Thursday, May 28, 2015

Elizabeth Bay House - Elizabeth Bay - Sydney - New South Wales

Elizabeth Bay House - Elizabeth Bay - New South Wales

Elizabeth Bay House, built in the 1830s for Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay, is among Sydney’s finest surviving Regency / Greek Revival houses. Its once-extensive gardens were subdivided, yet the white-stone villa remains a landmark of Elizabeth Bay. This post gathers historic views of the house together with notes on Macleay, architect John Verge, and later conservation.

Elizabeth Bay House, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney — historic exterior and setting view.

10 things you may not have known about Elizabeth Bay House

1. It was built between 1835 and 1839 in the Regency architectural style and was originally surrounded by a 22-hectare garden in what was then the fashionable suburb of Woolloomooloo Hill. The area has evolved into the densely populated suburb of Elizabeth Bay.

2. The rooms, sweeping staircase and lavish furnishings reveal the tastes of its original owner, Alexander Macleay, the one-time Colonial Secretary of New South Wales. Magnificent gardens expressed his passion for the natural world, but the downturn of the 1840s ushered him towards financial ruin.

3. Macleay arrived in Sydney from England in January 1826 with his wife, Eliza, nine of ten surviving children, and his extensive entomological collection. At the time, he possessed the finest and most extensive collection of any private individual in England.

4. Architect John Verge produced a design for a splendid “marine villa” in the Greek Revival style, which was at its peak of popularity then.

5. A nearby grotto with accompanying stone walls and steps, plus several trees, are all that remain of the original extensive garden. It held Macleay’s considerable native and exotic plant collection, an orchard and kitchen garden.

6. The main axis of the house is aligned with the winter solstice. Though no documents are known to discuss this feature, it is not likely to be an accident.

7. For the remainder of the 19th century and well into the 20th century, Elizabeth Bay House had a chequered history, with the property being subdivided. The gardens were reduced to a small fragment. The house became home for a succession of tenants, including many artists.

8. In 1961 the National Trust started to list and publicise important historic places. Elizabeth Bay House was one of the first 50 places named.

9. In 1977 the house was extensively restored and refurbished, initially so it could become the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Sydney. Later Elizabeth Bay House became one of the first properties acquired by the Historic Houses Trust.

10. The property was used as the setting for a Jessica Mauboy music video in 2010.

3. Macleay Arrived In Sydney From England In January 1826, With His Wife Eliza, Nine Of Ten Surviving Children, And His Extensive Entomological Collection. At The Time, He Possessed The Finest And Most Extensive Collection Of Any Private Individual In England.

4. Architect John Verge Produced A Design For A Splendid "Marine Villa" In The Greek Revival Style, Which Was At Its Peak Of Popularity Then.

5. A Nearby Grotto With Accompanying Stone Walls And Steps, Plus Several Trees, Are All That Remain Of The Original Extensive Garden. It Held Macleay's Considerable Native And Exotic Plant Collection, An Orchard And Kitchen Garden.

6. The Main Axis Of The House Is Aligned With The Winter Solstice. Though No Documents Are Known To Discuss This Feature, It Is Not Likely To Be An Accident.

7. For The Remainder Of The 19th Century And Well Into The 20th Century, Elizabeth Bay House Had A Chequered History. With The Property Being Subdivided. THE gardens Were Reduced To A Small Fragment. The House Became Home For A Succession Of Tenants, Including Many Artists.

8. In 1961 The National Trust Started To List And Publicise Important Historic Places. Elizabeth Bay House Was One Of The First 50 Places Named.

9. In 1977, The House Was Extensively Restored And Refurbished, Initially So It Could Become The Official Residence Of The Lord Mayor Of Sydney. Later Elizabeth Bay House Became One Of The First Properties Acquired By The Historic Houses Trust

10. THE property Was Used As The Setting For A Jessica Mauboy Music Video In 2010

Elizabeth Bay House, Elizabeth Bay — historic view; the subject is not further labelled on the file.

“A few days ago I saw one of the most perfect places I ever saw in my life.”
Mrs Robert Lowe wrote to her mother in 1842.

“The drive to the house is cut through rocks covered with the splendid wild shrubs and flowers of this country. Here and there an immense primeval tree. The house is built of white stone and looks like a nobleman’s place. In the garden are the plants of every climate from Rio to the West and East Indies, China and even England. Bulbs from the Cape and beautiful roses are to be seen. Oranges, lemons, citrons, guavas and pomegranates are in full bloom.”

But there were drawbacks to the garden of Elizabeth Bay House, home of Alexander Macleay, Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, as seen through the eyes of an English woman accustomed to soft greenness. It was too dry; the plants grew out of sandy white soil. “A few English showers,” she observed, “would improve it.”

Macleay’s domain was 54 acres and was the wonder of the colony. The land had come to him in 1828 as a grant from Governor Darling, who respected his knowledge as a naturalist and horticulturalist. Macleay completed Elizabeth Bay House in 1837, but lived there only nine years.

His heirs used pistols and bloodhounds to guard the treasures of the garden against despoilers. But in the long run there was no defence against land hunger. A great slice of the garden was sold in 1875, and the rest of the estate was cut up in 1927.

Today, a few yards of earth are the only setting left for one of the finest examples of Regency architecture in Sydney.

"The Drive To The House Is Cut Through Rocks Covered With The Splendid Wild Shrubs And Flowers Of This Country. Here And There An Immense Primevil Tree. The House Is Built Of White Stone And Looks Like A Nobleman's Place. In The Garden Are The Plants Of Every Climate From Rio To The West And East Indies, China And Even England. Bulbs From The Cape And Beautiful Roses Are To Be Seen. Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, Guavas And Pomegranites Are in Full Bloom"
But There Were Drawbacks To the Garden Of Elizabeth Bay House, Home Of Alexander Macleay, Colonial Secretary Of New South Wales, As Seen Through the Eyes of An English Woman Accustomed To Soft Greeness. it Was Too Dry; The Plants Grew out of Sandy White Soil. "A few English Showers" She Observed "Would Improve It."
Macleay's Domain Was 54 Acres And Was The Wonder Of the Colony.
The Land Had Come To Him In 1828 As A grant From Governor Darling, Who Respected his Knowledge As A Naturalist And Horticulturalist. Macleay Completed Elizabeth Bay House In 1837, But Lived There Only 9 Years.
His Heirs Used Pistols & Bloodhounds To Guard The Treasures Of the Garden Against Despoilers. But In The Long Run There Was no Defence Against Land Hunger.
A Great Slice Of the Garden Was Sold In 1875; And The Rest Of The Estate Was Cut Up In 1927.
Today.... A Few Yards Of Earth Are the Only Setting Left For One Of The Finest Examples Of Regency Architecture in Sydney...

Elizabeth Bay House, Elizabeth Bay — historic photograph from the IMG 2584 file; the subject is not further labelled beyond the house theme.

Elizabeth Bay House, Elizabeth Bay — historic photograph from the IMG 2583 file; the subject is not further labelled beyond the house theme.

Search This Blog