What is Heritage and why does it matter?
The places, buildings, streets, landscapes, waterscapes
and objects which are distinctive and form Glebe's unique character are
our heritage. It is important to preserve this for future generations
so that they may have an understanding of our history. Our heritage and
history provide us with a connection to our past, essential for our identity,
sense of belonging and self-esteem.
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Bidura
was built c.1860 and possesses classical lines and proportions. It
is believed to have been the home of Edmund Blacket while he was designing
the Great Hall of the University of Sydney. Bidura
served for many years as a residence for merchant Fred. Perks,
a children's shelter while a new Children's Court complex was added
to the rear. It's fine ballroom is noteworthy. |
What are The Glebe Society's Heritage
policies?
Our polices are to:
- oppose developments detrimental
to our heritage conservation values,
- preserve and enhance the natural
and architectural character of Glebe by encouraging the protection of
heritage in town planning, architectural and conservation practices,
- promote an interest in heritage
conservation and appropriate maintenance practices, and
- stimulate interest in the
historical character of Glebe by encouraging research into the history
of the area.
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Until recently, Bellevue (also
known as Venetia) on the harbour
at Blackwattle Bay remained a shell of its former self. It
has, been an important heritage issue in Glebe for over a
decade.
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How does The Glebe Society carry out its Heritage Policies?
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By being informed
of state and local legislation on heritage conservation.
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Liaising with developers
and local government regarding proposed
developments which could impact on Glebe's unique character, preparing
written objections, attending Land and Environment Court proceedings
as witnesses.
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Arranging seminars
and visits to heritage buildings and places in Glebe.
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Liaising with State heritage listed
item owners and occupiers to promote and preserve the unique character
of those places.
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Informing Glebe residents of items of
heritage interest and importance through The Glebe Society Bulletin
and website.
Glebe's Heritage Status
In 1970 The Society prepared a Master Plan for the area which resulted
in the National Trust listing Glebe as a "Conservation
Area" in 1974. Although the Trust is not a statutory body,
Councils and courts generally respect their advice.
The following buildings are State listed and require
the consent of the NSW Heritage Council before any alterations or additions
can be carried out:
Lyndhurst,
61 Darghan Street
Rothwell
Lodge & Factory, 24 Ferry
Road
Tranby,
13 Mansfield Street
University
Hall, 281 Broadway
Hereford
House, 53 Hereford Street
Venetia
[Bellevue], 55-57 Leichhardt Street
Reussdale
160 Bridge Road
Monteith, 266 Glebe Point Road
All other building alterations in Glebe require Council
Consent, e.g. windows, fences or any detail which will alter the appearance
of the streetscape. Council is required by law to keep a register of all
State listed items and also list items of local significance in their
LEP [Local Environment Plan].
References:
Looking after your Community's
Heritage by NSW Heritage Office
The Past is a Foreign
Country by David Lowenthall (1985) Cambridge
University Press
Mayfair
… Hartford … Carlyle … Florence … Gaza … Morocco
… Minnesota … Montana
An
itinerary to distant and exotic places? No, Glebe house names!
Houses
were often known by their names in the days before the numbering of houses
became fully systematised early in the 20thC.
Apart
from the obvious influences suggested above, many other preoccupations
and aspirations are demonstrated in the way properties have been named
by their builders, architects or owners.
In Glebe, for example, there are the 'Rivers of Tasmania' terraces (1903)
in Glebe Point Road (corner Hereford Street) where Derwent, Tamar,
Huon and Esk stand side by side. Further down Glebe Point Road
at Nos. 433-445, there are terraces (1899-1900) named alphabetically -
and with some brevity - Abna, Boro, Cama, Divo, Edna (not displayed),
Freya and Gaza.
The
Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon terraces (1892) in
Wigram Road (Nos. 63-71) suggest an owner, architect or builder with a
classical education or perhaps aspirations to one.
Was
St Elmo (1895) named after the patron saint of ships? Many Australian
houses were named after the ship which brought immigrants safely to these
shores. Was St Helens (1902) a reference to the attractive legend
that this saint, reputedly the mother of the Emperor Constantine, was
an Englishwoman and daughter of Old King Cole?
Fashions
in names
Gould* indicates that early and mid-Victorian house
names displayed a sense of grandeur. For example, in Glebe we have Toxteth
Park (1831) and Lyndhurst (c.1835).
In
the late Victorian and Federation period (which was when much of the development
occurred in Glebe), house names tended to become more personal and given
names were often used. Some local examples are Edith Villas (1877),
Alice Villas (1911), Florence Villa (1873-6), Beryl Lee
(1910) and Louisa Terrace (1875).
Styles
of presentation
House names might appear in gold leaf, frosted
or stained glass fanlights (Keribree at 55 Hereford Street is an exquisite
example) or in panels of timber, metal (brass, copper, gold leaf) or glass
(often in combination) beside the front door or on the verandah beam above
the front steps.
Researching
your house name
If you are considering researching your property's
original name, you should first check the Certificate of Title for useful
information (eg, date built) and then check the holdings of:
* The State Library (eg, Sands Directories, Post Office Directories, etc)
* The Society of Genealogists
* NSW Archives
* Glebe Library (local history section)
The
Glebe Society also holds some limited information on this subject and
we would be pleased to handle requests in writing.
The
architecture of Glebe tells its own story; but house names augment this
and add a poetic flourish to mere bricks and mortar.
"A house without a name
is a house without soul"
*Gould,
Graham, House names of Australia : The complete guide to naming
your house,
Lyre Bird Publications, Moonee Ponds, 1994, p6
The Glebe Estate
Click to read an account of how the
Whitlam Government decided to acquire and refurbish the
Glebe
Estate. (From The Whitlam
Government, 1972-1975, E.G. Whitlam, Penguin
Books Australia, 1985)
Hereford
House
The NSW College of Nursing, former owner of
Hereford
House (53 Hereford Street) between 1981-2000, has donated to The
Glebe Society some archival material relating to the Bull family. William
Bull was a wheelwright and son of a marine in the First Fleet who built
the house in 1874 and lived there with his wife, Catherine, and his children,
until his death in 1900. Catherine only succeeded him by one year however.
From the 1920s it was the home of Stephen McCormack, Mayor of Glebe and
a master carrier. The colour scheme is a faithful reproduction and the
half-acre block still contains stables built for the draught-horses.
Queries? email: secretary@glebesociety.org.au
