Gem Of The Harbour

History WalkGem of the Harbour IntroductionA walking tour of Kurraba Point This walking tour will take you through the built environment of this unique foreshore landscapeDistance: 3.3 Km that includes fine examples of federation and inter-war houses, as well as apartment buildings,Approximate time: 3 hours former boarding houses, guesthouses and private hotels. Along the walk you will also viewGrading: low to medium evidence of early industrial heritage and gain an insight into the history and development of the area. Kurraba Point was originally named Ballast Point and formed part of Alfred Thrupp’s Farm of 700 acres granted in 1814. Like many headlands on the Harbour, Kurraba Point was quarried in the early days of the colony to provide stone ballast for ships returning to England as well as to provide stone for building works in the Colony. Daniel Cooper subsequently acquired Thrupp’s Farm by the 1840s, and began to offer leaseholds in the 1850s and 1860s. At this time a small number of larger residences were built near the head of Neutral Bay and on Kurraba Point. The formation of roads through the Cooper Estate, the commencement of a regular ferry service in the 1870s and later tram services along Military Road from the 1880s and 1890s served to encourage the residential subdivision in the Neutral Bay/Kurraba Point locality. By the turn of the 20th century Neutral Bay, including Kurraba Point was considered a popular suburb featuring attractive homes of the well-to-do. It was described in the Residential guide of Sydney and Suburbs (1915) as “a delightful watering suburb situated on the northern foreshores of Sydney Harbour, it is surrounded by undulating grassy lawns and gardens, connected with the City by an excellent ferry services from Circular Quay”.

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 2Our walk begins at the Hayes Street George, Captain Minnett, F. L. Patrtridge. TheWharf, Neutral Bay cottage was demolished in the 1890s soon after the formation of Hayes Street when it was thenHayes Street Wharf named Kerepunu.Development of the Kurraba Point area andNeutral Bay was hampered in the early days by Hayes Stthe lack of communication with Sydney Town. In Hayes Street is named after Patrick Hayes,1864 prominent local residents met to organise businessman and owner of the Oaks Steamthe running of a steamer from Circular Quay via Brick Works in Military Road, Neutral Bay nearMilsons Point to Neutral Bay. However this the Oaks waterhole (site of the present busproposal fell through and it was not until 1873 depot adjoining the Oaks Hotel). In 1885 hethat the North Shore Ferry Co commenced formed the Neutral Bay Ferry Company (onlyoperating a small steam yacht ‘Florence’ from operated a short time) and he established aCircular Quay to Mosman’s Bay and calling at soap and oil factory at Kurraba Point in aboutNeutral Bay near John F. Mann’s residence 1874 (later occupied by the Port Jackson Steamfronting Thrupp’s old cottage. Company ferry workshops). His house, called the The Towers, was situated on Kurraba PointSydney Ferries erected the present entrance to overlooking Neutral Bay and the Harbour.the Hayes Street Ferry Wharf in 1909. A busservice now operates to the wharf from Neutral Craignathan, No.2 Hayes StBay and Cremorne and replaces the former tram Opposite the Hayes Street Wharf at the head ofservice. Neutral Bay is the Hastings. This building occupies part of the land belonging toThe tram service commenced in June 1890 and Craignathan. Craignathan was originally a largecontinued until 1956.The tram terminus occupied one-storey stone residence with attics and largea separate building alongside the ferry wharf and cellars in the basement. James McLaren (aftertrams terminated on the deck of the tram jetty, whom McLaren St is named) built this house inwith pedestrian access to the ferry service 1831. The most famous occupant of the houseavailable by a short connecting bridge between was Benjamin Boyd who lived here from 1844 tothe two jetties. 1849. Boyd erected a large stone building adjoining the house to the west (close to the footHayes Street/Thrupp’s Cottage of Ben Boyd Rd) and a large dam for theAdjoining the present Hayes Street Wharf at the purpose of wool washing at the corner of thefoot of Hayes Street was Alfred Thrupp’s present Manns Avenue and Hayes Street.residence. Alfred Thrupp built the cottage on his700-acre farm in 1826. G.V. F. Mann described The property was purchased by William Davyit as a “four –roomed stone cottage”. Not much who leased the residence to various tenants inis known of the tenants of Thrupp’s cottage until the 1850s and early 1860s including Captainthe 1860s, when the Mann family moved to Merion Moriarty, Port-Master; Lady Mitchell,Neutral Bay, but tenants from that time include widow of Sir Thomas Mitchell formerly Surveyor-Mr Berthon, Alexander Oliver (who later built General); and Alistair Maclean (Surveyor-Shelcote), H.E. Russell (afterwards the General). John F Mann bought the property fromChairman of the North Shore Ferry Company), Davy in 1869 and lived there till his death inHarry Jones, Sydney Robey, Captain St.

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 31890. Gertrude Bubb acquired Craignathan and Augustine Thomas Regan (boardinghouseThe Salisbury from the Dodds in 1929. Part of proprietor). In 1956 it was acquired from Reganthe property was subdivided and The Hastings by the Commonwealth of Australia and utilised(otherwise known as the Salisbury) erected on as a RAAF Support Unit. The property was soldthe Hayes Street frontage adjoining into private ownership in 1986 and additionalCraignathan. apartment accommodation built. No. 4 Hayes St Next to the Hastings is this delightful interwar apartment building called Kcot-Sedar. The building comprises 9 flats and 2 garages and was built in 1927 for Adeline Gertrude MacDougall.Craignathan amidst the trees with the stone Between World War I and II numerous flatstore on far left, c.1860s.. (Courtesy State buildings were erected within a short walkingLibrary of NSW) distance of the ferry wharf.During the 1940s the house was used as a Continue walking along Hayes St anddepot for the Sydney Volunteer Coastal and turn left at Manns AveHarbour Patrol. The Australian Governmentpurchased Craignathan, along with the Hastings Manns Avebuilding (which was used by the RAAF for Named for John Frederick Mann, surveyor andaccommodation). They demolished Craignathan explorer, who lived at Craignathan with hisitself in the late 1960s and built a car park on the family in the 1870s. His son G.V.F.Mann wrotesite adjoining the Customs Depot at the bottom an early history of North Sydney, whilst anotherof Ben Boyd Road. There are some remains of son Livingstone Frederick Mann lived atthe dam of Craignathan beneath the new Carthona, formerly located at No. 4 Manns Aveapartment building adjoining the Hastings. near the Kurraba Rd corner.The Hastings, also formerly known as The Lansdowne, Nos. 9-11 Manns AveSalisbury and Milton is the castellated building at From the 1920s Lansdowne was operated as a2 Hayes Street. It was built in 1914 for Mrs guest house offering “a commanding view of theWinifred Dodds (wife of mining agent and local Harbour, rights at Neutral Bay Wharf (10resident William Dodds). Mrs Dodds let both minutes from Circular Quay), high-classMilton and adjoining Craignathan to accommodation, continuous hot water service,boardinghouse keepers. The lease of 2 Hayes grass tennis court, ballroom” (Guest houseStreet was transferred to Gertrude Bubb (wife of Directory of N.S.W.), 24th ed.) In more recentErnest Reinhardt Bubb, public accountant and times it has been operated as a low-incomeNeutral Bay resident) in 1927 and maintained for boarding house.the next 20 years as a boardinghouse. Theproperty was eventually sold in 1954 to Walk along Manns Ave and cross over rd

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 4No. 10 Manns Ave Nos. 45-71 Kurraba RdMost recently operated as the Elevera Private A nice group of early Federation houses mostlyHotel, a boarding house for women only. Listed erected between 1885 and 1906. Of particularas a boarding house in the 1920s operated by note are Wavertree (65) and Lanlyth (55). TheMrs Begg and owned by Winfred Dodds. Elevera land on which this group of houses is erectedappears to have been built around 1889 by was formed from the subdivision of Clee Villa,Livingstone F. Mann, occupant of the adjoining one of the earliest homes in Neutral Bay,Carthona (demolished for service station). The formerly located in Lower Wycombe Rd.property was subdivided in 1921 to createseveral lots on the western side of Hayes Street Wavertree, No. 65 Kurraba Rdbetween Kurraba Road and Manns Avenue. This is the former home of Alexander McKnight. He was born in Liverpool, England in 1841 andContinue to end of Manns Ave and commenced business there as an underwriterturn right into Kurraba Rd and marine insurance broker and later travelled to New York and was involved in the shipment ofThis corner marks the former site of Carthona, cattle and chilled meat to Europe. He came toAltantic Union Oil Co P/L applied to Council in Australia in 1881 and worked initially as a1958 to erect a service station on the site. The salesman for Messrs Gilchrist, Watt and Co andhouse was subsequently demolished. Carthona in 1893 was appointed manager for New Southwas the home of Livingstone Frederick Mann, Wales of the Mutual Life Company of New York.one of two sons of John Frederick Mann of McKnight was mayor of North Sydney in 1893.Craignathan. It was built in the 1890s.Livingstone penned “Early Neutral Bay” as a The house was built in 1885 on the site ofpresentation to the Royal Australian Historical Quist’s smelting works. Hans Quist, a jeweller,Society in the early 1930s in which he describes resided at Clee Villa in Lower Wycombe Rd andthe area in the [18] sixties, seventies and erected a furnace for gold smelting in theeighties. paddocks adjoining that house. According to G.V.F. Mann, “the furnace was of stone cut fromKurraba Rd the solid rock on the side of the road at the endFormerly called Thrupps Point Road, it was of the present Ben Boyd road, and was movedoriginally a rough dirt track cut through the bush to the site of the works by a team of eighteenand providing access to a small number of bullocks, under the direction of Mr John Brown,properties on Kurraba Point and above Shell a timber merchant, of lane Cove Road…a largeCove. Walter Liberty Vernon, Government chimney was erected in connection with same”.Architect, a resident of the area and Alderman of Apparently the venture was abandoned after athe Borough of East St. Leonards was few years as a failure.responsible for changing the name to KurrabaRoad. The word “Karraba” or “Kurraba” is of During McKnight’s mayorship in 1893, he kindlyAboriginal derivation. The street is possibly offered Wavertree as the venue for the Neutralnamed after a house of that name owned by Bay Christmas Fete and Village Fair held toThomas Loxton in 1867. raise funds for St. Augustine’s Church of England.Walk along Kurraba Rd and crossover Hayes St Lanlyth, No. 55 Kurraba Rd

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 5This is one of the earliest homes built in this From 1864 to his death in 1889 Honda was thesection of Kurraba Rd, built about the same time home of William C. Bennett, Commissioner foras Wavertree (no. 65). Some early tenants of Roads and Bridges. His daughter, Agnes, bornLanlyth include Major Hunt Carew and here in 1872, was the second woman to gain aAlexander Mayne. science degree at Sydney University.Continue along Kurraba Rd and cross The property was used as a boarding house andover Wycombe Rd eventually the property subdivided by the Irvine Family, in conjunction with Arden, an earlyNote this interesting collection of federation house located nearby in Bogota Ave, creatinghouses along Kurraba Rd between Wycombe several building lots in Bogota Ave andRd and Billong Stt erected on the Neutral Bay Shellcove Rd. In more recent times the buildingLand Company estate. Take particular notice of was substantially gutted without Councilthe impressive Victorian Villa residence on the approval and subsequently rebuilt and additionalintersection of Wycombe and Kurraba Rds. This structures erected on the property.is one of the surviving houses designed byWalter Liberty Vernon, Government Architect Continue walking along Shellcove Rdand resident of Penshurst (house formerlylocated to the north in present Penshurst The Cobbles, No. 49 Shellcove RdAvenue). He was also a member of the Neutral “An early Australian translation of the CaliforniaBay Land Company syndicate which promoted Bungalow”, The Cobbles was designed by notedleaseholds in this vicinity in the late 1880s. architects, Peddle and Thorp in 1918 as the home of S. G. Thorp himself. This house showsCross over to Billong St and walk the influence of Greene and Greene houses inalong to end. Turn left at Shellcove California, which often employed cobblestonesRd and walk to Honda Rd intersection as in this Shellcove Rd house. It is a low scale house, using natural materials such as theNo. 42 Shellcove Rd cobblestones mortared together on the outsideInterwar georgian revival or Mediterranean style of the tapering chimney and has exposedhouse built in 1923/34 for Miss Orrock by local structural roof timbers and sits on a terracedbuilder J. G. Verills. The house was sold to garden slope.Robert Preston Gowing (proprietor of famouscity store) and his wife Elisa Carlotta Lucia “A pretty little nest that has long been admired atGowing. Later owners were John Landon (bank Kurraba Point, Neutral Bay, has a cobbled stoneinspector), Beryl Glen Pearce (retired publican) chimney and other cobbled features”.and Marie Wallington (publican). Building, 12 December 1926Honda, No. 55 Shellcove Rd No. 47 Shellcove RdOldest surviving house in this part of Neutral A delightful interwar georgian cottage designedBay. Built by Architect, Francis H. Grundy in by architects Waterhouse and Lake in 1920. It is1858, which at that time was located in an believed that Professor Robert Irvine built thisisolated position at the head of Shell Cove and house for his ex-wife Florence after theythe nearest houses were Shelcote and The separated due to his marital infidelities. RobertMonastery, closer to the tip of Kurraba Point.

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 6Irvine was the first professor of Economics at Brown Craig inherited it from their motherUniversity of Sydney and later became a private Elizabeth.consultant and author. Apparently one of theprincipal reasons for his dismissal from the The land surrounding the house was subdividedUniversity in 1922 was due to his marital in 1923 and Gundimaine Ave formed. Eventuallyinfidelity. Professor Irvine and his family had in 1982, Gundimaine was restored and extendedlived at Honda from 1912. to create four luxury strata apartments. The house features lovely art nouveau leadlightNos. 41 and 43 Shellcove Rd throughout and an overall asymmetrical designA pair of 2-storey roughcast stuccoed brick with a service wing and chimney elements.houses in the federation arts and crafts stylewith unsympathetic alterations added in the St. Anne’s, No. 37 Shellcove Rd1970s. James Brown Craig, produce merchant, Built for Robert and Elizabeth Craig in 1908-09,and Francis Brown Craig, medical practitioner, around the time Ailsa next door was erected.purchased adjoining properties in Shellcove Rdfrom the Cooper Estate in 1911. Builder Charles Ailsa, No. 33 Shellcove RdHost lodged a building application to North Ailsa is an exceptionally fine example of theSydney Council to erect two houses in 1918. federation arts and crafts style of state heritageShortly after building, number 43 was sold to significance and which was described byMrs Frances Plan who lived here until the 1930s, architect Clive Lucas as “an extremely importantwhilst number 41 was sold to a Mrs Myra house and one of the most avant grade housesFreeman then almost immediately to Mrs Linda of its day”. The house was designed by notedWright. architect B. J. Waterhouse in 1908 and was one of the first two buildings he designed afterRoun, No. 36 Shellcove Rd entering private practice. Ailsa was built forRoun is one of the earliest surviving houses on Captain Robert Craig.this eastern half of Kurraba Point. It was built in1899 for George McGibbon as a single storey, Captain Robert Craig was born in Saltcoats ineight-room house. Professor Walter Herbert Ayrshire, Scotland in 1837. He was a pioneerHolme purchased the house as his home about captain and Marine Superintendent of the E. &1911. A. Company. About 1885-86 he joined the produce merchant firm, H. Prescott, and heTurn left at Gundimaine Ave became senior partner in the firm following Henry Prescott’s death. Captain Craig was alsoGundimaine, No. 39 Shellcove Rd an active supporter of the Neutral BayAccording to architect Howard Tanner, community and member of several social“Gundimaine is an imposing residential design in organisations, especially as an elder of thefederation style by Spain & Rowe, made all the Neutral Bay Presbyterian Church, subscriber tomore prominent by occupying an island site”. the establishment of the Warringah Hall andThe house was built in 1902 on land owned by petitioner for postal services in the district.Elizabeth Brown Craig from barrister-at-lawGregory Wood, executor of Robert Hunt’s estate After his death in 1917 his two sons, James(Honda). Various tenants occupied the house Brown Craig (partner in H. Prescott & Co.) andbefore brothers James Brown and Francis Dr. Francis Brown Craig (medical practitioner)

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 7inherited the property and subsequently No. 13 Shellcove Rdsubdivided it into seven lots between 1918 and St. Ange/St. Agnes is a federation arts and crafts1920. house designed by noted architects Waterhouse and Lake in 1917 for William Arthur Chadwick, aBrent Knowle, No. 31 Shellcove Rd land/engineering and mining surveyor. By theBrent Knowle is a large federation arts and crafts mide-1920s the house was described as twostyle house designed by noted architect, B. J. flats but still owned and occupied by WilliamWaterhouse in 1914. It was built for Major J. H. Chadwick. The National Trust states, “the houseEvans Booker and cost a princely sum of is a typical example of Waterhouse’s individual£10000 to build at that time. The house was interpretation of the English vernacular style.designed with servants areas, coach house and Each elevation is dominated by a shingle-cladgarage wing, on a sloping site with roofs pitched gable with wide overhanging eaves. The wallsat 45˚. Herbert E. Pratten bought the house are finished in rough cast stucco”.about 1917. The house is named after a districtnear Bristol, England where the Pratten Family No. 11 Shellcove Rdcame from. Englemere is an interestingly detailed block of flats.Keynsham, No. 29 Shellcove RdBuilt in 1921 as the home of Herbert. E. Pratten No. 9 Shellcove Rdand family. Herbert E. Pratten was a member of Note the plaque erected on the fence outsidethe Australian senate 1908-1928 and his son H. this house in 2003. Coralie Clarke Rees andG. Pratten was an all-round sportsman who Digit Dick author Leslie Rees occupied thisplayed in the N.S.W. cricket team in interstate house between 1937 and 1966.matches before World War I, but his career wasinterrupted by World War I. H. G. Pratten also Dalray, No. 7 Shellcove Rdheld the number 1 badge for the Sydney Cricket Dalray was built in 1915/16 by J. RichardsonGround for many years. The house was and Son for Augustus Edmund Blair. Theoriginally a single storey building designed by architect was Edwin R. Orchard.architect, Frank Buckle, a friend of the Prattenfamily and the second storey was added in the No. 4 Shellcove Rdlate 1920s. The house was named for a district Casa Loma is a 1930s Inter-war Mediterraneannear Bristol, England where the Pratten family flats building relating well to the adjacent flats,came from. Casa Madrona (No.168 Kurraba Rd).No. 17 Shellcove Rd Turn left into Kurraba RdRycroft Hall was built about 1919 by localCremorne builders Helier and Percy Harbutt. No. 176 Kurraba RdThey sold the property to grazier John Ryecroft Barely visible these days as it is sited behind theColvin who in turn sold it to another grazier John Kirrilee flats, Gingie, built in 1906, was for manyWilliam Luke. In the 1920s it was converted into years the home from about 1911 of Commanderflats. Staunton William Spain. Staunton Spain was born nearby at Wallaringa in 1865 and later inherited that extensive property. He enjoyed a distinguished career in the naval reserve, served

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 8with the naval contingent to China, and in 1908 garages built on lot 29 of the Kurraba Pointwas appointed lieut-commander of the Royal Estate for Ernest K. White.Australian Reserve. Staunton was also a NotaryPublic and served as Marshall in the Admiralty Note the adjoining flats in Kurraba Rd built aboutJurisdiction of the Supreme Court. He also the same time as The Churchill.served as an alderman of the North SydneyCouncil 1925-1937 and was a member of the Continue along Kurraba Rd to end oflocal League of Ancient Mariners. Sadly, he point and turn left into Baden Rdoutlived his wife Ella Jessie. He died on 8September 1946 after being struck by a city Nos. 5-9 Baden Rdtram. Named after Baden House, formerly located at 5 Baden Rd. Sir Ernest White was originally fromNo. 174 Kurraba Rd Gosford then later lived at Strathfield. He hadLike its neighbour Gingie, Waione is obscured served with distinction in the First World Warfrom view from the street due to the flats built in and was mentioned in dispatches and awardedfront. This house was built in 1904 as the home the Military Cross. He was involved in the timberof Colonel Alfred Spain. Alfred Spain was the industry and had wharves and storage space inbrother of Staunton William (who incidentally High St. After World War I he founded thelived next door at 176 Kurraba Road) and was Australian American Association and the Liberalborn in 1868 at nearby Wallaringa. He was a Democratic Party (the forerunner of the Liberalfamous architect, articled to architect Thomas party). He was also involved in horse racing andRowe in 1884 and entered into partnership in the after a large win at the races he was able tofirm later known as Spain and Cosh. He was purchase the land on the tip of Kurraba Point. Atalso active in the Taronga Park Zoo Trust, a that time there were only three houses on thefoundation member of the Town Planning land, Kurraba House (No. 2), as well as Nos. 6Association of N.S.W., board member of the and 8 Baden Rd).Board of Fisheries, member of the Royal SydneyYacht Squadron, N.S.W. Club and Australasian Sir Ernest had difficulty subdividing the property,Pioneers Club as well as numerous other eventually giving North Sydney Council 10directorships. Spain also had a career in the blocks (now Hodgson and Spains Lookouts).Engineers Corps, commissioned as second Due to low bids at auction for the remaininglieutenant, 1st Field Company, Engineers, NSW prime waterfront lots, E. K. White decided toMilitary Forces 200 Kurraba Road (1890) and build the some of the flats buildings in Kurrabapromoted to Major (Commonwealth Military Rd.Forces) 1903 and retired from service in 1913,but came out of retirement to serve in World War In the meantime the White’s hired notedI. Alfred Spain died at Mosman in 1954. architects Fowell, McConnell and Mansfield to design them a house that would remind them ofContinue along Kurraba Rd living on an ocean liner (“P and O style”). Baden House featured a flat roof, an open deckNo. 200 Kurraba Rd promenade and coloured railings on the firstAt the intersection of Kurraba Road and Baden floor. The house was named for their only son,Road is The Churchill, a block of 8 flats and 6 Baden, a R.A.A.F. pilot who was killed in 1944.

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 9After Sir Ernest White’s death in 1983, the house falling steeply from the building to a cliff edgewas auctioned in 1984. Twin brothers Jerry and below to the beach below. According toTim Tyrrell (grandsons of Lady Pauline and Sir Decoration and Glass magazine in May 1937,Ernest White) bought the house, demolished it “the house would appear to be single storeyand redeveloped the site into 8 luxury structure. From the harbour front it appears to betownhouses. three storeys, the designer had been able to present a well-balanced and proportionedNos. 2, 6 and 8 Baden Rd elevation from both viewpoints - no meanErnest K. White (owner of Mollison and other achievement in view of the unusual difficulties”.noted racehorses) purchased five houses and a “Spanish influence is adapted to modernlarge parcel of land on the tip of Kurraba Point Australian design is evident in the exterior whichfrom Dr George Sly for £30000 in about 1929. features cream wall, green tiled roof, wroughtHe subsequently subdivided the land and iron window grilles and decorative concretecreated the Kurraba Point Estate. grilles” Australian Homes and Plans, c.1939Kurraba House (No. 2 Baden Rd) replaces anearlier home of the same name erected in the Return back to Kurraba Rd and entervicinity of the present house. This house wasmost likely built in the 1850s when John Cooper Kurraba Point Reserve comprisingbegan to offer 99-year leaseholds from Thrupps Spains and Hodgson Lookouts and theGrant. According to L. F. Mann, Kurraba was the large flat area on the Neutral Bay waterfronthome of the Jarretts, and in the 1880s Mrs below. This area was once a sandstone quarry,Massie called Kurraba her home following stock established around 1850 to supply stone for theand station agent, Keith Jopp. construction of Fort Denison as well as ballast for ships returning to England. Patrick HayesKenyon and Thurlow, Nos. 6 and 8 Baden Rd acquired the land and started a soap and oilrespectively, are also fine examples of factory woks at the Point. G. V. F. MannFederation houses (now divided into apartments. remembers, “two large oil boilers which he used – 8 feet diameter by 5 feet deep – were onceKurraba Point Estate comprised land “placed at used by Benjamin Boyd for wool washingthe imposing entrance to Australia’s fairest city, purposes at his store at Craignathan at the headit has been subdivided into thirty-five residential of Neutral Bay from whence they were removedallotments on which will be erected the exquisite with much difficulty on to a large punt andhomes of some of Sydney’s most influential transferred to the Point”.citizens. Thus is decreed the destiny of KurrabaPoint – gift from the lavish hands of Nature – the The Port Jackson and Manly Steam Shipharbour’s last available priceless gem”. Company purchased Hayes’ former oil factory in 1883 and established a large depot andNo. 17 Baden Rd engineering works here. The depot was theBy contrast to the federation apartments across scene of one of Sydney’s most dramatic andthe road, this building is a determinedly interwar tragic fires involving a Sydney ferry in 1936home designed in 1937 by architect Thomas D. when the newly renovated Bellubera caught fireEsplin for Mr and Mrs C. J. Jameson. It is an and five men were who working in the ferry’sinterwar Spanish Mediterranean style on a site engine room at the time were trapped. Two men died; another saved his life by sticking his head

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 10out of one of the portholes while rescuers cut Site of one of the first homes built on Kurrabathrough the hull to reach him. Point, The Towers. Businessman, Patrick Hayes, built his home in the mid-1870s aboveThe historic Kurraba Point workshops were the oil and soap factory he had established inclosed by the end of 1964 and additional lay-ups 1874 on the foreshore facing the Bay. Accordingwere established for the company at Balmain. to G.V. F. Mann, The Towers was said to be theThe State Government purchased the Kurraba first house in Sydney built throughout ofPoint site and in 1974 the site was cleared and concrete. The property was later taken over bygrassed and the present Kurraba Reserve the Port Jackson and Manly Steamshipcreated. Company Limited (who had purchased the former oil factory as their company depot inOverlooking Sydney Harbour is Spains 1883) and leased out to various tenants. It wasLookout containing remnant 1930s furniture eventually demolished by the early 1960s.and depression era work scheme elements suchas the concrete fences and paving. Note the No. 143 Kurraba RdCouncil logo in the fence at front and the name Present block of 64 flats called Maralingaand date in the paving below the bench at the replaced the former house Winona which hadrear. This lookout was named in honour of been built in 1917 for draper William Winn byAlderman J.S. Spain in 1937 for services Stanley Dixon Winn, merchant and director ofrendered to North Sydney Municipality and of the Watsons Bay and South Shore Ferry Co Ltd.the long association of his family with the district. This block of flats was built in 1963 byStaunton Spain, a solicitor, lived at Wallaringa, developers RALIM Properties Limited and wasNeutral Bay, where his ten children were born. In touted in building magazines of that time (1960s)September 1937 at a Council meeting Ald. Spain as the epitome of bachelor flat design. RALIMopposed the name saying, “that it is absolutely also built similar flats in High Street, Northcontrary to my wishes, I desire the name Sydney and Peel Street, Kirribilli.Coronation Park, or failing that, Hunter Park”. No. 137 Kurraba RdHodgson Lookout House occupies the site of the former houseMost likely named for Alderman R. L. Hodgson, known as Hershell and owned and occupied bymayor of North Sydney 1932-1934. solicitor George Sly. Goerge Sly also owned the first Kurraba House located nearer to The Point.No. 192b Kurraba Rd No. 133 Kurraba RdInteresting interwar flat building with nice Rotherwood is a complex of flat buildings builtdetailing above portico and tile exterior at between Kurraba St frontage and the Kurrabaentrance located on part of the Kurraba Point Point Reserve cliff edge. Adjoins modernisedEstate and adjoining the Hodgson Lookout. federation flats at Nos. 129 and 131 Kurraba Rd.Continue walking back along left No. 168 Kurraba Rdhand side of Kurraba Rd Casa Madrona is a large prominent 1930s block of flats designed in the inter-war mediterraneanNo. 145 Kurraba Rd style with an important relationship to the

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 11adjacent flats at No. 4 Shellcove Rd. Architects Spain and Cosh added a billiard roomUnfortunately the building has been painted a with bedroom over was added to the gardenfairly bland colour. front on the eastern side in 1913 for the then owner, A. H. Way. Hollowforth was thenContinue walking along Kurraba Rd subdivided into two flats in the 1980s. The roofto entrance to Kurraba Wharf. Take structure was partially damaged by a fire in 1994steps on left but subsequently reconstructed to original detail. Of particular note are the undulating stoneNo. 115A Kurraba Rd garden walls that surround the symmetricOnce Upon a Time is a P and O style house picturesque design. Note the shingled walloriginally garden units situated in Wyldfel surfaces, numerous stopped hips, dormerGardens, Potts Point. It was designed by windows and massive brick chimneys on thearchitect John Brogan and built originally in 1935 roofline and exposed timber beams of thefor William Crowle and his wife. When Wyldfel projecting first floor.Gardens was taken over by the Navy in 1940Crowle organised for the building to be Adjacent to either side of Hollowforth are a nicetransported across to Kurraba Point by barge group of federation and interwar buildings. Ofduring 1941. Note the turn of the century particular note is the inter-war Mediterraneanwrought iron gates at the entrance (Crowle stuccoed house at No. 144 and the two-storeyimported them from England) bearing the shingled building on the corner with HollowforthGerman quote, “when somebody makes a Ave.journey, they have a story to tell”. There is also aGoethe quote near the front entrance, “live Cross back over Kurraba Rdpeaceable with all, so shalt thou live a happy lifethyself”. Once Upon a Time has been divided Before continuing, note entrance to Spainsinto three apartments and at one time had a Wharf Rd named after S.W. Spain who was anboatshed beneath, now an apartment. Alderman of the North Sydney Council from 1925-1931.Return to Kurraba Rd and cross overto Hollowforth Ave Continue along Kurraba Rd to Wycombe Rd traffic lights. CrossHollowforth, No.146 Kurraba Rd over at lights and enter lower end ofThe avenue is named after the house which was Wycombe Rd. Turn left intodesigned by architect, E. Jeaffreson Jackson in Wallaringa Aveconjunction with S. G. Thorp for ProfessorThrelfall and completed in 1893. He named the Nos. 6-8 Wallaringa Avehouse after the village in Lancashire where he Former Benleigh Private Hotel (house namewas born. According to the North Sydney originally Gillerstone) and built at the same timeHeritage Study Review Inventory, “this is a as the adjoining houses Henley (no. 10) anddramatic and innovative architectural statement Finchley (no. 12) by Miss Jane Davy in 1907/08.in the shingle style by one of the leading Operated as Benleigh Private Hotel, a 27-roomarchitects of the Federation era”. private hotel until 1985 when it was sold and converted into luxury apartments.

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 12Wallaringa Mansions Most recently used as low-income housing, theSite of former stone cottage Wallaringa built by property has now undergone redevelopment andWilliam Dymock in the 1850s. Solicitor Staunton has been converted into luxury apartments.Spain bought the stone cottage and they movedhere in 1863. They had ten children whilst living Nutcote, No. 5 Wallaringa Avein Wallaringa and various members of the family Nutcote is the former home and studio of Maylived in the house, and others in the area well Gibbs, MBE. The house was designed for Mayinto the 20th century. After father Staunton Gibbs in the interwar Mediterranean style by theWilliam’s death, the property was inherited by noted Sydney architect, B.J, Waterhouse inthe sons. 1925.Wallaringa Mansions in its heyday as a guest May Gibbs, author, children's book illustrator andhouse and private hotel, c.1910s. (North Sydney cartoonist, was born in Kent, England in 1877.Heritage Centre, PC 137) The family migrated to South Australia in 1881.The house was greatly enlarged by Staunton In 1885 the family moved to Harvey RiverSpain to accommodate the rapidly growing homestead, Western Australia, where she spentfamily. Alfred Edgar Brown became a lessee of two impressionable years in the Australian bush,that part of the Wallaringa on which the original and finally settled at 'The Dune', Perth.house was located and preceded to erect two Demonstrating artistic ability at an early age withnew buildings, now known as Wallaringa North a penchant for fantasy and satire, Gibbs wasand South. Wallaringa North contains remnants encouraged to study art in England. Betweenof the original Wallaringa House. Brown also 1900 and 1913 she thrice travelled abroad,built Valetta on lot 27 (now part of the site) and became proficient in various styles of artworkanother building called The Cottage. Brown then and executed fanciful depictions of Australianoperated it as the Wallaringa Mansions private animals. She received assignments to illustratehotel. from Western Mail and the publishers George Harrap & Company, London amongst others.Alfred Edgar Brown is variously described as amining expert or grazier and seems to have In 1913 she moved to Neutral Bay, Sydney,bought and built several properties in the Neutral NSW, and maintained a steady livelihood withBay area as investments, as he was living at commissions from publishers, especially for theMeadow Flat, via Rydal. works she both wrote and illustrated. In 1916 Gum-Nut Babies, the first in a series of five 'Gum-Nut' booklets, was published by Angus & Robertson with whom she worked for over fifty years. The successful Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Adventures Wonderful was published shortly afterwards in 1918. In 1923- 1924, The Story of Nuttybub and Nittersing and Two Little Gumnuts - Chucklebub and Wunkydoo, were published by Osboldstone & Company, Melbourne.

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 13In 1919, Gibbs married Bertram James Ossoli No. 9 Wallaringa AveKelly, a mining agent, who became her Another single storey Federation bungalowmanager. They moved into Nutcote in 1925, the house built in face brick with multi-hipped andhouse they had built in Neutral Bay, set among gabled roof clad in terracotta shingles.eucalypts and banksias, from which she drewinspiration for the enduring 'Bib and Bub' comic The remains of Spains Wharf can be seen belowstrip. Her last book, Prince Dande Lion, was No. 9 Wallaringa Ave, including the stone stepspublished in 1953. Gibbs' contribution to leading to it.children's literature was acknowledged in1955 when she was appointed a Member of Backtrack to Lower Wycombe Rdthe British Empire, and in 1969 when she wasgranted a literary pension by the Commonwealth 28 Lower Wycombe RdLiterary Fund. May Gibbs died in Sydney on 27 Rothesay was operated as a boarding house forNovember 1969. many years. Originally built by jeweller Alfred Saunders in 1907, the house was purchased byIn her will May Gibbs left Nutcote to Unicef, sisters Isabella and Jessie McKinnon whowhich at the time could not own property, so the converted it into a private hotel offering “1st classhouse and contents were auctioned in 1970. accommodation 45-50 guests, electric light,Later owners were interested in demolishing the continuous hot water service, 3 minutes fromhouse and developing the site. In 1987, boat”. It was named for an island off the westconcerned relatives and friends formed the May coast of Scotland.Gibbs Foundation and succeeded in having thehouse of Nutcote protected by a Permanent William Charles Allen (Allen Hotels) purchasedConservation Order. It was also placed on the the property from the sisters in 1946 andRegister of the National Estate. Convinced by continued to operate Rothesay as a boardingthe widespread support generated by the house until 1977. It was again sold andFoundation, North Sydney Municipal Council continued as a boarding house until 1982 whenpurchased the property in 1990. It was leased to it was restored and converted into 10the Nutcote Trust, who then set up May's home apartments.as a House Museum. The Museum is openWednesday to Sunday 11am – 3pm. No. 18 Lower Wycombe Rd(www.maygibbs.com.au) Wurrunbirri Flats erected on this site in 1925 by Joseph Nyssen for Alice Phillips.Muritai, No. 7 Wallaringa AveFederation bungalow built in 1919 for J. Ferry. Nos. 8-16 Lower Wycombe RdThe North Sydney heritage inventory describes Nice group of federation houses and flats built inthe house as “an interesting and well executed the period 1890-1920. Note numbers 8-16,Federation harbourside bungalow which named respectively Warriston, Kaloma, Kamlynexemplifies both the informality of decoration and Trevore, all built in 1896 by the Davy Familyand the homely, vernacular philosophy of the on the Clee Villa Estate.style...relates well to its neighbours, No. 5(Nutcote) and no. 9.” Clee Court, No. 2 Lower Wycombe Rd Group of five dwellings arranged around a central courtyard and built about 1934 on the

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 14site of Clee Villa one of the very first homes built Royal operated as a private hotel up to thein Neutral Bay in 1832 by Thomas Lindley. G.V. 1980s when the owners restored the originalF. Mann in his 1938 history of the North Sydney brick residence and converted it into apartments,Municipality, recalls that Clee Villa was built “on demolished the 1960s waterfront building andstone foundations – large wells were cut out of created a new apartment complex on the site.the rock under the house for storage of water.Lindley had a rope walk there. The remains of Warialda, otherwise known as The Royal,the rope walk were in existence in the sixties adjoining Hayes Street Wharf, c.1905. (Northand extended along the whole length of the Sydney Heritage Centre, PC 520)present Lower Wycombe Road”. Continue to end of street and turn leftOne of the earliest tenants of Clee Villa was into Hayes StJoseph Phelps Robinson (who died there in1848). Robinson was a former member for Nos. 19-21 Hayes StMelbourne for the Legislative Council of New The Neutral Bay Post Office was originallySouth Wales, a Quaker and was a Manager for established in 1889 in the chemist shop of Mrthe Royal Bank of Australia (otherwise known as Hume at the corner of Ben Boyd Rd and Military“Ben Boyd’s Banker” or the ‘”member for Boyd”). Rd under the first official post and telegraph master J S Hay. It moved to this site in 1926 andThe Mann family occupied Clee Villa between eventually closed at the end of 1986 as it was1866 and 1868 after which John Frederick Mann considered uneconomical and the proximity ofpurchased Craignathan. Afterwards, Abraham other busier post offices nearby. It wasDavy, a Quaker, owned the house. Other past downgraded from official to non-official status intenants included Victor Prout (an artist and 1971 when the new post office opened atcousin of famous English artist, Skinner Prout) Neutral Bay Junction in Military Rd.and Hans Quist (a jeweller lived there anderected a gold smelting furnace in the paddock This former Post Office has recently beenat the rear), Archibald Colquhoun Fraser (Clerk converted into a private dwelling.of the Peace) and James Johnstone (theManager of the Orient Steam Ship Company). Nos. 11-15 Hayes St Trio of federation shops with art nouveau motifsG. V. F. Mann remembers “the house was still visible in archway to verandah on first floorsurrounded with groves of various fruit trees and of No.11. The middle shopfront has been muchavenues of lemon trees. The latter were said to altered, whilst the shopfront closes to Lowerhave been planted by Mr James Milson, who in Wycombe Rd, the brickwork has been painted.1825 cultivated an area in the vicinity ofWycombe Road and Wallaringa Avenue”.No. 1 Lower Wycome RdThe Bayswater Penthouse formerly a privatehotel known as The Royal. The original housenamed Warialda was built on this site in 19- andbecame a boarding house in 1915. By the 1920sit was known as The Royal Guest House. The

North Sydney History Walk : Gem of the Harbour Page 15Our Gem of the Harbour walking tourends here at the Neutral Bay Wharf,Hayes Street.This walking tour was compiled by theHistorical Services team from sourcesheld in the North Sydney HeritageCentre, Stanton Library. Ph: 99368400