Highlands, Wahroonga

*Highlands*, Wahroonga
Highlands, Wahroonga
	Highlands, in January 2014.
Location	9 Highlands Avenue, Wahroonga, Hornsby Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°42′42″S151°06′39″E / 33.7118°S 151.1108°E
Built	1890–1893
Built for	Alfred James Hordern
Architect	John Horbury Hunt
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Highlands
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	34
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
	Location of Highlands, Wahroonga in Sydney

Last updated October 21, 2023

Highlands is a heritage-listed private residence located at 9 Highlands Avenue, Wahroonga in the Hornsby Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Horbury Hunt and built from 1890 to 1893. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[1]

History

The Highlands was built for Alfred James Hordern, a retail merchant, and his wife, Caroline. During the construction of Highlands the couple lived in a small cottage close to the construction site. It was in this cottage that their first son was born, Alfred Roy. Their second son, Bruce Alexander, was born six years later.^[1]

Alfred (1859–1932) married Caroline Doig (1870–1938) in 1890. Caroline was the daughter of Alexander, a planter in Levaka, Fiji, where she was born. Plans for Highlands would have already been drawn up or the house may already have been under construction. Caroline obviously had a hand in the plans. Lesley Horden^[2] said of Alfred that "There is nothing in his letters to suggest he had the aestheticism or the spirit of innovation which would move him to commission such an architect. He was not a man to take risks or flout convention, and the robust and distinctive style of this house... bears little relation to his nervous personality." Caroline, however, is described as an artistic and well-educated woman, attributes reflected in Highlands. Other evidence of her influence of the plans is the second kitchen, located next to the household kitchen, which allowed her to "indulge in a culinary orgy." For Caroline, cooking was a creative outlet and was not for the purpose of feeding her family. Once her masterpieces had been formed they were given to local hospitals to feed patients.^[1]

The garden was also created and maintained by Caroline, with the help of up to 14 gardeners. The original garden, how much modified, featured colour. Of note was the gravel driveway bordered by hydrangeas, in 1931 the garden was said to contain 100 varieties. Another feature was a 6.4-metre-long (21 ft) bed of lily-of-the-valley. The garden was not just ornamental, there were extensive kitchen garden beds and, in 1903, Caroline had a grape house constructed. She was also an avid collector and would bring back exotics from her travels in the Pacific Islands and Europe. This had its down side, it is said she introduced a weed of the Oxalidaceace family to Australia.^[1]

The Alfred junior and Bruce may not have maintained the house as when it was purchased by Mr and Mrs Norman Jones in 1948 it was in a dilapidated state. The Jones replaced the shingle roof with concrete tiles in the 1960s as part of the restoration.^[1]

Description

This distinctive two-storey house comprises two conjoining components. The prominent part is the house proper, the kitchen wing sits a separate pyramidal roof. The separation of these two functional centres was advanced for its time. Both roofs were originally shingled, like the walls. The wall shingles curve out over verandahs and openings, to shed water away from the walls. This is a feature of several of Hunt's Shingle Style houses. The verandahs are supported by massive timber posts, minimally decorated. The verandahs are recessed under the eves, another design element commonly used by Hunt.^[1]

Internally, a small stair hall opens into the sitting room on the right and the drawing room on the left. The drawing room was formerly a dining room. Behind the hall was originally Mrs. Hordern's kitchen, but has since been converted into the dining room.^[1]

The bedrooms on the second floor open off the stairwell, with the verandah facing north off the main bedroom.^[1]

Extensive alterations have been made to the kitchen wing. This wing contains a feature not seen in Hunt's other houses - a wide half-glass door. Reynolds and Hughes^[3] describe "the structural brace is treated as a glazing member, to which the normal glazing bars are subservient."^[1]

The chimney stack is another unusual feature, "a tall, buttressed slab of brickwork which appears almost freestanding."^[3] Externally, the original roof shingles have been replaced by grey roof tiles.^[1]

The main framing, including window openings is of NSW hardwood, while the window sashes and doors are cedar.^[1]

The house was originally situated on 13.6 hectares (34 acres), but subdivisions have left it on a substantially smaller allotment, with the rear of the house to the street.^[1]

The garden, although significantly altered, contains a notable period Hoop Pine and provides a sympathetic setting to the house.^[1]

Heritage listing

As at 20 September 2006, Highlands was a fine example of John Horbury Hunt's interpretation of the Shingle Style. The house displays many of the elements common to Hunt's Shingle Style houses, including recessed verandahs and sweeping skirts to deposit water well away from the walls. In contrast to these common elements, Highlands also displays several unusual features, a half-glass door and distinctive chimney stack being the most prominent.^[1]

Highlands is significant as evidence of women shaping architecture. Mrs Caroline Hordern was a keen cook and the two-storey kitchen wing was heavily influenced by her. The landscaping was also of her creation and Mrs. Horden introduced many exotics from the Pacific Islands to adorn the garden.^[1]

Highlands was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

Highlands is representative of John Horbury Hunt's interpretation of the Shingle Style. While each of Hunt's houses has distinctive elements, Highlands displays features common to his Shingle Style houses, namely recessed verandahs and shingles sweeping away from openings to carry water away.^[1]

Highlands is currently the only Shingle Style house of this scale on the State Heritage Register.^[1]

Related Research Articles

Warrawee is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Warrawee is located 17 kilometres north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. Warrawee is predominantly a small residential suburb with few commercial entities. Notably, its railway station provides no commercial activity which is uncommon in the Sydney train network.

Wahroonga is a suburb in the Upper North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Ku-ring-gai Council and Hornsby Shire. North Wahroonga is an adjacent separate suburb of the same postcode.

John Horbury Hunt, often referred to as Horbury Hunt, was a Canadian-born Australian architect who worked in Sydney and rural New South Wales from 1863.

The architecture of Sydney, Australia’s oldest city, is not characterised by any one architectural style, but by an extensive juxtaposition of old and new architecture over the city's 200-year history, from its modest beginnings with local materials and lack of international funding to its present-day modernity with an expansive skyline of high rises and skyscrapers, dotted at street level with remnants of a Victorian era of prosperity.

Booloominbah is a heritage-listed mansion at 60 Madgwick Drive, Armidale, Armidale Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Horbury Hunt in the Federation Arts and Crafts style and built from 1884 to 1888 by William Seabrook and John Thomas Brown. Originally a private house for the pastoralist White family, it subsequently became the initial building of the New England University College, the predecessor of the University of New England. It continues to be owned by the university and is now used for university administration and as a cafe, bar and function venue. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 8 November 2006.

Australian residential architectural styles have evolved significantly over time, from the early days of structures made from relatively cheap and imported corrugated iron to more sophisticated styles borrowed from other countries, such as the California bungalow from the United States, the Georgian style from Europe and Northern America, and the Victorian style from the United Kingdom. A common feature of the Australian home is the use of fencing in front gardens, also common in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shingle style architecture</span> American architectural style

The shingle style is an American architectural style made popular by the rise of the New England school of architecture, which eschewed the highly ornamented patterns of the Eastlake style in Queen Anne architecture. In the shingle style, English influence was combined with the renewed interest in Colonial American architecture which followed the 1876 celebration of the Centennial. The plain, shingled surfaces of colonial buildings were adopted, and their massing emulated.

Christ Church Cathedral is a heritage-listed Anglican cathedral complex at Duke Street, Grafton, Clarence Valley Council, New South Wales, Australia. The cathedral was designed by John Horbury Hunt and built from 1874 to 1884 by Reynold Brothers (brickwork) and G. J. T. Lawson (woodwork). It is also known as Cathedral Church of Christ the King and Grafton Anglican Cathedral. The property is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Grafton. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 14 March 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hordern family</span> Australian retail dynasty

The Hordern family is an Australian retailing dynasty.

Camelot is a heritage-listed former residence, race horse stud and homestead and now large home located at Kirkham Lane in the south-western Sydney suburb of Narellan in the Camden Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Horbury Hunt and built from 1881 to 1888. It is also known as Camelot and Kirkham. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

In the New World, Queen Anne Revival was a historicist architectural style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries. In Australia, it is also called Federation architecture.

The St Andrew's Rectory is a heritage-listed former Anglican clergy house located at Thee Street, Walcha in the Walcha Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as St. Andrews Rectory (former) and St Andrews Rectory. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James' Anglican Church, Morpeth</span> Church in New South Wales, Australia

St James' Anglican Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church precinct at 19 Tank Street, Morpeth, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. The original design was attributed to Edward Charles Close, with later additions by Edmund Blacket and John Horbury Hunt and built from 1837 to 1875 by Edward Charles Close and James Sherwood. The precinct also includes the St. James' rectory and parish hall. The property is vested in the trustees of church property for the Diocese of Newcastle. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 January 2017.

Englefield is a heritage-listed former inn and now residence at 49 Newcastle Street, East Maitland, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1837. It operated as the Black Horse Inn from 1845 to 1878. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 30 April 2008.

Whitley is a heritage-listed residence at 217 Oldbury Road, Sutton Forest, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1887 to 1892. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Don Bank is a heritage-listed former residence and now house museum at 6 Napier Street, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1853 to 1858 for Edward Wollstonecraft. It is also known as St. Leonard's Cottage. The property is owned by North Sydney Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Belvedere is a heritage-listed residence at 7 Cranbrook Avenue, Cremorne, North Sydney Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Alexander Stewart Jolly. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Ingleholme is a heritage-listed residence at 17 Boomerang Street, in the Sydney suburb of Turramurra in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Sir John Sulman and built from 1895 to 1896. It is also known as Ingleholme and Garage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Shubra Hall is a heritage-listed former semi-rural suburban estate and mansion residence and now administration building for school purposes at Boundary Street in the Sydney suburb of Croydon, Municipality of Burwood, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Albert Bond and built from 1869 to 1888 in the Victorian Second Empire architectural style. It is also known as Presbyterian Ladies' College, PLC Croydon and Hordernville. The property is owned by the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 19 December 2014.

The Shipwrights Arms Inn is a heritage-listed residence and former inn and boarding house located at 75 Windmill Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of Millers Point in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1832 to 1834. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Highlands". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00034. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
↑ Horden, Lesley (1985). Children of One Family: the story of Anthony and Ann Hordern and their descendants in Australia, 1825-1925. pp. 218–219.
1 2 Reynolds, Peter; Muir, Lesley; Hughes, Joy (2002). John Horbury Hunt: Radical Architect, 1838-1904. p. 145.

Bibliography

Horden, Lesley (1985). Children of One Family: the story of Anthony and Ann Hordern and their descendants in Australia, 1825-1925.
Reynolds, Peter; Muir, Lesley; Hughes, Joy (2002). John Horbury Hunt: Radical Architect 1838-1904.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Highlands , entry number 00034 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 1 June 2018.

External links

Media related to Highlands, Wahroonga at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[nswshr-34-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Highlands". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00034. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .

[2] Horden, Lesley (1985). Children of One Family: the story of Anthony and Ann Hordern and their descendants in Australia, 1825-1925. pp. 218–219.

[nswshr-34-364-3] 1 2 Reynolds, Peter; Muir, Lesley; Hughes, Joy (2002). John Horbury Hunt: Radical Architect, 1838-1904. p. 145.

[1]

[2]

[3]