the early death of Wilheim von der Heyde in 1896.
Todman was noted for his community and philanthropic involvements,
particularly in Strathfield. He was a Congregationalist and partly financed
the building of the Homebush-Strathfield Congregational Church [now Sydney
Korean Parish] on the corner of Albert and Homebush Roads. His son-in-law
architect Charles Slatyer, the son of a Congregational Minister, was
Secretary of this Church for many years. Examples of his many acts of
philanthropy are noted in his obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald [which
is reproduced in this newsletter] including the building of the Mildred Hope
Todman Wing of the Western Suburbs Cottage Hospital at Burwood Heights,
dedicated to his daughter who died at a young age.
Todman was also active in land and property development in Strathfield and
other areas of Sydney, most notably Kensington, where he developed the
Todman estate. Todman Avenue in Kensington is named for him.
George Todman’s obituary notes that he was not involved in local government.
Todman himself never served in an elected capacity on Strathfield, however
both his son Charles Todman and son-in-law Walter Buzacott served as
Aldermen. However, it is apparent that Todman occupied an influential
position in local community matters.
Most of Todman’s children settled in Strathfield and many of their houses
were designed by Todman’s son-in-law, architect Charles Slatyer. A previous
newsletter stated that Todman reputedly financed and built residences upon
their marriages.
The children of George Todman and their residences
in Strathfield:
- Charles Ingram Todman [d.1958] lived at ‘Virginia’ Redmyre Road Strathfield.
Todman was a merchant and served on Strathfield Council as an Alderman. His
wife Phyllis died in 1963. ‘Virginia’ was later the home of Australian Prime
Minister Frank Forde from 1937 to 1946.
- Gladys Todman [d.1963] married Dr Reginald Whiteman [d.1963]. They built
‘Cheriton’ 18-20 Kingsland Rd Strathfield.
- Mildred Hope Todman [1881-1922] married Walter Verney Buzacott [1877-1950].
Buzacott was the son of Walter Sewell Buzacott [d.1916] of ‘Buzacott’s’, a
prominent ships chandlery and hardware firm. The Buzacott’s built and lived
at ‘Winkurra’ 15 Florence Street Strathfield.
- Elsie Todman married architect Charles Henry Slatyer [d.1919] and built
‘Carminya’ 25 Homebush Road Strathfield.
- Dorothy Todman married Arnold Mullens. The house ‘Inglethorpe’ Redmyre Road
was designed by Charles Slatyer.
George Todman Obituary - Sydney Morning Herald 9 August 1924, page 6.
A leading personality in the business world of the city was removed by
the death of Mr George Frederick Todman, which occurred yesterday at his
residence, Milroy Strathfield.
The late Mr Todman who was 72 years of age, arrived in Sydney from London,
where he was born, when a boy and in many directions he was associated with
the remarkable growth of the city during the intervening years. As a boy he
entered the tobacco business, becoming an employee of Messrs Sutton and Co.,
George Street. It was there that he gained his first experience and his
business acumen was such that with the passing of the years he rose to be a
director of the British-Australasian Tobacco Company Proprietary Limited, a
position he held at the time of his death. He remained with Messrs Sutton
and Co for some years and in 1875 he entered into partnership with the late
Mr William Heyde, father of the present manager of Messrs WD and HO Wills,
and Mr Todman became managing director of that firm. Later he retired from
the active managership and became a director of the British-Australasian
Tobacco Co. Proprietary Ltd. He had many other business interests and was
also a director of the Australian Bank of Commerce and Australian Paper and
Pulp Co. Ltd, which has its head office in Melbourne. It was this company
that acquired the business of the Sydney Paper Mills at Botany.
Mr Todman’s activities outside the business concerns with which he was
associated were not of an extensive nature. He was of retiring disposition –
a man who inevitably shunned publicity of any kind. He entertained
extensively in his own home an intimate circle of friends, and was regarded
as an ideal host. He never sought political honours, nor was he at any time
directly associated with municipal government. He was a member of the New
South Wales Club, but sporting organisations seemed to have had little
appeal for him. At one time he was a bowler, but he did not take
enthusiastically even to that part time. He was, however, fond of motoring,
and had a magnificent week-end home at Port Hacking.
It will be for his munificent gifts for hospitals that Mr Todman’s memory
will live but the full extent of his generosity in that connection will
never be known, as so many of his substantial gifts were made anonymously.
His known gifts include £20,000 for the erection of a new wing at the
Western Suburbs Cottage Hospital, upwards of £5000 for the Children’s
Hospital, £2000 for the Queen Victoria’s Home for Consumptives and, recently
£1000 for the Herbert Maitland Memorial at the Sydney Hospital. Not long
ago, in England, he contributed £10,000 for cancer research. His keen
interest in hospitals and the care of the sick was a notable trait in his
character.
As was natural for a man of Mr. Todman’s business capacity, he had dealings
in real estate, and his purchase many years ago, of what is known as the
Kensington Estate, an extensive area between the Kensington and Victoria
Park racecourses, he displayed remarkable foresight, and exhibited the faith
he had in the future growth of Sydney. Todman Avenue runs through the
estate, the purchase of which constituted one of the largest land deals in
Sydney for many years. Practically the whole of the estate has now been
sold, portion of it to the tobacco companies which erected big factories
there.
Mr Todman lived in the same house at Strathfield for over 40 years. He had
been identified with the Homebush Congregational Church ever since it was
founded 35 years ago, and was its greatest benefactor. His gifts to the
church include an organ at a cost of £750, and in other directions he has
assisted it generously. He had travelled a great deal, having visited Europe
on several occasions.
Mr Todman leaves a widow, a daughter of the late Mr W Moore, storekeeper of
Armidale, two sons and five daughters. The sons are Messrs C I Todman and R
J Todman, both are whom connected with the Australian Paper and Pulp
Company, the former being a resident director in Melbourne. The daughters
are Mesdames Charles H Slatyer, R J Whiteman, R Francis, Arnold Mullins, and
J Curruthers, all of Sydney. Another daughter, whose death occurred some
time ago, was the wife of Mr W Buzacott.
The funeral will leave for the late residence of the deceased, Milroy,
Albert Road, Strathfield at 10.15 and will proceed by motor service to the
Congregational section of the Rookwood Cemetery.
© Cathy Jones 2005
|