Mr & Mrs George’s Beautiful Home

Edgar Thomas George was a building contractor based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. In the 1930s he won tenders for the construction of a variety of buildings across the city. In a 1939 edition of “Construction” magazine, he was included in short profiles of “personalities in the building industry”.¹

By 1946 George’s business had relocated to the Mid North Coast, being awarded the tender for the construction of seventeen houses at Taree for the Housing Commission.²

George quickly re-established a thriving business, winning tenders for several substantial developments. These included a guesthouse, “Bridgecourt” (subsequently renamed the “Agincourt Motel” and, more recently, “Jones”) in Commerce Street, a new building in Pulteney Street for the RSL, together with additional dwellings for the Housing Commission and building works on “Taree Aboriginal Station” at Purfleet.³

However, it was a smaller scale development which attracted the attention of “Home Beautiful” magazine.⁴

In the August 1954 edition, Mr and Mrs George’s own house in High Street, Taree⁵ was profiled as an example of the latest style, showcasing internal features designed by his wife, Leila.⁶ It was featured together with an adjoining development of “cottage flats” designed by young architect, John Granger, to whom George was related by marriage.

(The house has since been demolished and the site redeveloped).

Author: Penny Teerman