Monteith

Who could have imagined the stories whispered within these walls? Here at Monteith, a grand two-story brick residence on Glebe Point Road, echoes of laughter and sorrow, celebration and loss, intertwine. Monteith isn’t just a building. It’s a time capsule holding the lives of the Cotter family, particularly their son, the renowned Australian cricketer, “Tibby” Cotter. Built around 1890, Monteith became home to John Henry Cotter, his wife Margaret, and their six sons. The family occupied this Federation Queen Anne style home until the 1930s. The house, nestled within a once expansive garden, witnessed countless family dinners, often celebrating Tibby’s cricketing triumphs. But joy and sorrow often walk hand in hand. Tibby, a stretcher bearer for the Australian Light Horse, met a tragic end in the Charge at Beersheba in 1917. Two other Cotter sons also perished in World War I, and two more died in accidents. This house, filled with the warmth of family life, also bore witness to their profound grief. Margaret, known for her artistic flair and the soft, unconventional color palette she chose for Monteith, remained in the house after her husband’s death in 1922. She lived here with her sister and two surviving sons until the 1930s. After Margaret’s passing, the house was sold, eventually becoming a nursing training college and later part of the College of the Arts. Over the years, Monteith saw its grounds subdivided, buildings erected and demolished, and its rear garden transformed. Yet, the house itself, though bearing the marks of time, endures. Today, Monteith stands on a much smaller plot, its original garden a mere fraction of its former glory. A swimming pool now occupies the space where stables and sheds once stood. But look closely. The curving brick path in the rear yard, the mature fig, and the nearby palm are whispers of the past. They are reminders of a time when children played on the lawns and a family gathered for celebrations. As you stand here, before this grand old house, imagine the lives lived within its walls. Hear the echoes of Tibby’s laughter and the quiet sorrow of a mother’s loss. Monteith is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a testament to the enduring power of family, memory, and the stories etched into the very fabric of a place.