Sorrento House 1907
A paradise of “nice sandy beaches, virgin rich soils ….. ideal for fishing, weekend pleasure parties, holiday making, fruit growers and poultry farmers… An ideal health and pleasure resort.” That was the advertising in the Sydney papers in 1905 for the Sorrento Estate (later to be renamed Empire Bay), a subdivision on the edges of Cockle Creek, created by that flamboyant developer, Arthur Rickard.
One of the first to purchase land was William Huggart, who purchased 13 acres along Sorrento Road and Gordon Road. Including Lot 1 (now known as 9 & 11 Sorrento Road). On Lot 1 Huggart built a grand “boarding house”, which he named Sorrento House and completed sometime in 1907. Sorrento House became one of the landmarks for this new holiday area. Access to Empire Bay was by ferry and, like other such establishments that sprung up with the coming of the railway, Sorrento House was advertised as having regular ferry services from Woy Woy.
Huggart’s application to the Postmaster General was accepted and by June 1908 the area had its new name Empire Bay and its own Postal Receiving Office, a small office built on the end of Sorrento House.
In 1910, Charles Swinbourne and family moved to Empire Bay, leased Sorrento House, and took over the Postmaster position. The Swinbourne family lived in Sorrento House for 2 years until Swinbourne built his own general store and post office nearby, and February 1912 moved out of Sorrento House. The move upset Huggart who by now had retired, with his wife, in Hazelbrook. During his attempt to sort things out Huggart caught the train to Woy Woy and as reported in The Gosford Times, in boarding the ferry to Empire Bay he “slipped and fell between the wharf and the boat. In the fall Mr Huggart’s chin struck the sponson and his neck was dislocated. He died soon afterwards.” No records survived to explain what happened next, but Swinbourne continued his moved to his new post office and corner store, and Mrs Huggart retained Sorrento House and the 13 acres until 1923 when she sold the property to 2 Sydney investors. Their clear intensions were to further subdivide and sell the properties. Sorrento House was now vacant. April 1924, Gosford Times, advertises an auction of all the furniture from Sorrento House, and over the next few years it appears Sorrento House was empty and a place for social functions, like a temporary community hall.
Gosford Times September 1924:
A very happy little function took place at Empire Bay on Saturday night in Sorrento House, when over 60 people assembled to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs Bell and family from Sunnyside. The function took the form of a social evening. The hours were whiled away in a very enjoyable manner in dancing, games, pianoforte and vocal items, which were all duly appreciated. Mr and Mrs Bell will leave for Armadale.”
Gosford Times November 1927: “The annual meeting of the Empire Bay Progress Association was held in Sorrento House on Saturday. Over 80 people attended to enjoy the evenings fun, visitors from Kincumber, Sunnyside and Davistown being well in evidence.”
In 1929, Sorrento House was brought by a newly married local, Harry Davies and his sister Olive Settree. Harry was a shipwright and a wharf builder, skilful with the saw. Harry disassembled Sorrento House and as reported in the Gosford Times April 1930, used the material to “erect two up to date and commodious cottages, which enhances the appearances in value of these particular surroundings.”. In 1957 Harry and Olive subdivided the block so each cottage was on its own title.
These 2 cottages became number 9 and number 11 Sorrento Road. Photographs (1980’s) of the cottages, show the same facia, floor plans and weatherboards as the original Sorrento House. Harry lived in number 9 with his wife Doris until his death 1968. In the early 2000’s, number 9 was subject to a strata plan, and number 11 was demolished for the new home that is there today.
Sources: Trove and Gosford Times, Stephen Ford, NSW Lands Department Records Office, Louise Williams LAW Building Design, Gosford Library, Gosford and Central Coast Sketch Book, Revitt & Strom and Ken Bergin.
Sorrento House (1911) showing the Post Office attached to the left-hand side of the house. The Swinbourne family leased Sorrento House from Mr Huggart until they built their own Post Office and general store nearby. Photograph shows (from the left) Mrs Swinbourne, daughter Thelma, Mr Charles Swinbourne, son James and nursemaid Ethelean Radcliff.
Number 11 Sorrento Road (2003) note the similar facia, window covers and floor plan.