Waverley House - New South Wales
Waverley the suburb was named after a private home, Waverley House, built by Barnett Levey. He was the first free male Jewish settler in Australia.
Levey arrived in Sydney in 1821 from the East End of London full of Grandiose Plans. He was an enterprising figure. At various times of his life he was a windmill proprietor, developer, speculator, vegeatble grower, jeweller.
He also was the Originator of Sydney's first lending library. He is often called the Father Of Australian Theatre. He founded the first permanant Theatre - The Theatre Royal in the Royal Hotel in George Street in 1829.
In 1827 work was started on what was described as a cottage, but was actually a Grand structure on his South Head property. The plan included a garden from which Levey supplied Sydney with Vegetables a third cheaper than the Markets
The cottage had three large Cellars & a Kitchen in the basement, two parlours, two bedrooms, a Lobby on the first floor, & a bedroom in the attic.
There were stables and other offices, and a well with a plentiful supply of water.
Despite its grand design Levey never lived in Waverley House, it was always leased.
Levey also went on to become on the earliest building promoters in Sydney.
Waverley House was demolished in 1904, but the name Lives on
A Bit Of Old Sydney - SMH Friday 1 July 1904 Pg 5
One of the most notable of the old land-marks of Sydney that are fast disappearing in order to make way for more modern buildings, is Waverley House. For over three quarters of a century this relic of early days, which was erected as a mansion for Mr Barnett Levy in 1827, has occupied a commanding site on the Old South Head-road near the Bondi Junction. The house was constructed at a period when building was brisk, & when convict labour was largely availed of by the early residents of Sydney. Upon a foundation of solid stonework three feet thick, was raised a superstructure with stone walls about two feet in thickness. Mr James Vickery, the oldest resident In Waverley, has a recollection of Waverley House during the past 71 years, and is also in possession of many interesting facts relating to the history of this remarkable building. Mr Levy, for whom it was built, did not remain long in possession, and in 1929 the building was sold for £705, & 20 lots adjoining portion, of Mr Levy's 40-acre Crown grant-realised £24 each. Owing to the progress of the municipality of Waverley, the area of the land surrounding Waverley House was many years ago reduced to three acres. Mr Young (formerly sheriff of the colony) and Mr Henry Clarke, M L A. (father of the Legislative As-sembly) were formerly occupants of the house. Mr Clarke was in possession at the time of the wreck of the ill-fated Dunbar on August 20, 1857. Many years ago, when the old house was used as an orphanage by the New South Wales Government, the building was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm and three of the children who were in the base-ment at the time were killed. Miss Hall for some years conducted a girls' high school, and subsequently the Kilburn sisters carried on an educational establishment for 10 years, the Sisters of the Church having vacated the building in April last. Since the death of Miss Hall the property passed into the possession of Mr T E Hall, of Randwick. The land having been recently sold in building allotments, the old landmark has been de-molished. In the pulling down process several interesting relics of "convict" days were unearthed. These included portion of a prisoner's leg-irons and chain, a convict's chisel (with name stamped on), old coins, a gold brooch, and other articles. The stone and wood work was in excellent order. Although but a few have passed since the land was sold by auction, already several new residences are in course of erection and the
site upon which Waverley House stood for 77 years is now but a mass of debris.
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One of the most notable of the old land-marks of Sydney that are fast disappearing in order to make way for more modern buildings, is Waverley House. For over three quarters of a century this relic of early days, which was erected as a mansion for Mr Barnett Levy in 1827, has occupied a commanding site on the Old South Head-road near the Bondi Junction. The house was constructed at a period when building was brisk, & when convict labour was largely availed of by the early residents of Sydney. Upon a foundation of solid stonework three feet thick, was raised a superstructure with stone walls about two feet in thickness. Mr James Vickery, the oldest resident In Waverley, has a recollection of Waverley House during the past 71 years, and is also in possession of many interesting facts relating to the history of this remarkable building. Mr Levy, for whom it was built, did not remain long in possession, and in 1929 the building was sold for £705, & 20 lots adjoining portion, of Mr Levy's 40-acre Crown grant-realised £24 each. Owing to the progress of the municipality of Waverley, the area of the land surrounding Waverley House was many years ago reduced to three acres. Mr Young (formerly sheriff of the colony) and Mr Henry Clarke, M L A. (father of the Legislative As-sembly) were formerly occupants of the house. Mr Clarke was in possession at the time of the wreck of the ill-fated Dunbar on August 20, 1857. Many years ago, when the old house was used as an orphanage by the New South Wales Government, the building was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm and three of the children who were in the base-ment at the time were killed. Miss Hall for some years conducted a girls' high school, and subsequently the Kilburn sisters carried on an educational establishment for 10 years, the Sisters of the Church having vacated the building in April last. Since the death of Miss Hall the property passed into the possession of Mr T E Hall, of Randwick. The land having been recently sold in building allotments, the old landmark has been de-molished. In the pulling down process several interesting relics of "convict" days were unearthed. These included portion of a prisoner's leg-irons and chain, a convict's chisel (with name stamped on), old coins, a gold brooch, and other articles. The stone and wood work was in excellent order. Although but a few have passed since the land was sold by auction, already several new residences are in course of erection and the
site upon which Waverley House stood for 77 years is now but a mass of debris.
Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Wednesday 13 July 1904, page 93
Waverley House.
AN HISTORIC LANDMARK DE-MOLISHED.
With the continued progress in buildings going on in the different suburbs, many old landmarks are being removed to make way for more modern residences. Of the old-time dwelling's probably none has a more interesting history attached to it than "Waverley" House near Bondi Junction. A two-storied house with basement rooms in addition, it stood upon an elevated spot in the centre of a spacious area. The main frontage was to the Old South Head Rd, whilst there were others frontages along Pine & Waverley streets. The history of Waverley House dates so far back that few indeed, if any, now 1iving, remember its erection. In the year 1827, a a time when building was brisk, Mr. Barnet Levy built the house, which was regarded as a mansion, & was oft referred to as Levy's 'folly.' Mr. Levy was a man of many parts, & in addition to his commercial transactions as merchant, he was regarded as 'father of the stage,' & could give a monologue entertainment, as he often did at his "at homes." Building construction also took the attention & he, amongst other places, built the Sydney Royal Hotel. Waverley House was the first dwelling erected in the eastern suburbs by that name, & took its cognomen from Sir Walter Scott's novel. Mr. Levy obtained a Crown grant of 40 acres, & built his residence upon the highest position, from which splendid panoramic views of the distant parts could be had. Convict labour was used in its erection. The foundation walls were of solid stone, 3ft thick, & the superstructure throughout measured 2ft in thickness. The faithful manner in which the building was erected is shown in the fact that when demolished last week; the stone was in good order, & the hardwood interior had no semblance of having been attacked by white ants. In the year 1829 Waverley House changed hands, and, with a limited area of land, brought £705; whilst twenty building allotments of the estate were disposed of for £24
each. Mr. Levy died September 30, 1837. Waverley House has rendered good service, for it at one period was turned into an hotel; again it was used as an 'orphanage' by the Government. Amongst the tenants who have resided within its walls are Mr. Henry Clarke, M.L.A. (father of the House), who was there, & well remembers the night
WAVERLEY HOUSE, BUILT 1827, DEMOLISHED JUNE, 1904.
when the Dunbar was wrecked at South Head. Mr. F. W. Bowden, auctioneer, was also a former occupier. Miss Hall for some years was proprietor, & conducted a girls' high school in the old house, & up to recently the Sisters of the Church successfully taught the children of local residents in it for ten years, until their removal to Paddington in
April last. Upon the death of Miss Hall the property came into the possession of Mr. F. E. Hall, of Randwick, & it was recently subdivided and sold in modern-sized building allotments. During the time that the orphan-age was in existence a very severe thunder-storm passed over the district. Waverley House, from its exalted position, was visited by the storm in all its severity, the building was struck by lightning, & of a number of the orphan children who were hiding in the basement, three were killed by the elec-tric current. Many are the rumours that have gone abroad regarding the old house, & not a few of the more superstitious have spoken of the dwelling as the 'haunted house.' Its associations with the convict days of New South Wales were more recently brought to light, as during the work of pulling down, portion of legirons, and a convict's chisel, with name of the owner on it, were unearthed. Since its erection slight additions had been made, & when last tenanted Waverley House contained eight rooms & four basement rooms. It was only during the last ten years that water & gas had been laid on, so that for the first 65 years these later advantages were not availed of. Notwithstanding that only a few weeks have passed since the land was subdivided, the ruins of the oldest landmark in the district are now surrounded by a number of work-men engaged in building uptodate tenements, which will shortly be occupied, & what for the past three-quarters of a century has been known as Waverley House will be a thing of the past.
Wavereley House - Syd Mail & NSW Advertiser - Wed 13th July 1904 Page 93
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