b'Toxteth ParkAs George Allens legal practice flourished and his familyon the subject of learning to dance. I, for one, very much grew, he decided to move from the cottage in Elizabethdisapprove of it, since I think it is teaching that which Street, which served as both office and home, to a newvery much tends to lead young people astray I know the residence. In 1829 he engaged the highly regarded colonialdreadful consequences to which too often it leads How architect John Verge to design a new family home. Toxtethmany families have been ruined by balls and assemblies Park was built on a large estate in Glebe, comprising ahow many if they could retrieve their steps would shuntwo-storey building, chapel, orchard, cricket pitch andso pernicious a matter.several smaller homes. It was named after the London home of Sir Robert Wigram, who had shown George andUnlike his father, Wigram was quite partial to such his family such unwavering support. Although the estatedistractions. It was with both pleasure and acclaim that in has since been subdivided, many of the nearby streets 1881 he hosted Queen Victorias grandsons, seventeen-year- have been named after the Allen family.old Prince Albert (known as Edward) and his fifteen-year- old brother Prince George (later crowned King George V), who When George died in 1877 his eldest son, Wigram, becamewere visiting Sydney as midshipmen aboard HMS Bacchante. master of the house. Wigram quickly set about making it his own, extending the second storey to include a ballroom andThe original Toxteth Park family home still stands. In 1901 it more bedrooms, and adding a third storey and a towerwas purchased by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the additions unlikely to have met his fathers approval. GeorgeOrder of St Benedict and it is now used as a congregational had a particular aversion to dancing, writing in his diary incentre, with offices and the congregational archives.1836, At breakfast this morning we had some conversation The subdivision plans for Toxteth Park Estate show several streets named after the Allen family, including Arthur Street, Wigram Road and Boyce Street.30'