Ventnor, Randwick

George Kiss arrived in Sydney as a migrant who had been born in Warwickshire, England. He established successful businesses very quickly. Later he entered politics, becoming Mayor of Randwick, the oldest municipality in Sydney after the City of Sydney itself.

Kiss built his home in Randwick in c. 1870, creating a two-storey, Georgian house of Sydney sandstone. He called it Ventnor, most probably after the town Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, England. Situated on what is now Avoca Street, the house faced east to take advantage of the views to the ocean. In spite of its Georgian character, the house featured Victorian detailing in its cast-iron columns and various sash windows. The main entrance, situated on the east side of the house, featured a six-paneled door and a fanlight. On the west side of the house, facing Avoca Street, a single-storey wing was created.

Kiss died 13 August 1882. Two days later, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Kiss had died in Ventnor on the previous Sunday. It described how he had made himself prominent in Sydney by his untiring energy and business capacity, laying the foundations of his businesses soon after arriving in the colony. He had gone on to become Mayor of Randwick and was still an alderman of Randwick at his death.[5]

Ventnor was eventually acquired by the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, situated just south of the house. It is used as a community centre by groups such as GROW.

• 
  Ventnor, north side
• 
  Windows on the north side of the house

• List of heritage houses in Sydney