Original Villas Of Darlignhurst -

 

The Original Villas Of Darlinghurst 

In the early days the area had been named "Henrietta Town", named after Governor Macquarie's wifes First Name. 
The First House Of Note Was 'Craigend" Fronting Upper William Streret South, now Wollcott Street, built by Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveryor General . 

Just behind "Craigend" was the last of old Darlinghurst Windmills, known as Hynde's Windmill. Originally there were 3, one near the goal,  2 were made of wood and required Manual labour but the third was mechanical.

Across Upper William Street at its junction with Darlinghurst Road, formerly Woolloomooloo Road, was the property of the Hon Richard Jones MC known as "Merchant Jones" which extended into, & along Darlinghurst Road. The property was built on a portion of land 3 acres 2 rods & 8 perches in extent, formerly granted on 19th October 1831 to Mr S.A. Perry.  The land extending between it & Roslyn Hall was afterwards the site of Alberto Terrace, built & owned by John Solomon. 
Next going east was a grant dated 23rd Septembeer 1839, of 4 acres 2 rods & 24 Perches, to Thomas McQuoid mentioned before. 

"Kellett House" was built on it by Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson, the first Premier in 1856 under Responsible Government; he lived there for some years & it was afterwards owned  by Mr W.F. Buchanon, who pulled down the house, & built a terrace there known as "Bayswater Terrace"

Then there came "Sevenoaks" & "Eaton" where Mr Edward Knox, & afterwards Captain Martindale, then occupied by Mr Edward Fosberty, the late Inspector General of Police

On the opposite side of Princes Road (Off Bayswater Road) & in front of "Sevenoaks" which also had a frontage to that road, were 2 cottages, one known as "Lara"  was occupied by Mr James Norton - Solicitor, before he went to Double Bay. The other house was pulled down & it has been occupied by Lady Dowling, when she vacated "Brougham Lodge" on the death of Sir James Dowling, and after her Sir Henry Parkes and Mr W.H. Piddington. 

Then to the east of Upper William Street North came 2 cottages next to "Eaton" with an old fashioned wooden pump at the bottom of the private road between them, belonging to Mr T.W. Smart. Then there was Vacant Land round & along the gate of Roslyn Hall, owned by Mr Thomas Barker; he built the house, Mr Ambrose Hallen being the architect, living there for a time. St Canice Roman Catholic Church Stands on the site of the exit gate of the property

"It is hardly Visible to the eye from the South Head Road, being surrounded by Advertisement Boardings. Opposite was West's Bush, densely timbered, where the black used to camp. 

Just to the north of "Craigend" is "Goderich Lodge" which was built & lived in by  Mr T McQuiud, the then Sheriff in the 1830's until he died in 1841. The Bishop of Sydney (Dr William Grant Broughton was also a tenant, also Mr S.A. Perryu, the Deputy Surveyor General, Mr William Carr Solicitor in 1848, Mr Charles Scott - Ironmonger, and Mr Frederick Tooth Sold it to Captain Charles Smith of the firm Mcdonald Smith & Co, & was occupied by his widow.  At  one time its gardens extended to the Junction of Upper William Street (North) now Bayswater Road, and Upper William Street (South) where the Warahtah Hotel is now. Subsequently "Waratah" was built next to and on the East side of "Goderich Lodge"

Just a little below these to the east was a later built house, owned by Mr John Williams, the Crown Solicitor, now "Kurragheen"; next thereto was "Hillside" now the site of a large building to be used as dwelling flats, & next to that was a small cottage...

Behind "Hillside" was a house in which the Late Mr Justice Hargrave resided.  The land on which it was built was a portion of 70 Acres grantred on 30th May 1844 to Mr T West.  Roslyn St had not been formed but the Southern boundary of the property ran along to the Junction of Macleay Street with the site of its present junction with Rosyln Street, close there were 2 Windmills owned by Mr T Barker. 

The Roslyn Hall property fronted Macleay Street, & the second iron lattice entrance gate at the entrance was in Darlinghurst Rd, nearly opposite "Springfield". The house was a large well built mansion, with a spiral iron staircase to the upper storey; the rooms were large, with a bath fixed in most of the bedrooms level with the floor, so that one had to step down, not up, to get into it.

 
"Roslyn Hall  was one of the gayest houses of the time. The land extended on the South East to the site of St Canince Church, taking in Roslyn Gardens & Roslyn Road to the East, and on the north "Barnclueth" now called "Kinneil & part of Elizabeth Bay Road.

 
To the north is "Chevwerals, on part of the Macleay grant, next came a large substantial cottage or low built house at the corner of Macleay Street.

This cottage was purchased and considerably added to and converted into a house by Mr Sparke, who named it Maranamah, and his family lived there for a time. 

"Barnclueth" adjoining "Roslyn Hall" was occupied by Mr John Brown, Senior Partner of Brown & Co, wine & spirit merchants & afterwards Mr Hernry Moore, the Agent for P&O company, when the Steamers of the company only arrived once a month, & fired a gun off Fort Denison to announce their arrival. It was later purchased by Mr Amos, the Contractor, & added to & modernised, & is now called "Kinneil" & utilised as a boarding house

Following down Macleay Street, next to the house occupied Mr Hodgson, the land was vacant until arriving at 'Greenknowe", also on portion of the Macleay Grant, the residence of Mr John Gilchrist the Senior Partnert of Gilchrist, Watt & Co & it was ultimately purchased

Next came two smaller dwellings, & then "Larbert Lodge" which was built & tenanted by Mr C.D. Riddell, the Colonial Treasurer. 

Next to this property was a stone rubble wall, the western boundary of the Macleay Grant, down to the centre of Potts Point, where "Chatsworth": was built in later days by the Hon C J Roberts. This Wall was erected  by William Sharp Mackey, a son of Alexander Macleay. He was a recluse & a naturaluist. He had the credit of having loose bloodhounds about the property as a safeguard against thieves & marauders, but I think this was only meant for a scare. He always guarded the beach on Elizabeth Bay, & wouldn't allow anyone to land there, or even anchor a boat there. The Macleay property was 54 Aceres in extent, & was granted to Mr Alexander Macleay By Governor Darling in 1828, who in despatch to the Right Honourable William Huskinsson, dated 128th March 1828 stated: - "The land granted to Mr Macelay at Elizabeth Bay, a mile & a half from Sydney, was for the purpose of erecting a family house & cultivating a garden. Mr Macleays knowledge as a Horticulturalist is likely to prove beneficial  to the Colony. He has already spent a considerable sum on the improvement & cultivation of his grounds, & in erecting a stable & offices preparatory  to buildiung a house,. which it is his intention shortly to commence, From the manner in which he has entered into this undertaking & scale on which he has commenced to settle & stock the land he has received for agricultural purposes ( the usual grant of 2,500 acres), he will, no doubt, prove an important acquisition to the Colony in this respect alone, the Capital which he has already vested in stock & is still continuing to expand, being considerable."
The Grant took in all Elizabeth Bay & the Western Frontage of Rushcutter's Bay, as far as the Eastern boundary of "Roslyn Hall". It was approached by Elizabeth Bay Rd, as at present. The house was the present 'Elizabeth Bay House", another good speccimen of the family mansion.
The frontage to Macleay Street, from the corner of Elizabeth Bay Rd to "Chatsworth" was later built upon. 
The rest of the estate, with the exception of Elizabeth bay House, & grounds, was later divided into numerous building allotment by Mr Alexander Macleay's Son, the late Sir George Macleay, & let on long building leases, on which the present residence & villas were erected. The formal Grant was dated 19th October 1831. Elizabeth Point was so named by Governor Macquarie after his wife's Second Name. The Native name was "Yarrandabby"
A large portion of land near ther extreme Potts Point, 11 Acres in  extent, was originally granted to Mr Judge Adviocate John Wylde on the 1st November 1822 (who was the last Judge Advocate, & for a short time a Judge of the Supreme Court under the Charter of 1823) who delayed fuilfilling the conditions of the grant, for Governor Darling in the above despatch  of 26th March 1828 states :- "The Allotment bearing Judge Wyldes name was grasnted to that Gentleman by Governor Macquarie several years sincce, & still remains unimproved. I propose writing to inform the Judge that it will be resumed by the Government unless the conditions of the grant are speedily fulfilled. "
However, he ultimately  fulfilled the conditions. he subsequently converyed 6 & a half acres of it to Mr J.H. Potts, who was one of the early officvers of the Bank Of New South Wales, hence the Name Potts Point. It was also called Point Campbell in a survery by Governor Phillip in 1792. The native name was "Carrageen" The street from the end of Macleay Street opposite "Grantham" is called Wylde Street, evidently after the judge. 
On the North Side of this street, built on this land, were the present "Bellevue", "Clarens" "Creelwood", "Clifford," "Tarana", some of which have been rebuilt or added to or renamed, including the site of Mr W.R. Halls modern "Wildfell", & opposite thereto "Bomerajh", belionging to the McQuade family, a few years ago occupied by the Admiral on the station. Then the property "Cintra" & "Campbell lodge" (a portion of the same grant) of Mr J F Hilly, the architect, & opposite this was "Grantham Ville" built on the remaining four & half acres of John Wyldes Grtasnrt. This land, on which the house was erected, became, through the purchase from the Judge, the proeprty of Mr Caleb Wilson, the fatheer of Felix Wilson, a defendant in the  celebrated Newtown Ejectment Suit of "Devine v Wilson"
he Built the first house on the propeerty, which he called "Caleb Castle" & by reason of its turrets, it was also known as the 'Pepper Pot", & afterwards as "Grantham Ville"; it subsequently became the property of Mr F Parbury. It then passed into the hands of the Late Mr Henry Dangar, & it is now owned by his son the Hon H.C. Dangar M.L.C, who almost wholly rebuilt it in 1870, and changed the name to "Grantham" 
Immediastely Oppositte "Grantham Ville" was "Clarens" before mentioned, which was in 1847 purchased by Mr George Richard Griffiths, father of Mr F.C Griffiths who came out to Sydney as the General Manager of the Bank Of Australasia, & after resigning this appointment he conducted a Merchants business in Sydney under the style Of Griffiths, Graham & Co. He sold out when he went to England in 1853. 
Later this property was occupied by Sir James Martin, the Chief Justice, & is now under the name of "Wilga", owned & occupied by Dr Faithful. 

On the West side Of Macleay Street, next to Grantham came Dr Douglas's Grant of 8 Acres & 9 Perches on the 19th October 1831. He afterwards sold it 22nd September 1832 to Colonel Shadforth, Who built Adelaide Cottage on it. The land extended from Macleay Street down to the waters of Woolloomooloo Bay. The whole property came later into the possession of Mr J.H. Challis (Manager for Messrs Flower, Salting & Co, who gave it with another property as a magnificent Bequest, valued at 250,000 Popunds to the Universirtty of Sydney. For some time after his deatth it was occupied by Mr MacDonald, of MacDonald Smith & Co. 

- Adelaide Cottage 

- Barham

- Brougham Lodge

- Craigend

- Elizabeth Bay House

- Goderich Lodge
- Grantham

- Kellett House

- Orwell House

- Rockwall

- Rosebank

- Rose Hall 

- Roslyn Hall 

- Springfield

- Tarmons

- Telford Lodge

- Tusculum 

Kellett House - Darlinghurst - New South Wales 

The First NSW Premier Stuart Alexander Donaldson, moved into a 2 Storey Villa on a 3 Acre Lot, where The Hotel Mansions On Kellett Street and Bayswater Road sits Today. 

The Villa was originally called Bona Vista, and had been built gfor Samuel Augustus perrty in 1831 and Donaldson renamed it Kellett House. 

Perry was granted the allotment by Governor Ralph Darling, but unlike most of the gentry who were given the original 17 plots on the ridge of Woolloomooloo Hill - which came to be known as Darlinghurst - he had a rather scruffy appearance.

The London-born soldier and surveyor, who arrived in Australia with his wife and six children in 1829,  sat for his portrait in the 1800s and the unknown artist captured a man who looks more like the hipsters that roam around Darlinghurst today.

His hair looks like it could do with a good brush, his sideburns are very 2005 and his unbuttoned, military coat looks straight off the Autumn-Winter 2012 runway. A man ahead of his time, perhaps.

Perry came to Sydney to serve as the deputy to NSW Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell, and he clashed with the older man who was jealous of anyone he thought likely to succeed him.

Therefore, Perry was generally assigned mundane duties so Mitchell could accuse his underling of being idle.

Perry didn't live in Bona Vista for long and in 1834 sold it at auction to Richard "China" Jones MP, who renamed the villa Darlinghurst House, after his wife's good friend, Lady Elizabeth Darling, wife of the Guv.

While researching this transaction, I came across this gem of an article from the 30 November 1937 edition of The Sydney Morning Herald, written by Joseph Reidle:

"Ghosts in Crinolines, When Kings Cross was dotted with stately homes.

"A great effort is required to imagine that King's Cross (sic) - the present throbbing centre of Sydney's night life - was once sparsely dotted with stately homes, where demure ladies drove leisurely through private avenues of trees in their carriages.

"Those were the days when land was owned by the acre. 
"To-day (sic), despite stout resistance to the demolisher's picks, century-old homes are being knocked down so that the task of converting King's Cross into a swarming, human ant-hill may proceed uninhibited.

"Roslyn Hall and Orwell House are already man-made ruins, and a similar fate awaits Kellett House, Springfield and Larbert Lodge. 
"But before modern mammoth structures completely annihilate even the memory of their long lives, these last survivors of a bygone age merit at least a brief obituary."

The article goes on to describe, in words and pictures, the ruin-like state of some of the original villas and, despite the fact that the Villas book states Kellett House was demolished in 1877, it appears from this article parts of the home were still around in the 1930s.

So, after Donaldson moved out of Kellett House in the mid-1800s, it was purchased by wealthy squatter W.F. Buchanan.
The original plot was subdivided from 1864 and Buchanan demolished part of Kellett House and built a terrace on the site, known as Bayswater Terrace - obviously how the road today was given its name.

The Hotel Mansions was built in the late 1800s and remodelled in 1918. 

The remains of Kellett House were sold in October 1937 and it was probably demolished soon after.
Today, the Hotel Mansions is about to be converted into designer apartments known as Manor, and the area continues to be a swarming, human ant-hill.

1879