Burdekin House 197 Macquarie Street - Sydney
Now St Stephens Presbyterian Church
Here, Until 1933 Stood Burdekin House, &. Was Built In 1841 & Was Long Known as The “Most Handsome House In Sydney"
It's Owner, Thomas Burdekin, Was An Ironware Monger Merchant From England. He Died In 1844, After Which His Widow & Son, Sydney Burdekin (Mayor Of Sydney In 1890), Cared For The Home.
On The 2nd April 1845 The German Explorer Ludwig Leichardt, Overlanding From Moreton Bay (Now Brisbane) To Port Essington, Noted In His Journal -
"I Have Reached The Junction Of The Suttor With The New River Which I Called The Burdekin, In Appreciation Of The Assistance From Mrs Thomas Burdekin, In The Outfit Of My Expedition.”
About This Time, An English Globe trotter Named J.C. Byrne Visited Sydney, Scooping Up Gossip To Be Used In His "Twelve Years Wandering The British Colonies"
Said Byrne -
“A Person Named Burdekin... Had Amassed By His Trade & Private Discounting..... A Vast Fortune. Whether True Or False, No Man In Sydney Was Both So Disliked On Account Of The Usurious Interest, As It Was Asserted, He Exacted From those Who Were So Unfortunate As To Fall Into His Hands, & So Much Feared On Account Of The Power Of His Wealth..... This Mr Burdekin Took It Into His Head To Purchase An Extensive Piece Of Ground.... In The Immediate vicinity Of The Club House New South Wales Aristocracy, Many Of The Members Which Had Particular Reasons For Not Being Attached To Then Discount Gentlemen.
The Land Once Purchased, The Erection Of A Pile Of Costly Magnificence WasProceeded With...."
Byrne's Story Ends With The Arrival Of A Stranger From England, Who Actually
held The Original Title Deeds That Burdekin Had Buult His Mansion On, Valued at £16,000.
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Burdekin House Coach Entrance - Ashley Cooper - 1914 - 1928
Dixson Library -
State Library of New South Wales
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The Burdekin House - Hardy Wilson - 1914
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The Sun - Tuesday 16th May 1922 Page 10
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Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 7th June 1922 Page 12
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The Evening News - Tuesday 20th June 1922 Page 5
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To The Editor - Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 14th February 1923 - Page 14
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Sydney Morning Herald - Friday 13th April 1923 - Page 8
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Daily Telegraph - Friday 13th April 1923 Page 6
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Sydney Morning Herald - Friday 13th April 1923 Page 10
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Singleton Argus - Saturday 14th April 1923 Page ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Daily Telegraph - Monday 30th April 1923 Page 4
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Daily Telegraph - Wednesday 18th October 1923
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Evening News - Thursday 24th April 1924 Page 1
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Daily Telegraph - Monday 18th August 1924 Page 5
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The Register - Adelaide - Wednesday 20th August 1924 - Page 10
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Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 20th August 1924 - Page 17
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Burdekin House
A Past Home
One could discourse, at length upon the vicissitudes of old homes both here and abroad, sucli as the Burdekin Mansion, Sydney, which once again has escaped the end which seemed almost inevitably to be its fate, some little time since when it was listed for auction and demolition. The last of the family of Burdekiu to reside there was Alexander Hay who sold it to a syndicate, which, we understand, proposed to build a palatial hotel on the site. This scheme like 'many another of its kind, faded into the realms of forgotten things and so did. the syndicate, which went west; T. E. Rofe
then buying the property and intending to remodel the house and build revenue producing residential chambers on the remainder of the site. Evidently there is such a slump in the demand for mansions, those desiring them either already possessing same or aspiring to have them in healthy and beautiful suburban garden settings, and not abutting on a busy city street, that it was too risky a proposition to .-oi-nd money in remodelling the home without the certainty of securing1 a 'permanent tenant. Perhaps the purchaser is only marking time and waiting for some attractive investment to turn up, or again he may have an affectionate regard, as we all have, for this historic old home. At any rate his philantrophy in loaning the house, on its valuable mu\ to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for -!'(? purposes of a tea house for the benefit .if that institution is worthy of jommendation. '? he terms of the lease are that the lessee hull receive the rental of 1/- per week — nominally — the idea emanating from Mrs. diaries Walker, the hospital's organising secretary, who is in charge of affairs. As Macquarie Street is the happy hunting ground of a varied community of professionals, including doctors, dentists, politicians and otherwise, who often are hard pressed for luncheon time, the business prospects are .-good' and as the house possesses a pleasant garde'. ;it the rear walled in and protected by shady trees, it should be an attractive spot in which to while away those rare moments of e.'i.se,snatched by business men and women from the busy whirl of the day's routine. As the 'freedom of the garden, verandah and tea-room is conferred on patrons, who may talk, eat and smoke in a freer and more -homely atmosphere than is obtainable in the
restaurant, the organic tea-house,' a small ilia; :omplcte inspection -,f swelling the hospital i fair- -to eventually divd similar- lines to Vaudt attaches a fascinating , as does also to Bunkki. Thomas Burdekin «?;,; Englishman who bravo; iiey in 1826 from Km^ came out to start .1 |,r the time was not r\\)v -;? worth in buying' ami ?-ships and bringing mm1-, quired for the lands ;.:? of the firm of Hold- -Co. The site of the IW-.; was a matter of serious;. far off days. Naturally situation would have :: standing the difficulty :? other considerations, ,i;: better position in tin .,? its' environs as far a- .-and comfort are ;oin-t-rr the building is erecti-i!. Burdekin did not [ wonderful home, but !;: legacy in three sons, -? I became a barrister in (I pointed Colonial Tr;| Ministry and had tlit J fcated in seeking n-i- I J. B. Bnrdekin wa- i i and unlike his elder x: I no part in politics; t':'J in the Slate Pariianu-:::! presenting the HawtVJ name is also to lie -I
THE FIRST FLOOR LANDING. BURDEKIN HOUSE The stair, as will be seen was mostly a matter of intricate curves, so dear to the heart of the skilled tradesman sixty -or seventy years ago. From an artistic point of view the gaining of stability and rigidity in the balustrading, by the use of wreathed handrail is much to be preferred to the modern newel post. The wall papering with its bold pattern must have been selected in more recent years; for it is not in accord with the refined details that 'finished off' the other portions. The hand painted ceilings and some of the walls are still objects for contemplation and wonderment.
THE ENTRANCE HALL, BURDEKIN HOUSE, MACQUARIE ST., SYDNEY The entrance hall lias ever been the place of introduction to the- home; a sort of intermediary between the outer formality and the inner intimacy. It is a survival of age-old ceremonial, by whi;h foreign ambassadors or subjects were led through numerous outer apartments to the inner audience chamber of some high dignitary of the land, so th'at they could be duly impressed with his status and the better able to collect their thoughts and bearing for the occasion, en route. Sedate English homes where '.he hall conveyed the feeling to people, that though in the house they were not yet of it, are becoming past history owing to necessity to conserve space, and there is mu:h to be said for the attractions of the living rooms opening off the hall ai:d thrown one into another, so tha' pleasant vistas, homeliness and spaciousness are obtained. Here, there is a nice view of the dignified staircase and the dining room door, with beautifully cars'ed and enriched wood is partly seen on the left. The fan- ? light and side lights are a typical feature of Georgian homes. The. con- , struction of the fine curved timber beads for the glazing involved mu:n skill in execution.
THE BACK GARDEN OF BURDEKIN HOUSE It will be a surprise to many that this leafy haven is tucked ;iw;; the busy looking facades of professional chambers and coiiinier;ings, which hem it in on all sides. It only needed a woman to; eyes on it and conceive it as a mental playground for the bitindents of the city, where they could relax and talk or think r thoughts during the short respite for luncheon, morning or rifled
its Fate
lied tliis 'a made for a I by way of that it bids I museum on I, to which -ioneer clays, pe of sturdy palliiiR joiir--dney. T-JeI, I, hut fincliiig | Air. lloldsI their own ghat wore re|e foundationJpherson Jpherson and |c, no doubt, tion in those commanding lit; notwith-upply andpossibly possibly no Sydney and convenience fliat on which h enjoy his nation a line ft (Marshall) pter was apfthe Cowpert t to be deSsecond son,It; It; after fame Rhrollier looknow ever, was e|ii years, re|j orate. Kis Si he city on
structures erected during the years of his mayoralty of the City of Sydney. Eventually he resigned and proceeded on a visit to England. ;''It It should be said in passing, that like others of Sj'dncy's famous homes, politics were intimately associated with Burclckin House, for there were men such as Robertson,( Parkes and Reid, who were never rich enough to own even a decent residence, who utilised .the homes of their political associates in much of the country's important work. It is said of Burdekin; Mouse that its drawing room became a political rendezvous and that cabinet meetings were frequently held therein. In design Burdekin House is of a high order, with simplicity of Georgian manner as the key note, and has the stamp of an architectural genius. There is some degree of doubt as to where Burdekin obtained his designs; some attribute the works to Governor Maet|iiarie's architect: — Greenway — but a fuuher report states that an English architect .;esit them out to Sydney. It is a curious fact that architecture, and peculiarly domestic architecture is an infallible guide to the education, experience and general excellence of the designer, or just as infallibly stamps the hands of the jerry builder or the empiric who uses bombast in place of education and skill; but just as literary authors are identified by their works, so the personal character of the architect is stamped upon his works, no matter how obscure the identity. However obscure. ' the designer of llunlekin House may be, there: is no doubt I hat the execution of the work did' justice to him, and the inspiration and example which such line old homes afford in their chaste design, exjellent material and beautiful hand wrought decoration and craftsmanship, is well worth an effort to preserve them for the nation.
THE 'STAIRCASE, BURDEKIN HOUSE This line staircase is in cedar, as arc the other timber fittings in this home, and indeed most of the buildings of early Australian colonisation. The timber was so lavishly used that it has been almost cut out of the forests, a condition that will soon apply to all our timbers — even the poorest — if governments do not Jake more active interest in reafforestation. The balusters, newel post and hand railing are of substantial and purposeful design with exquisitely wrought carving. Owing to the risers being too high for the normal step, the staircase is uncomfortable to ascend or descend, which shows that past architects sometimes made mistakes, or that our present architects consider that clients of to-day have less agility than their forebears, and so provide stairs with 'easy going,** which is the technical term for the broad low treads that entail but little exertion to ascend.
THE BOUDOIR, HOLME LACY, ENGLAND The decoration of this room is of a delicate and restrained type, so different from the other bold and somewhat overpowering rooms of this historic mansion with its profusion of exquisite, though weighty. Grinling Gibbons carvings that one can scarcely associate the two. Here there is more of the French influence of the 'Louis'.and the Napoleonic Empire, which Sheraton and other designers translated into English. Holme Lacy, apart from, its traditions, belongs to the fine type of English home, whose craftsmanship and decoration is prized because it cannot now be reproduced, but . high cost of upkeep, the servant question and other conditions of modern life have brought about a slump in mansions, and many have been put ton the market, and become the nrooertv
of American millionaires. who prize them for the social prestige llicv give, perhaps, more than for their intrinsic worth. Thus Warwick I'riory, sold to an American, is being transplanted stone by stone and re-ereclcd on American soil. Holme Lacy passed from a long line of Scudamores to Sir Robert Lucas Tooth, but is again being offered for sale to the highest bidder.
VERANDAH VISTA, BURDEKIN HOUSE, MACQUARIE STREET The cost of constructing these finely fluted columns with their Ionic caps, all in timber, would be prohibitive nowadays. They are built up in staves like the staves in a cask, but with secret jointing. These joints which are now made by machinery, involved a great deal of ingenuity and skill in handwork. The series of columns is happy in perspective and the palms make a fine background. Reflected light on the panelled varnished ceiling lends an enlivening effect.
Construction And Architecture Journal - Wednesday 25th November 1925 Page 12
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Construction And Architecture Journal - Wednesday 25th November 1925 Page 7
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Sydney Mail - Wednesday 2nd December 1925 - Page 30
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Singleton Argus - Saturday 11th December 1926 Page 1
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Sydney Morning Herald - 14th January 1929 - Page 4
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Sydney Morning Herald - 6th September 1929 Page 12
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Sydney Morning Herald - To The Editor - 20th Sept 1929
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Daily Telegraph - Wednesday 9th October 1929 - Page 11
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Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday October 9th 1929 - Page 14
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The Land - Friday October 25th 1929 - Page 17
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Burdekin House Exhibition - The Land - Friday 1st November 1929 Page 17
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Daily Telegraph - Monday 27th January 1930 Page 15
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Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday 15th February 1933 - Page 13
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Daily Telegraph - Saturday 18th February 1933 - Page 8
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The Sun - Saturday 18th February 1933 - Page 7
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The Advertiser - Monday 20th February 1933 - Page 2
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Sydney Morning Herald - Sat 25th February 1933 Page 9
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The Sun - Sunday 26th February 1933 - Page 11
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Sydney Morning Herald - Thursday 18th May 1933 - Page 8
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The Sun - Saturday 29th July 1933 - Page 3
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Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 5th August 1933 Page 13
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Sydney Morning Herald - Thursday 17th August 1933 Page 8
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Bundaberg Daily - Sat 19th August 1933 - Page 8
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SOON TO DISAPPEAR
Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 19th August 1933 - Page 16
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Daily Telegraph - Monday 21st August 1933 Page 7
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Sydney Morning Herald - Thursday 7th December 1933
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Obituary - Joseph Burdekin Holdsworth
Sydney Morning Herald Friday 7th May 1875
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Will Of Joseph Burdekin Holdsworth 1875
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