Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry Laurence Thomas DIVOLA (1913—1969) was my dad. He was born at home on Elizabeth St, SYDNEY, in 1913, near where Eddy Avenue intersects. He was a LEO. He was Educated at Sydney Tech High (when it was sited at Paddington, its present site is Bexley). His parents later on owned a two-storey semi plus attic in St John's Road Glebe (directly opposite Glebe Town Hall). Dad lived at this address whilst completing his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Sydney. He was one of only seven studying Architecture at that time under Prof Leslie Wilkinson. Dad's attic room was known as 'The Lighthouse of Glebe.'

From what mum told me over fifty years ago, dad worked for the housing commission of NSW and was responsible for designing the first car port! He later on worked for an Architectural firm called Phillip & Co and according to mum, it was whilst employed there that he designed the iconic Macleay Regis block of units on the curve where Wylde St becomes Macleay St in Potts Point.

Homes that I remember dad designing are at 28 Suttee Rd, Bellevue Hill; 17 Carbeen Ave St Ives; and 10 Tivoli Ave, Rose Bay. Dad designed lots of residences in Canberra. I remember our long drives to the A.C.T passing Anthony Horderns Tree, Collector, Lake George. I remember going to Lumby’s Night Club, downstairs in CIVIC, 1960, and having melted cheese on toast given to me by the owner, Peter Czech. Dad was a noble role model, he hardly ever spoke to me. My values came from observing his behaviour which was beyond reproach at all times, gee, what a decent man he was, never recognised for his ability to push architecture to the limits. 10 Tivoli Ave Rose Bay marks dad as an absolute genius. Dad’s study sat under a hyperbolic paraboloid roof. We actually lived in that home in 1962. Utzen’s Sydney Opera House came about thirteen years later! Dad designed the Goulburn Workers Club in 1961 to 1962 and I was with him at the official opening.

My memories of dad are of a modest, quiet, unassuming, decent person. He never raised his voice, never swore, humbly had his two BEX with a cup of tea every night, gave me wonderful books to read, would take me to the local oval to practice field-goals (whilst he read in the car), gave me a Rotring fountain pen (the envy of all my class mates) when I was fourteen…which I subsequently used throughout my Undergraduate years.

Dad never made a lot of money out of Architecture. He dies in his 55th year four days before my 16th Birthday, at home, with me by his side…He didn’t own the home…he had hardly any possessions…2 suits, ties, white shirts, Florsheim shoes, cheap socks, underwear, 2 Hawaiian shirts, 2 vests. He drove a basic Ford Falcon.

I can distinctly remember when I was fifteen and a very keen Rugby player, dad would cut the fat off his steak and eat it, so that I had a little extra protein from eating most of his portion of his steak! Silent way of saying he loved me.

Christmas of 1958 we had a few days holiday at the Hotel Cecil in Cronulla.

Dad enlisted into the Royal Australian Engineers during World War II. His serial number began with NX. He was demobbed at Kelso (outskirts of Bathurst, NSW).

After the war, he wrote two TRUTH HOME PLANS books…I believe that he made no money from these. I’d like to think that they were his gift to the Commonwealth and his fellow Australians. He never spoke of his war service.

When I was about five, he took us to a sheep station near Blayney and we styayed in the Shearer’s quarters…that was fun! (It was winter!!)

Well, goodbye for now dad, thanks for everything you did to make Australia a better place. I write this in my 70th year, perhaps we’ll meet again sooner than later.

Yours Sincerely

John.

13 October 2023

Uploaded on behalf of John Christopher Divola by Sam Player, 2 February 2024