By Fiona Purcell
Nestled between the railway line and the rainforest in Austinmer stands Maxmar, a stately 85-year-old Art Deco home steeped in local history. Long shrouded in vegetation, its impressive façade is now on full display to be admired by passers-by. As I admire its architecture, I feel a sense of nostalgia and reflect on the memories created here when it became my husband’s childhood home. At the same time, I’m awestruck by its timeless elegance – its curved entrance steps, arched doorways and intricate decorative brickwork.
A dream home with landscaped and manicured gardens, Maxmar was built in 1939 by Sid and Stella Wearne, who named it after their children, Max and Margot. Sid, born in 1901, and Stella, born in 1902, had a lasting influence in Wollongong’s northern suburbs.
Sid, an engineer, was the general manager of Thirroul’s Newbold’s Brickworks, where the distinctive blonde bricks for Maxmar were made. Over his 42 years at the brickworks (now McCauley’s Beach Estate), Sid helped transform it into a cornerstone of the local economy. In recognition of his contributions, he and Stella were invited to attend a luncheon with Queen Elizabeth II during her 1954 royal tour.
Rene Tummers, a former worker at Newbold’s Brickworks, shared hearing stories of Sid’s generosity. “Sid encouraged the use of Newbold’s resources for many local projects,” Rene recalled. “Plant employees often lent their time and skills to produce wooden rocking horses and other toys for local children in need or those in hospitals.”
Stella Wearne was equally devoted to her community. Before marrying Sid, she managed a Thirroul boarding house, while her father owned a grocery store on the corner of Ocean and McCauley streets. Stella was a talented bridge and euchre player, often winning local competitions. She was a member of the Thirroul and Austinmer branches of the Red Cross Society, serving as treasurer and organising fundraisers for World War II prisoners of war, returned servicemen, and residents affected by floods and bushfires.
In 1958, Stella passed away. Sid poured himself into community service. His own challenges – including two car accidents in 1943 and 1944 that left him with a compound fracture of the same leg – seemed to deepen his empathy and determination. His experiences as a patient at Coledale Hospital may have inspired him to join its Board of Directors in 1948. He later became president, championing efforts to enhance its facilities.
Sid’s leadership extended to Bulli Hospital, where he served as president for nearly two decades. Under his stewardship, the hospital acquired the most advanced X-ray machine in NSW at the time.
In recognition of his contributions, the hospital’s 1969 extension was named the Sid Wearne Block.
His commitment to supporting the health and well-being of the elderly also led him to help establish the Illawarra Retirement Trust. Now known as IRT, it serves more than 8000 people across NSW, Queensland and the ACT. In 1976,
a retirement village in Farrell Road, Bulli was named Sid Wearne Court to honour his efforts.
Hearing from Sid’s granddaughter, Jenny Bignill-Williams, deepened my appreciation for him. “My grandfather was an incredible and selfless man,” she said. “He worked tirelessly for his community and family. He was also an amazing Gramps to his four grandchildren.”
Sid was also a founding member of the Thirroul Bowling Club – he oversaw the establishment of its first green and clubhouse in 1936. He served as club president for 11 years and also held leadership roles in Thirroul Surf Club, Wollongong Rotary, and the NSW Freemasons.
In 1982, at the age of 81, Sid was named Wollongong Citizen of the Year, a fitting tribute to a lifetime of service. Two years later, he passed away. His memorial service, held at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, was attended by the Lord Mayor of Wollongong and many others.
“It broke our hearts,” Jenny said of his death. “So many people came to pay their respects and celebrate his selfless work.”
Sid's ashes are interned at the Wollongong Memorial Gardens.
The Wearne family eventually sold Maxmar to the Purcell-Mitchell family. My mother-in-law, Carol Mitchell – a geologist and teacher – fondly referred to it as her “Tumbledown Mansion”. Over the next 40 years, the house became her sanctuary, surrounded by a dense, private rainforest that she nurtured.
For my husband and his family, it was home. Now, following Carol’s death and with the declining health of her husband Alan, the house is again being sold.
Standing outside Maxmar today, after more than a year of preparing it for sale, I feel its rich history all around me. But it’s more than a house – it’s a monument to a family whose contributions shaped our community. Uncovering the Wearnes’ story has been an honour, and I hope that Maxmar’s next chapter will continue to reflect their legacy.
