Toxteth Park - Glebe - New South Wales

 

Toxteth Park - Glebe - NSW

Toxteth Park  was built in 1829 for Mr George Allen. Owned by 2 Generations Of the Allen Family, & in 1901 was purchased by the Catholic Church & it became a Convent School . 
The Building Is Now Used By The Sisters Of Good Samaritan as The Good Samaritan Congregational Centre

George Allen was born 1800 in London. His Father died at 6 years & his mother remarried 
In 1812 he was  convicted of Not Affixing Revenue Stamps to the medicine bottles and was transported to Australia. 
The Family followed in 1816.
George was articled out as a Solicitor & was a practising Solicitor in 1822. He was the first Solicitor to receive legal training in Australia.
In 1829 He Commissioned John Verge to Build Toxteth House on 39 Hectares (96 Acres). Over the years George Allen built other houses on the estate including "Tranby" 7 "Emslee"

In 1847 he built a Wesleyan Chapel. He died in 1877 and eldest son George Wigram Allen inherited the property. 

John Verge - Colonial Architect - New South Wales

 

John Verge

Born - 1782 - Christchurch - Hampshire - England
Died - 9th July 1861 (Aged 78-79) - Austral - Eden - Near Macleay River
Spouses
1.Catherine Nee Bowle (Married - 1804-1828)
2. Mary Nee Alford (Married 1858)
Children
George Phillip Verge (to Bowle)
Austral Verge (to Alford)
DESIGN - GREEK REVIVAL - VICTORIAN REGENCY
- Many generations of Verge family had been Bricklayers & Stonemasons, Married Catherine Bowles Aged 22 in London. 
- His marriage failed & in 1828 he migrated to Sydney
- His first land grant was in 1829, on The Williams River South Of Dungog, New South Wales called Lyndhurst Vale
- His second land grant was in 1838, on the Macleay River Named Austral Eden

- Builders were in high demand. He was patronised by many, prominant Businessmen & Colonists
- In 1858 he married 50 Year Old Mary Alford
- He was buried as Anglican in St Thomas Burial Ground At Port Macquarie





Some Of The Residences And Buildings He Was Responsible For 
- Toxteth Park Estate - Glebe
"Barham" - Darlinghurst
St Scholasticas - 1829
Goderich Lodge (1830-1832)
Tusculum (1830 - 1835)
Auburn Cottage - 1832
Rockwall (1831 - 1837)
Denham Court (1832 - 1833)
Hereford House (1832-1834)
Lyndhurst (1833)
Tempe House (1833 - 1836)
St Mary The Virgin Anglican Church (1833 - 1838)
Rose Bay Lodge (1834)
Elizabeth Bay House (1835 - 1839)
Enmore House (1835)
Forest Lodge Villa (1836)
Lyons Terrace - Liverpool Street - 1837
Orwell House - Potts Point
Springfield - Potts Point
Bedervale Homestead - Near Braidwood - 1842
Camden Park Estate
Salisbury Court

Main Projects 
Camden Park - Menangle (1835)

Camden House was completed 1 Year after John Macarthur died. The style is Palladian Style with Central 2 Storey block, one Storey wings and extensions at each side. The facade is giving a Colonial Elegancy Sense Of Looking
- White Stucco Walls
- Stone Porch
- Window Trimming That Results in visual Excellency 

Denham Court - Ingleburn - (1832)

Originally one storey, but from 1832 - 1833, Captain Richard Brooks, added 2 storey wings with two flanking bow fronted one storey room. This Court is Regency influenced With

- Trim Lines

- Stucco Walls

- Denham Courts Ceiling is 14 Feet High with a Geometrical stair Along The West Wall Of The House

The Vineyard - Rydlemere

Built for John Macarthur's Son William Macarthur. Later it became Subiaco Convent. designed for Hannibal Macarthur. 

John Verge Also did additions to Earlier Buildings 
1833 - Additions to Elizabeth Farm 
1832 -1833 - Vestries added to Francis Greenways St James Church

"Tusculum" - 

1 - 3 Manning Street - Potts Point

33 Degrees 87'11"S

151 Degrees 22'45"E

Tusculum is named after a town in Alban Hills 10km from Rome. 

Tusculum represents the High Point of Regency Architecture

This design is only 1 of 3 houses left designed by John Verge (1782 - 1861)

It was Built 1830 - 1835 for Alexander Brodie Spark (1792 - 1856)

2 Storey Colonial Regency

Cedar interiors imported from Lebanon, marble for flooring and chimney pieces imported from Tusculum in Italy. 

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SYDNEY PROPERTY SALE. Tusculum House & grounds, at Potts Point (Sydney) were submitted to auction, on Saturday afternoon. This fine old historic residence, built of stone, with cedar fittings throughout, stands in spacious grounds, with frontage to Manning, Hughes, & Tusculum St's. The house was built by Mr. W. Long in 1835, & is in a wonderful state of preservation. There was a good deal of competition, but in no case was the reserve reached. The house, however, was sold with the land upon which it stands, for £10,000, subject to approval. The grounds were subdivided into five building blocks, & these were, after spirited competition, passed in for private treaty, the best offers being from £77/10/ to £157 a foot, according to the position of the Lots

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