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The Hordern dynasty

Anthony Hordern & Sons was one of Sydney’s biggest retail companies for almost a century.

 

This family-run business had its beginnings in a small drapery shop opened in 1823 by Mrs Ann Hordern, who migrated to Australia from London with her husband, Anthony Hordern. The family moved to Melbourne about 15 years later, but in 1844, their son, Anthony Hordern II, and his brother Lebbeus returned to Sydney to start a drapery business of their own. The business did well, moving into larger Haymarket premises in 1856. By 1869, Anthony II’s sons, Anthony III and Samuel had joined the firm to create Anthony Hordern & Sons.

Anthony Hordern and Sons: Exteriors of department store, building construction work and factories, 1901-1938
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In 1865, Anthony II commissioned architect Edmund Blacket to design a villa for himself and his family in Darling Point. Retford Hall was named after Ann Hordern’s birthplace in England.

Darling Point remained home to members of the Hordern family for many years, although they also owned properties across Sydney and in country New South Wales. Hordern family life is captured in several bulging family photographic albums, which include images of people, animals, homes and holiday snaps.

"While I live,
I’ll grow"

Hordern family motto

During the 1870s business boomed. In 1906 Samuel Hordern built the New Palace Emporium in Brickfield Hill (after the previous building burnt down). It was a purpose-built super department store covering a whole block, on the current site of World Square in George Street, Sydney. The store dominated almost a whole city block with entrances on George, Pitt and Goulburn Streets and was known as ‘The Senior Store’. 

Samuel’s son Sir Samuel Hordern II took over the business after his father’s death in 1909.

The Hordern company motto, was ‘While I live, I’ll grow’, and the company’s ambition was to be ‘universal providers’. Whatever the shopper needed, they could buy at Hordern’s. The company also ran factories at sites across Sydney, producing items as diverse as pressed metal ceilings, clothing and baked goods. Their distinctive catalogues, covered in red cloth, were produced to the highest standard, and allowed Hordern & Sons to dominate not only walk-in trade but also the mail order country market.

Sir Samuel built his own Darling Point villa in 1912. Called Babworth House, it was erected on the site of Mount Adelaide, formerly owned by Henry Mort. It was designed by architects Morrow and DePutron.

Anthony Hordern & Sons remained major players in the Australian retail market until the second half of the twentieth century and the ‘Senior Store’ dominated Sydney’s cityscape until it was finally demolished in 1987.

Retford Hall

About this item: 
Commissioned by Anthony Hordern II, Retford Hall was named after his mother’s birthplace in England, Retford. The grounds were subdivided extensively in the first half of the twentieth century, although the house itself remained the property of the Horderns until it was sold in 1967 and demolished to make way for a block of flats.
[Retford Hall, residence for] A Hordern Esq., Darling Point / [architect Edmund T. Blacket]
[1866]
Edmund Thomas Blacket
Digital ID: 
a538001
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About this item: 
Designed by Edmund Blacket in 1865 for leading merchant Anthony Hordern, 'Retford Hall' was one of the most imposing of Darling Point's mansions. It was later demolished in 1967 -- Curator Notes, Frederick Garling exhibition, 2003.
[View of Retford Hall, Darling Point, Sydney / watercolour by Frederick Garling]
ca. 1866
Frederick Garling
Digital ID: 
a128259
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Hordern family photographs

The Hordern family photographic collections contain many images of the family enjoying life at Retford Hall in Darling Point, Retford Park at Bowral and on outings and holidays. The selection below showcases Retford Hall, including the stables, fowl yards and laundry yard.

Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639001
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Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639002
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Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639005
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Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639004
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Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639003
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Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639007
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Photographic souvenirs [Hordern family album, ca. 1898-1908]
ca. 1898-1908
Hordern family
Digital ID: 
a2639003
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Babworth House

About this item: 

Built for retail giant Sir Samuel Hordern in 1912, the house was described by the New South Wales Heritage Office as 'one of the finest and most intact examples of an early 20th century grand house in Australia'. Babworth House was built on the original site of Mount Adelaide, granted to William MacDonald in 1833. Mount Adelaide was later owned by Henry Mort.

Plan of residence, Darling Point for Samuel Hordern Esq., 1912 / Morrow & Deputron, architects
1912
Digital ID: 
a2286002
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Plan of residence, Darling Point for Samuel Hordern Esq., 1912 / Morrow & Deputron, architects
1912
Digital ID: 
a2286003
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Plan of residence, Darling Point for Samuel Hordern Esq., 1912 / Morrow & Deputron, architects
1912
Digital ID: 
a2286004
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Made possible through a partnership with Belinda Hutchinson AM & Roger Massy-Greene