16th November 1827 – Cunningham’s house comes close to destruction

On this day, 16th November 1827, a letter from John Eyre appeared in The Sydney Gazette reporting that the house of Allan Cunningham’s neighbour Mr Mongomery in Marsden Street, occupied by Mr George, burned down. Mr Cunningham’s house, on the westside, adjoining the ruined house, was in danger but was saved by his neighbours, Messrs Walker, Moore, White and Smith. ¹

Mr Eyre wrote:

Sir, On Monday last a fire broke out, about 1 P.M. on the premises of Mr. Montgomery, in Marsden Street, occupied by Mr. George, the whole of which was consumed. The west side of said premises, join the premises tenanted by A. Cunningham, Esq where stand, a stable, cart-house, &c.; close to these the fire broke out, and greatly endangered not only these, but the whole of the buildings on the premises occupied by Mr. Cunningham, but through the prompt assistance, and persevering efforts of some of my neighbours, the said stable, &c. now stands, having received very inconsiderable damage. It is through the medium of your Paper, Sir, I avail myself of expressing my very grateful sensation of the obligations I am under, for the unsolicited, but, very acceptable, and beneficial exertions of my friends; namely, Mr. J. Smith, architect, Mr. Fulton, Mr Moore, Mr. Walker, wheelright, Mr. White, Mr. Smith and apprentices; and others whose names I am not in possession of. These exertions, Sir, have made a considerable impression on my mind, not only from a consideration of my escaping a very serious loss myself, but also, from a conviction, that had my premises fallen a prey to the furious element, at a time when the wind blew a gale, some of my neighbours might have been deprived of house and home; but through a kind Providence, by the instrumentality of my friends’ exertions, these evils have been prevented from being a source of distress to those whose fears must have been excited to a great degree. I again beg my friends, that have been the instruments of preventing these misfortunes, to accept my unfeigned and grateful acknowledgments. I request that those Gentlemen, the Military Officers, who were present, and manifested a willingness to assist by their advice, and who were pleased to place a guard on the premises, during the time of the devastation, to accept my very humble and sincere thanks for the interest they took in the affair. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, JOHN EYRE, Parramatta, Nov. 14, 1827.

The Sydney Gazette 16th November 1827

1. “Classified Advertising” The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 – 1842) 16 November 1827: 3. Web. 16 May 2020 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2189377>[↩]