Arthur Bennett Lewis
25 Rosedale Street

Arthur Bennett Lewis Last month’s newsletter mentioned Arthur Lewis. More information has since come to light from his neighbour, Wally McLean. 21 Hammersmith Street is where Arthur Bennett Lewis (1920 – 2013) lived with his wife Pearl. They built the house in 1941. Next door at number 19 was the very first house in Hammersmith Street, built by his parents John and Alice Lewis in about 1900. They were the first of the early settlers to buy land and build a humpy in 1996 in the subdivision of the Soden’s large block, on the corner of Hammersmith and Orange Grove Road. They used Stable Swamp Creek nearby to wash their clothes. After Arthur and Pearl died, Beverly and Keith Wardle lived next door to Wally. Apparently Arthur helped build Wall’s Farmhouse adjoining the property on Nyleta Street.

Wally

Arthur and Pearl Lewis’s home today

25 Rosedale Street This now derelict house in front of Coopers Plains railway station was built in around 1905 and probably belonged to a wealthy family. Contrary to some rumours, it wasn’t the station masters’ office, according to owner Dennis Weisz, which was on the other side of the rail line. Born 1954, Dennis had a battle with Council to stop heritage listing during Lord Mayor Jim Soorely’s tenure.

Events

Coopers Plains History Group Monthly Meeting

Saturday 19th of July at 4pm
Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room (at the back)
All welcome. Please RSVP by by commenting on this post below (if you can’t see the comment field, click the heading above). The Coopers Plains Library Meeting Room is booked every 3rd Saturday at 4pm for us to meet.

Moorooka History Group Monthly Meeting

Saturday 2nd of August at 10am
St Brendan’s Church (entrance at the left hand side)
Hawtree Street, Moorooka
Please RSVP to confirm venue by text to Barbara on 0422 287 425. The Moorooka History Group meets 1st Saturday at 10am. https://coopersplainshistory.bshn.org/moorooka-history-group/