90 years since John Henry Lutge drowned in Sydney Harbour - 2 February 1929

From an early age, I knew that John Henry Lutge, my great-grandfather, had been drowned in the bombora off Dobroyd Point opposite Balmoral Beach.  Growing up in Mosman, Balmoral was our local beach and the story was repeated many times by my mother, Beryl.  She was only 10 months old when her grandfather died.  

This event appears to have changed the life of the Lutge family.  John Henry's wife, Matilda, sold the family home at 84 Gerard Street, Cremorne, within two years of John Henry's death and lived with her daughter, Helene, and granddaughters.  Helene's husband, Elton Phillips, died in August 1930.  The extended family lived at Northbridge and later Willoughby.

John Henry and Matilda's oldest surviving son, Cliff, lived with his family at Roseville.  The youngest son (my grandfather), Kelvin, lived with his family at 82 Gerard Street, Cremorne.

My mother had no memory of meeting Matilda, her grandmother, her uncle or aunt or their families.  I knew my grandfather's cousins, Mag and Irene Lutge, who lived in Bond Street, Mosman until they were very old ladies.  Maybe one of the reasons I'm so interested in family history is thinking back to my mother's comments and her questioning what happened in the family.  Kelvin died in 1964 - it was a big loss in our family...he was very much loved.

I've been fortunate over the last couple of years to meet descendants of Cliff and Helene.  All grew up knowing the story about the death off Dobroyd Point although some of the details were missing.  We're so fortunate to have a photo of John Henry as a young man and then with Matilda and Helene at 84 Gerard Street in later years.

Click HERE to read our earlier post about John Henry.