Abbortsford House - Abbortsford - Sydney - New South Wales 

 

“Carthona” - Potts Point

In The Early Days - Potts Point - SMH - Monday 1st October 1906

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 1 October 1906, page 5

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IN THE EARLY DAYS.
POTTS POINT AND DARLING
POINT.
NOTES BY MR ARTHUR DOWLING.
At the monthly mooting of the Australian Historical Society, held at the Royal Society's House, Elizabeth-street, on Tuesday evening. Mr. Arthur Dowling read an interesting paper in which he traced the history of many not-able buildings & proprties at Potts Pt & Darling Pt, associated with the names of men who have long since passed-away.
Mr. J. H. Maiden presided, and there was a large attendance.

Mr. Dowling commenced with a reference to "Craigend," fronting Upper William St Sth, now Woolcott St, built by Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor-Goneral, on a Crown grant, dated October, 1831. In time it wns converted into a hospital, & subsequently into a boarding house. "Goderich Lodge," near the Windmill-Hotel, in Victoria St, was built and occupied by Mr. T. M'Quoid, sheriff in the 1830's & 1840's. Dr William Grant Broughton (Bishop of Sydney) at one timo was a tenant at the Lodge. The "Roslyn Hall" property fronted Macleay St. The house was a large well built mansion with a spiral iron stair case to the upper storey, & was built on land having an area of 9 acres. "Barncleuth" (now called "Kin-nell"), adjoining "Roslyn Hall," was occupied by Mr. John Brown, who was a spirit merchant, & afterwards by Mr. Henry Moore, agent for tho P &O Company. "Greenknowe" was, built on a portion of the Macleay grant, by Mr. John Gilchrist, in 1846. The Macleay pro-perty had an area of 54 acres, and was grant-ed to Mr. Alex. Macleay, by Governor Darling, in 1828 "for the purpose of erecting a family house & cultivating a garden." It took in all Elizabeth Bay & the western frontage of Rushcutter Bay, as far as the eastern boundary of "Roslyn Hall." A large portion of land at & near the extreme Potts Point, 11 acres in extent, was originally granted to Judge Advocate John Wylde, on November 1, 1822. Mr. Wylde delayed the fulfilment of the condition of the grant for Governor Darling, in a despatch dated March 20, 1829, wrote: "The allotment bearing Judge Wylde's name was granted to that gentleman by Governor Macquane several years since, & 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, Judge Wylde ultimately fulfilled the conditions, for he subsequently conveyed 61/2 acres of the grant to Mr. J. H. Potts, one of tho early officers of tho Bank of NSW, first established In 1817. The Point Is named after Mr. Potts; & Wylde St, running botween Macleay St & the Point is evidently named aftor the Judge. "Grantham Ville" was built on the remaining 4½ acres of Judge Wylde's grant. The land had previously passed into the possession of Mr. Caleb Wilson, father of Felix Wilson, a defendant in the celebrated Newtown ejectment writ of "Devine v Wilson." He built the first house on the property, & called It "Caleb Castle,'' & by reason of its turrets it was also known as the "Pepper-box." Afterwards it was called Grantham Ville, & became tho property of Mr. F. Parbury. It then passed into the hands of the late Mr. Henry Dangar, & is now owned by his son, Mr. H. C. Dangar, who almost wholly rebuilt it in 1870, & changed the name to "Grantham." Immediately opposite "Grantham Ville" was "Cla-rens," purchased in 1847 by Mr. Geo. R. Griffiths, father of Mr F.C. Griffiths, who came out to Sydney as general manager of the Bank of Australasia. Later the property was occupied by Sir James Martin, & is now, under the name of "Wilga," owned & occupied by Dr. Faithfull. "Rockwall," now known as "Allanthus College," & "Tarmons," the residence of Sir Maurice O'Connell, & afterwards of Sir Charles Nicholson, were built; on land granted in 1831 to Mr. John Busby, of'the early Sydney water supply fame. "Tarmons" has been absorbed in the building known as St. Vincent's Convent. Next to this was a grant dated October 19, 1831, to Mr. A. B. Spark of 9 acres 3 roods 33 perches, on which "Tusculum" was built. This property was afterwards in the occupation of Dr. W. G. Broughton, the first Bishop of Sydney. Sub-sequently Mr. William Long, the father-in-law of Sir James Martin, became the owner, & lived there until his death. It is now being subdivided. Mr. Justice Stephen, who was tho first pulsne Judge of the State after the Charter of Justice, & the father of the late Sir Alfred Stephen, built "Orwell" upon a grant of 11 acres 37 perches, dated October 19, 1831. "Orwell"'subsequently fell Into tho hands of Sir William Manning. 'The property has been subivided, but the original house still exists.

Adjoining the grant to Justice Stephen was a grant of 9 acres 3 rods (October 19, 1831) to Mr. Alex. Baxter, the second Attorney General under the charter. Upon this land, "Springfield," was erected. "Springfield" has had as tenants Mr. Robert Campbell, Mr. Robert Fitzgerald, & Mr. M. J. Macnamara, & is now used as a boarding-house. "Telford Place" was bullt on a grant of 9 acres 22 perches to Mr. Edward Hallen, Government surveyor. "Brougham Lodge" was erected by Justice Dowling on a grant of 8 acres (October, 1831). It was named after Lord Brougham, through whose influence Justice Dowling received his appointment. Justice Dowling gave the land for the present Vic-toria St (named after the late Queen), for Brougham St (named after Lord Brougham), for Duke St (so-called In honour of the Royal Family), for Dowling St (named after himself), & for Forbes St (named after the then Chief Justice. The land was subdlvldod in 1846, & sold fairly well, but that portion In Victoria St on which Brougham Terrace now stands, with a corresponding frontage to Brougham St, containing under an acre, was retained for a residence, in which Justlce Dowling lived. In 1882 £7000 cash was accopted for the house & land. This was considered a good price, & was larger than the amount realised for the other portion of the eight-acre grant. When "Brougham Lodge" was built there was no William St, but only a track for foot passongers from Sydney on the site of the street, which was not opened for use until 1845. Vehicular traffic till then car from Sydney along Hyde Park, up Old Sth Hd Rd, to the Gaol, & across thence to Darlinghurst Hill. Any person wishing to go from Sydney to the Sth Hd had to travel by the Old Sth Hd Rd (part of which Is now known as Oxford St), this being the only route past Bellevue Hill. "Barham," the residence of the late of Sir Edward Deas-Thomson, was built on grants bearing date January, 1835. West of the Dowling & Deas-Thomson grants lay the grant to Mr. John Palmer, Commissionary General, by his Honor Francis Grose, Lieutenant Governer, on February 25, 1793 of "100 acres of land lying at the head of Garden Island Cove, on the east side of the line laid down as a boundary for the common ground appropriated for the town of Sydney," to be known as the "Wallamooloo Farm." This land, sold to the Riley family on May 3, 1822, for £2290, was afterwards known as the "Riley Estate." The original native name,of Woolloomooloo was "Wallahahmullah," meaning a "young male kangaroo," or a "male black kangaroo." Another narne was "Wallamullah," meaning "a place of plenty," or "where fish were caught." The name Wallamooloo was used up to the end of the 1830's, when that of Woolloomooloo came into common use.
On the east side of Darling Pt Rd, in the vicinity of what was known as Mrs. Darling's Pt (named after the wife of tho Governor), lay the grant of 8 acres made by the Crown to Mr. Thomas Holt in November, 1833. 

"Canonbury," the residence of  Mr. Harry Rickards, stands upon a part of the Holt grant. At the gate leading to "Carthona" was a cottage, in which Sir (then Mr.) Daniel Cooper lived. "The Willows" was bullt on a grant (November 28, 1833) to Mr. Jamos Holt. 'When Mr. Mitchell purchased the bush land between Daniel Cooper's cottage & Mt. Adelaide he also purchased ,"The Willows," & made one property, known as "Etham." "Etham House," where Sir Matthew Harris now resides, was built by Mr. Mitchell on the edge of the slope fronting Double or "Keltie" Bay, and behind where "The Willows" originally stood. Next to "The Etham" Estate was "Mount Adelaide" The house was originally a large, comfortable cottage, known as "Derby Lodge," built by Mr. W. M. Lewis, Colonial Architect in 1848. It was subsequently purchased by Mr. Henry Mort, youngest brother to Mr. T. S. Mort. "St. Mark's Cottage was built by a well known solicitor named Callaghan, who died some 60 years ago. It was supposed to be the first dwelling built on Darling Pt, & is now occupied by Mr. E. M. Paul, Consul for Russia. To the past, & adjoining the Double Bay portion of "Green-oaks," was situated "Brooksby," built by Mr. Cooper Turner on portion of Elizabeth Pike's grant. It Is now the residence of M. Pinard, the Consul for France. Adjoining "St. Mark's Cottage" came the entrance lodge to "Green-oaks," and then St. Mark's Church and St. Mark's Cres. The church was opened for service in 1847, with the Rev. Thomas Cusack Russell, B.A., In charge. The church & St. Mark's Cres are built on a portion of T. W. Smith's grant, dated April 8. 1835, of 14 acres 2 roods. In tho early 1850's &, indeed, at a much lator date there were very few well known families living In the neighbourhood, & they were almost all worshippers at St. Mark's. Up a right-of-way from tho "Greenoaks" prívate road into the Glenrock  property is a house claimed to be the oldest on Darling Pt,  is called the "Octagon," by reason of the shape of the main portion of it. It was originally a guard house, & was purchased by Mr. Henry Gilbert Smith. It was added to, & subsequently came Into tho possession of Professor Liversidge, the present occupant. Land in the early 1850's at Darling Pt was thought of no value. It was stated that the Hon. George Thornton, who lived at "Longwood," adjoining Mr. Hordern's property, & now owned by Mr. Tillock, purchased the bulk of the land surrounding his property for £80, and "on being told that it was too far from town, & of no prospective value, resold It for £100. Darling Pt was at night a dark, dismal place, without gas & other modern conveniences, & for the safety of travellers, who at night generally carried lanterns, It was like the Sth Hd Rd, patrollod by a body of mounted police.
At the conclusion of the address Mr. Dowling was accorded a vote of thanks. 

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“Stoneleigh” - Darley Street - Darlinghurst

“Stoneleigh” - Darley Street - Darlinghurst

“Walsholme” - 12 Lang Road, Centennial Park

“WASHOLME” - 12 Lang Road - Centennial Park

Standing Proud As One Of Lang Roads Finest Federation Mansions “Walsholme” Is Set Amid Manicured Grounds  On A Level Dual Access 950sqm Landholding Overlooking Centennial Park. The Two Storey Romanesque Style Has Been Meticulously Renovated To RevealA Seamless Fusion Of Historic Splendour & Contemporary Luxury.

Grand Formal Rooms Including A Unique Rooftop Terrace And Coach House For Family Living And Large Scale Entertaining. Soak Up Views Of The Park From The Master Balcony, Relax By The Pool or Enjoy The Magical Sunsets Over The City Skyline From The Rooftop Terrae

“Barham” - Forbes Street - Darlinghurst

"Barham " 

"Barham" was built in 1833 & is the oldest residential building in Darlinghurst. It was purchased by SCEGGS in 1900 & has been part of the school since then. 

The Grand Villa was bought for Sir Edward Deas Thomson, who was granted over 6 acres in the new Darlinghurst Estate in 1831. Thomson was born in Edinburgh and migrated to Australia in 1828-1829 when he was appointed the dual role of Clerk to the Executive and Legislative Councils in NSW on a salary of 600 Pounds a year

Governor Sir Ralph Dowling was very happy with Thomsons hard work & competance & granted him the land in Darlinghurst. John Verge was employed to design "Barham"whicvh was initially leased to Colonel Kenneth Snodgrass, before Thomson moved in with his wife, Anna Maria, the daughter of Sir Richard Bourke. 

When Thomsonleft public office he was elected as Vice Chancellor Of University of Sydney in 1865, retaining his position until he was forced to resign due to ill health in 1873. 

the couple raised their 2 sons and 5 daughters at "Barham" & remained there for 40 Years until Thomsons death in July 1879. He was buried at St Judes Church of England, Randwick

Thomson's daughter, Susan, married William John Maclaey, who was Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleays oldest son. Alexander was granted 54 Acres at Elizabeth Bay and he also employed John Verge To design his Villa. 

After Thomson's death in 1879, "Barham" was purchased by members of the Ogilvie Pastoralist family who then sold it to SCEGGS in 1900 

"Barham" is located just off Forbes Street within the grounds of SCEGGS and not be viewed from the street