Wests Archive would like to thank Tony McCarron for undertaking the primary research for George Duffin’s story.
George Duffin was born in the Sydney Suburb of Stanmore. His family lived at Albert Villa, in Harrington St Stanmore from the mid 1870’s until 1891. George’s father, Jack was a Customs Commission Agent with an office in King St Sydney.
The family moved to the Glebe area by 1893 and remained there until 1901. Their final address being Bellevue St Glebe. During this time Jack Duffin worked for the Customs Department as a Tide Waiter. A Tide Waiter boarded ships and inspected cargo to determine payable duties.
The Glebe locality is significant as an A Duffin was elected to the foundation committee of the Glebe Rugby Union Club in 1900. This was most likely George’s older brother Albert Boyne Duffin.
The connection with the Glebe area and the Glebe Rugby Union Club is interesting. George Duffin played rugby union with the Glebe rugby union team even after his parents had left the locality. During this period George’s older brothers were making their own homes. Richard Duffin was at Wentworth Park Rd Glebe in 1903, with Walter and Albert living at Ashfield by 1905.
George’s parents moved to Norton St Leichhardt in 1902 and electoral rolls record they were there until 1905. However George’s mother died in December 1903. Newspaper reports indicate that Jack and Henrietta Duffin were living at Ashfield at the time of her death.
It is likely that George’s parents moved to Ashfield late in 1903 which would explain how George was able to play cricket with the Leichhardt-Balmain club in the 1903-04 season but not thereafter.
George later played First Grade with the Western Suburbs rugby union club before moving on to the Ashfield Second Grade club in 1907. George was one of a number of Wests foundation players that came across from the Ashfield Rugby Union club to play rugby league in 1908.
The record indicates that George was a talented football and cricket player but he was not settled and found himself in trouble at one stage. This led him to Queensland which was a turning point in his life. He lived in Queensland from 1909 until 1913 before returning to Sydney in 1914.
George played in the very first rugby league match with Wests in 1908 and eventually played for Australia. He was one of three players that played in the inaugural year of the NSW rugby league and Queensland rugby league competitions.
George tragically lost his life at Hill 60, Gallipoli aged twenty nine.
Go to “READ MORE” ……….
One of the best four fullbacks – Brisbane Sun 1 September 1912
