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Nugal Hall | |
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Location | 16-18 Milford Street, Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
Coordinates | 33°54′55″S151°14′36″E / 33.9152°S 151.2432°E |
Area | Land 1,827 sqm (34% occupied by buildings). Aggregate building floor area 1,612 sqm |
Elevation | 70 metres above sea level |
Height | 14 metres |
Built | 1853 |
Built for | Alexander McArthur |
Architect |
|
Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival |
Owner | Privately owned |
Official name | Nugal Hall |
Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
Designated | 2 April 1999 |
Reference no. | 173 |
Type | Mansion |
Category | Residential buildings (private) |
Nugal Hall is a heritage-listed Gothic Revival style former private residence, ambassador's residence, boutique lodge, embassy and now private residence located at 16-18 Milford Street, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick on the boundary with the suburb of Coogee. Nugal Hall sits in the City of Randwick local government area as part of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.
Nugal Hall was designed by Mortimer Lewis (south section) and Oswald H. Lewis (north section) and completed in 1853. Nugal Hall was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 [1] and on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate. [2] [3] Nugal Hall has had many famous residents including politicians, business magnates, ambassadors, judges/lawyers, and movie stars. The property is privately owned.
The land on which Nugal Hall is built was granted to Alexander (Alex) McArthur in Randwick, over the period 1851-1853, by Governor Fitzroy. The land grants to McArthur involved four lots aggregating to some 8.4 hectares (20.7 acres) acquired by private tender on both sides of Avoca Street (then known as Frenchman's Road). McArthur (also spelled as 'MacArthur' (sic) in documents of the time) was likely investing the significant profits he had achieved at that time as a gold exporter and clothing importer in the great Australian gold rushes that started in early 1851. [4] The aggregate cost of the four lots was around £1,300.
The land granted to McArthur in Randwick extended from Judge Street to Belmore Road, and from Alison Road to Mear's Avenue. The land was bordered to the east by a 12.1 hectare (30 acre) block of land in Coogee owned by William Charles Wentworth, one of the leading figures in early colonial New South Wales and the richest man in Sydney at that time. Judge Thomas Callaghan bought a 2.1 hectare (5.2 acre) block to the south. Callaghan was another prominent Colonial figure and one of the first three judges in the Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions. [5]
Callaghan described the land at the time as resembling Ireland for its picturesque beauty involving waterfalls and rolling farmland from the top of the Randwick ridge line down to Coogee Beach and the Tasman Sea. [6] Callaghan named his house there as 'Avoca' after the 'Vale of Avoca' from County Wicklow in Ireland. 'Vale' means valley in Gaelic whilst 'Avoca' is said to mean 'meeting of the waters' or 'great river'. A number of streets in the immediate area were named after Judge Callaghan, including Avoca Street, Judge Street, Milford Street, and Ada Street.
Sandstone from the site on which Nugal Hall was located was used in the construction of a number of houses in the immediate vicinity. Most construction was undertaken by ticket of leave men (convicts on parole) under the supervision of Judge Callaghan. Callaghan presumably had an arrangement to use sandstone from the site of Nugal Hall for the construction of his own nearby sandstone residence 'Avoca' which was built at the same time. The stone for Nugal Hall was therefore quarried on the spot and the foundation of Nugal Hall is securely built on rock. [1] [7]
Nugal Hall was designed by the Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis who came to Australia and worked from 1830 to 1861. Nugal Hall was one of his last buildings and was designed at the same time that Lewis was designing and building his own Gothic Revival mansion, known as Richmond Villa on the site of the current NSW Parliament buildings (now relocated to Millers Point). Lewis was a prominent architect in Colonial Sydney and involved in the design of many important government buildings, including the NSW Legislative Council Chamber (1843), the Australian Museum (1843), the Customs House on Circular Quay (1845) and the NSW Treasury Building and Premier's Office (1849). Lewis' residential designs included Bronte House (1838).
At the time of its construction during 1851-53, Nugal Hall was designed as a large two-storey Gothic Revival villa interconnected with a single-storey cottage (that echoed the villa in its design). Both buildings were interconnected with a single-storey servants quarters. The cottage and servants quarters were later subsumed within the two-storey northern extension to the house in 1885-87. The residence sat on the top of a Randwick ridge line with a commanding view over the 'Vale of Coogee' to the Tasman Sea.
Other notable Gothic Revival mansions in Sydney's eastern suburbs from the same era include Vaucluse House (Vaucluse, 1839), Carthona (Darling Point, 1841), Bishopscourt (Darling Point, 1849), Swifts (Darling Point, 1877), and Rona (Bellevue Hill, 1883). Notable Gothic Revival buildings of the period include Government House (Sydney Botanic Gardens, 1847) and the impressive main hall and quadrangle of the University of Sydney (Camperdown, 1859) which was the largest public building in Australia at the time.
Milford Street was originally a bridal track and not formally recognised as a street until the 1860s. The driveway to Nugal Hall swept back from Avoca Street (then called Frenchman's Road) around the north side (now the back of Nugal Hall) to the coach house and stables (in what is now Milford Street). [1] [7] Milford Street takes its name from Justice Samuel Frederick Milford (1797-1865), Primary Judge of the Supreme Court in Sydney, who was the father-in-law of Callaghan.
The southern portion of the house was completed in 1853 to Lewis' design in the Gothic Revival style for politician and businessman Alexander McArthur. Irish-born McArthur arrived in Sydney in 1840 from Derry, Ireland, with his older brother Sir William McArthur KCMG, who subsequently became a Lord Mayor of London and Member of British Parliament. [7] McArthur had intended to stay in Sydney for 6 months to recover from illness, but stayed for 23 years, operating the Australian end of the import-export partnership 'W&A McArthur Colonial Merchants' while his brother operated the British end.
McArthur was described at the time as a 'Manchester warehouseman', being a wholesaler of linen and clothes made in the factories surrounding Manchester in the North-West of England. However, much of his wealth was generated from the export of gold to Britain during the Australian gold rushes. He became a wealthy businessman, merchant, and shipping magnate importing British soft-goods into Australia while exporting Australian gold to Britain. [7] McArthur became a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales during two Parliaments and Magistrate of the Territory until he returned to England in 1863. [1] [4] Construction of Nugal Hall commenced following two land grants to McArthur in 1851. [8] McArthur was married the year the house construction was completed in 1853 to Marie Bowden. The McArthurs lived in Nugal Hall from 1853 until 1857 then relocated their primary residence to the grand three-storey mansion 'Strathmore' that McArthur had purpose-built in Glebe. [9] McArthur's eldest son, William Alexander McArthur, was born in 1857 and later became a Member of British Parliament in 1887 for St Austell, ultimately becoming Junior Lord of the Treasury in 1892. Alexander McArthur himself returned to England in 1863 to take over the British end of W&A McArthur. Following his return to England, McArthur ultimately became a Member of British Parliament for Leicester in 1874, joining his older brother who was the MP for Lambeth at that time.
In the period 1853-1863, McArthur was involved in the subdivision of his landholdings in Randwick, working closely with Callaghan. 'MacArthur's subdivision' involved the subdivision of McArthur's important triangular land block on the west side of Avoca Street covering what is now the site of the Captain Cook Statute, Royal Randwick Shopping Mall and the associated Randwick shopping precinct. [1] McArthur's land to the east side of Avoca Street became the Nugal Hall estate and was progressively subdivided over the period 1854 to 1857 in conjunction with Callaghan's estate. As part of the subdivision arrangements, Callaghan acquired the land on which Nugal Hall was situated in two transactions in 1854 and 1857, the latter conferring Callaghan with ownership of Nugal Hall. Callaghan paid around £2,000 in aggregate for the Nugal Hall estate at the time.
Callaghan likely leased Nugal Hall to the McArthur family as their second residence until they left Australian in 1863. He may well have then lived in Nugal Hall himself while expanding his own house 'Avoca' at the time. Callaghan owned Nugal Hall at the time of his sudden passing in 1865 when he was unexpectedly charged by a colt he had been training at his farm in Braidwood, NSW. [10] Callaghan's widow, Eliza Callaghan, became a well-known property developer and wealthy landlord in the Randwick area, residing at 'Avoca' across the road from Nugal Hall until her passing in 1915. She ultimately built the residences known as Corona and Hygeia nearby in 1893 (now The Lurline).
Magnus Jackson Peden and his wife Elizabeth Neathway (née Brown) bought Nugal Hall from Eliza Callaghan for £700 in 1865. Magnus Peden was a merchant and farmer, and became Mayor of Randwick while he resided at Nugal Hall and later in life became Mayor of Bega. The Peden family resided in Nugal Hall from 1865 to 1872 as the third owners of Nugal Hall after McArthur and Callaghan. [1] [7] At that time, Nugal Hall was known as 'Rockville', presumably because it was built on the site of the 'flag quarry' used to supply sandstone for houses in the immediate vicinity. [11]
The famous residents of Nugal Hall continued. Sir John Beverley Peden KCMG MLC (1871-1946), barrister and professor of law, was born in Nugal Hall on 26 April 1871, second son and sixth child of Magnus and Elizabeth Peden. In 1902, John Peden was appointed part-time Challis lecturer in the law of property at Sydney University. He practised law until he succeeded Pitt Cobbett as Challis Professor of law and Dean of the Faculty in 1910. Under Peden the law school grew steadily in reputation and influence. He was President of the Sydney University Law Society, examiner for the Barristers' Admission Board and ex officio chairman of the Solicitors' Admission Board. Peden took silk as a Queens Counsel in December 1922. In May 1917, Sir John Peden was nominated to the Legislative Council. [1] [12]
Sir John Peden showed lively interest in such subjects as living wages, industrial arbitration, matrimonial relations, capital punishment and workers' compensation. He eventually considered that his most important contributions as a legislator had been his defence of free speech that led to the sedition bill being dropped during World War I and his modification of the ( ne temere ) Marriage Amendment Act of 1924. In 1921-31 Peden served as sole royal commissioner on law reform in New South Wales. In 1930 he was appointed K.C.M.G. [1] [12]
In May 1873, Magnus Peden sold the Nugal Hall estate to James Mennie Tarves, a surveyor, for £920, who in turn, just five months later following a further subdivision of the land to the west, sold Nugal Hall to the Budd family – William, Annie and daughters, most of whom had been given the names of flowers. [13] In 1876, Nugal Hall was leased by the Budd family to William & Harriett Crane. [14]
The subdivided western land between Nugal Hall and Avoca Street was used for the construction of a residence known as 'Urara' (now Milford Hall) over the period 1873-1875. Urara was built and owned by John See who became NSW Premier in 1901-1904 while living at Urara. The subdivided land to the south-west of Nugal Hall was used the for construction of a residence known as 'Ventnor' over the period 1873-1875 (which still exists today). Ventnor was bult and owned by George Kiss who became Mayor of Randwick in 1877-1879 while living at Ventnor.
Joseph Barling acquired the Nugal Hall estate in 1878 and took out Torrens title for the estate. Barling was involved in the massive subdivision of Wentworth's previous 12.1 hectare (30 acre) landholding to the immediate east of the Nugal Hall estate in 1880 known as 'Avoca Estate'. That landholding was subdivided following Wentworth's passing in 1872 and created much of northern Coogee. The Nugal Hall residence was subsequently leased by Barling to William & Catherine Kirchner. [14] Barling renamed the house from 'Rockville' to ‘Branksea Villa’, after Branksea Castle near his birthplace at Poole, Dorset, presumably recognising the prominent position of Nugal Hall on the Randwick ridge line overlooking Coogee. [11] [15]
Barling became one of the best known officials in the NSW public service and became the Under-Secretary for Public Works and a Commissioner of the Public Service Board, responsible for the construction of infrastructure throughout New South Wales. For his services to Australia, Barling was ultimately decorated with the Imperial Service Order. [16]
Frederick Ricketson, a prominent Canadian grazier and financier, bought Nugal Hall from Baring in 1882 for £2,500 and lived there until 1884. During this period, Ricketson changed the name of Nugal Hall from 'Branksea Villa' to 'Nugal Lodge', being the first time the word 'Nugal' was associated with the property. [17] The origins of the word 'Nugal' remain unknown although Ricketson is reputed to have associated the name 'Nugal' with all his landholdings, so it may have been a personal brand.
Frederick (Fred) Tidswell bought Nugal Hall from Ricketson in 1884. Tidswell was the owner of the prominent Coogee Bay Hotel at the time, which had been converted from a family residence into a grand hotel in 1873, Coogee Bay Hotel still exists today, located in Coogee Bay Road immediately across the road from Coogee Beach. [18] The Tidswell family occupied Nugal Hall from 1884 until Tidswell's passing in 1898, then continued to own Nugal Hall while leasing it until 1908. Prominent Australian physician Frank Tidswell and architect Thomas Tidswell lived in Nugal Hall as students in this period.
The northern section of Nugal Hall was built between 1885 and 1887 under the supervision of Fred Tidswell, presumably drawing from Tidwell's experience in renovating the Coogee Bay Hotel. The architect was Oswald H. Lewis, who practised as an architect with his father, former Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis (who had earlier designed the southern part of Nugal Hall). [1] The northern section of Nugal Hall subsumed the original one-storey cottage and servant's quarters into a much larger and grander two-storey residence.
The design elements from this phase include a curved bay window with balcony and conical roof facing the ocean. The new northern section responded to the Gothic Revival picturesque style of the southern section of the house and was also built of sandstone that was quarried on site, also resulting in some landscaping of the site. The northern section incorporated stylistic elements of the Arts & Crafts and Federation eras, including an iconic circular tower on the eastern end of Nugal Hall with a candle-snuff roof, as well as timber balcony detailing, a shingled balcony skirt and the rounded form of the bay window. [19] [1] At the time of construction in 1885-87, Milford Street 'dog-legged' at the Coach House to pass directly by Nugal Hall (which sat on a small sandstone cliff overlooking the street). This meant the original front door of Nugal Hall was located to the east of the house as this was closest to Milford Street. The stone steps that led up from Milford Street to the eastern front door still exist today. As part of the renovation of Nugal Hall in 1887, Tidswell agreed to the straightening of Milford Street, resulting in the creation of the large front garden area of Nugal Hall that exists today. As a result, the main Nugal Hall residence became set back from the straightened Milford Street with a higher degree of privacy. A new grand front door entry was built in Nugal Hall facing south towards Milford Street as part of the expanded design, including entry into a large grand staircase that was lit by an innovative stained glass skylight above. The iconic palm grove along Milford Street was presumably planted at that time and the fountain and front garden landscaping created.
From 1898, upon the passing of Tidswell, the expanded and opulent Nugal Hall was leased as an ambassador's residence. The United States Government leased Nugal Hall from 1898 to 1901 for use by the Consul General of the United States of America for Australia, Colonel George William Bell. The German Government leased Nugal Hall from 1901 to 1904 for use by Paul von Buri, the Consul General of Germany for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. During this period, Paul von Buri renamed the house ‘Germania’ and hosted a number of prominent social and diplomatic events at the residence. [20] A flag pole was erected to the east of Nugal Hall which flew the German flag, explaining why a flag pole still exists there today. Subsequently, from 1904 to 1908, Nugal Hall was leased to the President of the French Chamber of Commerce in Australia, Georges Playoust, as his residence and was also partly used by the French Government as a diplomatic residence. [14] Nugal Hall was renamed 'Belle Vue' during that period, being French for 'beautiful view'. [21]
Over the period from 1908 to 1911, Nugal Hall was owned by the Tidswell family, but was run as a boutique 'first class' (5-star) guest house named 'Nugal Lodge', reverting to the property name at the time that Frederick Tidswell bought the property from Ricketson. The Biggs family were the on-site custodians of Nugal Hall for the Tidswell family during this period. At the time of sale in 1911, Nugal Hall was still described as a 'large family residence'.
In 1911, Nugal Hall was acquired by prominent movie entrepreneur Cosens Spencer (born 'Spencer Cosens'). Nugal Hall continued to be run by Spencer as a boutique 'first class' guest house. The Sacks family and the Grimm family acted as on-site custodians of Nugal Hall for Spencer. Nugal Hall was advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald as 'Nugal Lodge'. [11] The house had its own uniformed coachman and was advertised as having a lawn tennis court, spacious landscaped grounds of around 1 acre, darkroom studio for photography, the "absolutely best view of the ocean" and "unsurpassed ocean views", and being 2 minutes from the tram. Various movie stars are said to have used Nugal Hall as accommodation in that period due to their affiliations with Spencer, including Reginald Leslie "Snowy" Baker. [14]
In 1917, Spencer further renovated Nugal Hall and converted it from a boutique lodge to his primary residence while renaming the house from 'Nugal Lodge' to 'Nugal Hall'. As a result, Nugal Hall contains many ornate features dating from the 1910s. The embellished and inter-twined initials 'CS' can still be seen in the decorative plaster in the stairwell of Nugal Hall above spectacular hallway columns. In the 1910s, stained glass windows were in vogue for those that could afford them and Nugal Hall has an abundance of ornate stained glass, including leadlight windows in internal doors.
Over the period 1917 to 1919, Spencer sought to set up a further movie business to compete with The Combine, resulting in various litigation. [22] Spencer ultimately settled out of court by allowing his movie business interests to be purchased by The Combine for a substantial sum of money. Spencer also agreed to a restraint that he would not further compete in Australia. [23] Spencer sold Nugal Hall and its extensive contents in 1919 and returned to Canada with significant wealth, buying several ranches in British Columbia and ultimately becoming the largest individual land owner in the Canadian province. [24]
In July 1919, Nugal Hall was bought by prominent businessman James Fairfax and politician James Ashton. James Fairfax was likely aware of Nugal Hall given Fairfax's friendship with neighbour George Kiss, then living across the road from Nugal Hall at the Ventnor residence. George Kiss was a horse dealer and previous Mayor of Randwick. Fairfax and Ashton donated Nugal Hall to the Red Cross as part of a recalibration of the Red Cross to focus on soldier repatriation and rehabilitation following the end of World War I. Nugal Hall briefly became a flagship Red Cross residence and convalescent home for the next 12 months for senior Australian military personnel recovering from injuries sustained in World War I. [7] Nugal Hall, then known as 'Nugal Lodge Red Cross Home', offered 30 beds and was run by some of the foundation members of the Red Cross in Australia, including Ruby Storey and Cobden Parkes (son of Sir Henry Parkes, previously a NSW Premier). [14] [10]
The house returned to private ownership in July 1920 and was renamed again to 'Nugal Hall' to reflect its use as a large family residence. [1] At that time, the Catholic Church acquired some of the land associated with Nugal Hall on the southern side of Milford Street to expand the 'Our Lady of the Sacred Heart' Catholic church and associated primary school located across the road in Milford Street. The remainder of the Nugal Hall estate, then still including extensive land to the north and east, was jointly acquired by Joseph Ellis, who had been acting as the commission agent for the Catholic Church, and his son Roy Ellis. [14] The total price paid for the Nugal Hall estate in 1921 was £4,000. [25] [26]
Joseph and Roy Ellis were granted consent in December 1921 to implement a subdivision of land to the north of Nugal Hall that was coordinated across several adjacent landowners, known as "Cameron's Estate". James John Hackett, the western neighbour to Nugal Hall and a bookmaker, acquired the Coach House (now 14 Milford Street) in 1921 for £250 and subsequently acquired Nugal Hall itself following the passing of Joseph Ellis in early 1924 and his wife Honorah Hackett in late 1925. [27] [28] [29] A further subdivision of the land associated with Nugal Hall occurred in 1928, likely involving the subdivision and sale of land along Milford Street to the east.
In 1928, James Hackett sold Nugal Hall (excluding the Coach House) to Henry Tancred, a joint owner of Tancred Bros in the meat trade, and his wife Annie Tancred, for £4,250. [30] Tancred Bros subsequently became the listed company, Tancred Bros Industries Ltd, Australia's largest wholesale butchering firm. The Tancred family lived in Nugal Hall until the passing of Henry Tancred in November 1936. The Tancred family were a prominent Sydney family and Nugal Hall appears to have been used for many social events in the 1930s.
In January 1937, Nugal Hall (at the time numbered 8 Milford Street) was sold by Annie Tancred to Isaac Barker Hodgson (a previous mayor of Randwick in 1900-1901) and his wife Lillian (or Lily) May Hodgson for £6,000. Hodgson was a builder by trade and he appears to have undertaken extensive renovations to the house, including replacing the roof of timber shingles at that time with a roof of red tiles. Hodgson Street in Randwick is named after Hodgson.
Various additions to Nugal Hall are cited as occurring under the ownership of the Hodgson family in the late 1930s. The renovations included additions to the western side of Nugal Hall under a sloping skillion roof. [31] [1] During that period, the room to the left of the front door on entering the house was converted from a billiard and smoking room to an opulent downstairs bedroom. [14] Alterations were also made to the previous servants quarters in the west wing of the house to give the house its present form.
From the period 1945 to 1952, Nugal Hall (then 8 Milford Street) was rented by Lily Hodgson for use as a doctor's residence and practice rooms. The light hanging still above the front gate of Nugal Hall exists from this period and was used at the time to indicate that the doctor was available, as was the tradition in Australia at the time.
Nugal Hall was next purchased in November 1952 for £15,000 by John R Pillars, the owner of a successful engineering firm. [14] In 1957, his wife Nellie (Nell) Daisy Pillars founded the Randwick Historical Society while living at Nugal Hall and as such it became the Society's first headquarters during her lifetime. [1] The Pillars made additions to the house in the 1960s, including the construction of an upper storey bathroom in the west wing of the house.
The renumbering of Milford Street occurred in the 1960s, resulting in Nugal Hall becoming numbers 16-18 Milford Street, rather than 8 Milford Street. The land on which Nugal Hall is situated currently comprises three addresses on Milford Street, being 14 Milford Street (Coach House) and 16-18 Milford Street (Nugal Hall main residence).
The Coach House at 14 Milford Street was acquired by Nell Pillars in 1969 from the western neighbour, then Thomas Vincent Clune, a hotelier and property developer. At that time, Clune was subdividing the adjacent western land at what is now 10 and 12 Milford Street. Clune's company, High Cross Estates, later developed the land at 12 Milford Street into the luxury apartment block 'Milford Towers'. The Coach House land was re-consolidated by Nell Pillars into the Nugal Hall estate, but the Coach House building became subject to a 99 year lease from 9 June 1969 granted by Nell Pillars at the time.
Frederick (John) John Campion and his wife Ellen (Helen) Mary Majella Campion, both medical practitioners, acquired Nugal Hall in 1978. [32] When John and Helen Campion bought Nugal Hall it was divided into five flats. The Campion family undertook extensive renovation work and returned Nugal Hall to a single grand family residence while maintaining the period character of the property. [33] [1] In 1981, an application for a Permanent Conservation Order over Nugal Hall was made by the Campions as owners. To offset restoration costs, rating and taxation concessions were sought under the Heritage Act, resulting in a 50% discount on annual land taxes that continues today. [1] [34] [35]
Nugal Hall was transferred to the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [1] [34] [35] The 1999 Sydney hailstorm and a previous hailstorm lead to the re-tiling of the roof with new slate tiles in 2001 to remove any further risk of future hail and storm damage. [1]
In December 2020, the executors for the estate of Helen Campion sold Nugal Hall to the current private owners. Various media accompanied the sale including a feature article in the national publication The Weekend Australian Magazine as well as various other articles including "The sandstone city mansion: Downton Abbey one in a million - Nugal Hall is the last sandstone mansion in Randwick and is on the market for the first time in 40 years" and "Gothic Revival mansion known as 'Downton Abbey' hits the market". [36] [37] Downton Abbey is a fictional historical TV drama filmed at Highclere Castle, a spectacular Gothic Revival country home in Hampshire, England.
Nugal Hall was subject to extensive assessments and monitoring by independent consultants in the context of the development of adjacent apartment buildings during 2018-2021. A media campaign had been conducted by the Campion family to ensure that various concessions were made in the design and construction of the adjacent apartment buildings that were sympathetic to the heritage status of Nugal Hall. Dilapidation reports of adjacent properties to those developments independently undertaken at the request of Randwick Council indicated that Nugal Hall remains in a structurally sound condition. [38]
During 2021, Nugal Hall was shortlisted as one of two properties to feature as the Prime Minister's residence in the filming of the ABC/Fremantle TV drama production The PM's Daughter .[ citation needed ]
Over the years, the current grounds of Nugal Hall have been subdivided from their original 8.4 hectares (20.3 acres). As a result of the straightening of Milford Street, the main entry to the house is now from the south on Milford Street rather than from the original front entry to the east. The original front entry still faces the ocean and is located on the eastern end of the house. [39] [1]
Nugal Hall overlooks Wedding Cake Island and the Coogee land-sea interface, from a ground floor terrace and gardens, ancillary to the east-facing ballroom. [1] [40] The upstairs bedrooms to the east of the house have views over the Coogee basin, including of Coogee beach and out to Wedding Cake Island, while all other upper bedrooms have views that benefit from the location of Nugal Hall at the top of the ridge line above Coogee.[ citation needed ] The main bedroom has an east facing upper balcony positioned to watch the morning sunrise.[ citation needed ]
On either side of Nugal Hall's original east entrance are a large ball room and a large formal dining room. An entrance porch and terrace is accessed by french doors from the ball room. The dining room to the north of the entrance has views across the Coogee basin and Coogee Bay, partially obscured by a tree on a neighbouring property, as well as an eastern balcony with sea and beach views. Earlier views of the southern headland of Coogee Bay from the dining room were reduced by construction of a three storey building at 20 Milford Street, but most of that building is located below the line of sight from Nugal Hall due to the greater elevation of Nugal Hall. 20 Milford Street does not obstruct upstairs views. The ball room and terrace to the south of the entrance has views across the Coogee basin and Wedding Cake Island. [1]
Close up views towards Nugal Hall from the opposite side of Milford Street are largely screened by its elevation above the street, the generous front setback, and the heavily planted front garden. As a result, the house has a high degree of privacy notwithstanding its landmark stature. Nugal Hall is visible from the various locations in the surrounding area, (particularly with night time floodlights) for example from St. Brigid's Church in Brook Street, Coogee and from the Carrington Road/Coogee Bay Road corner, but is not prominent from these distant locations unless floodlit. Any earlier landmark status of the building on the Randwick skyline has been diminished by the volume and scale of surrounding development, including the Sacred Heart Church and the residential flat building at 12 Milford Street. However, Nugal Hall and its iconic palm trees are still a landmark on the hill when driving up Coogee Street. [1]
The house is located very close to Royal Randwick Shopping Centre and the terminus of the Sydney-Randwick Light Rail (providing a light rail service directly to the Sydney CBD and Circular Quay). The house sits on the boundary of the Randwick and Coogee suburbs and is within easy walking distance of Coogee Beach, Centennial Park, and the famous Bondi-Coogee Coastal Walk. The house is also within easy walking distance of the Prince of Wales Hospital and the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) as well as all facilities in that combined health, innovation and education precinct. The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church and primary school (OLSH) are across the road from the house.
Nugal Hall is an example of a picturesque Gothic Revival sandstone, two storey mansion completed in 1853 with a further more expansive renovation to create a grand residence completed in 1885. The house has some outstanding interior and exterior decorations and its magnificent upper floor rounded Juliet balcony has views to Coogee Basin and out to sea. [1] [41]
While the house is described as two storeys, it has a full height attic and large full height basement room that provide two further storeys. The upstairs room count is seven bedrooms and two bathrooms as well as two staircases and wide passages. The downstairs room count includes a ballroom, billiard room, living room, family room, dining room, multiple kitchens, conservatory, guest bedroom, laundry and multiple bathrooms, as well as two staircases and wide passages. All rooms are ornate with high ceilings and full length windows. The attic runs the full length of the house. A pool room and bathroom exist under the house.
Despite some 1920s and 1930s decorative additions, the twelve principal rooms retain their original forms. Of interest is a sweeping grand stairwell/staircase of balanced proportion, above which is an exceptional stained glass skylight. Stonework, joinery, copper turrets and domes are all in good repair. [1] [7] [42] The interior includes elegantly shaped windows, fireplaces and interior columns of marble. [43] Ceiling roses, fireplaces, and continental ceramic tileware in the fireplaces remain immaculate. [1] [7]
Although not of the very high quality of a few Sydney Gothic Revival houses, Nugal Hall is nevertheless impressive. Nugal Hall is of particular importance in Coogee and Randwick where increasing high rise development has deprived the area of much of its architectural history. [42] [1] During 2021, two luxury apartment buildings were constructed to the north of Nugal Hall. Following a public campaign, these buildings were designed and built in a sympathetic way such that they did not interfere with the light, sun or views from Nugal Hall or cause any damage to Nugal Hall during construction.
On the western side of Nugal Hall was a single storey skillion-roofed addition with brick walls dating from the late 1930s. This addition had no architectural merit and did not contribute to the architectural character of the house. [44] [1] As a result, this part of the house was demolished and rebuilt in 2015 with the creation of a large single-storey conservatory in Victorian style with copper roof, but with a modern interior including a new kitchen, bathroom, further bedroom and conservatory.
Other buildings on site include the former (plastered) carriage house located at 14 Milford Street adjacent to the entrance, but forming part of the Nugal Hall estate under a 99 year lease by the owners of Nugal Hall to the current lessee, currently known as the 'Coach House' residence. The Coach House was originally a lodge for horse-drawn vehicles with an associated stables. The stables were demolished in the late 1930s while the Coach House was adapted to become a private residence. [45] [1]
The Coach House is currently a large three bedroom residence with a single garage entered directly from Milford Street. The Coach House has an original front door to the east, again recognising that Milford Street once dog-legged and hence the Coach House door was originally located on the street.
The 99 year lease of the Coach House residence at 14 Milford Street commenced on 9 June 1969 is still running with the current owners of Nugal Hall as lessors/landlords under the certificate of title and Memorandum of Lease. The 99 year lease of the Coach House remains as part of the Nugal Hall estate today. The lessee of the Coach House is responsible for maintaining and insuring the Coach House building and is permitted to sub-lease the premises. At the expiry of the 99 year lease on 9 June 2068, the ownership of the Coach House residence will automatically revert back to the owners of Nugal Hall at that time.
There is a 20th-century double garage with a pitched roof immediately north of Coach House as well as a driveway capable of accommodating a further 4 to 6 cars. [46] [1]
The Nugal Hall estate currently comprises the land + main residence + Coach House 99 year lease.
Microburbs has identified the following characteristics of the particular location in Randwick where Nugal Hall is situated from a property valuation perspective, but the unique nature of the property (scale, grandeur, heritage, location, multiple street addresses, scarcity, landmark/trophy status) means that it cannot be benchmarked against neighbouring premises. On-line benchmarking valuation algorithms appear to generate inaccurate results by mistaking the property for a residential apartment block: [48]
Characteristic | Score | Comments |
---|---|---|
Affluence | 10/10 | High proportion of hIghly-educated residents and high-income professionals |
Lifestyle | 9/10 | High proximity to cafes, entertainment, cinemas, beaches, walking tracks, dog park, fitness centres |
Convenience | 9/10 | High proximity to shopping district, supermarkets, medical centres/hospital, banks, transport routes, public transport |
Family | 9/10 | High proximity to primary & secondary schools, parks, playgrounds, childcare, shopping facilities |
Community | 9/10 | High proximity to clubs, places of worship, libraries, sports centres, town hall, markets |
Communications | 9/10 | Highest speeds of broadband and mobile communications are available, high proximity to post office |
Tranquility | 8/10 | Very leafy area with low noise and medium density residential zoning |
Hip | 8/10 | High proximity to coffee shops, restaurants, shopping village, university, Eastern Suburbs beaches |
The Nugal Hall estate is situated over three residential street addresses, namely 14, 16 and 18 Milford Street, with an aggregate land area of 1,827 m2.
Around 36% the land is occupied by buildings. The remaining 64% of the land comprises large upper and lower landscaped gardens (including fountain and rose gardens), a sweeping driveway and an outdoor entertainment area.
There are three key buildings on that land with an aggregate floor area of 1,612 m2 as set out in the following table:
Structure | Element of structure | Area in m2 | Description of rooms |
---|---|---|---|
Nugal Hall residence | Basement | 99 | Pool room, bathroom |
Conservatory | 120 | Conservatory, bedroom, bathroom, laundry, kitchen | |
Ground floor (including decks) | 410 | Ballroom, family, living, dining, grand stairs, servant stairs, grand corridor, kitchen, gym, bathroom/laundry, decks x 2 | |
Upper floor (including balconies) | 394 | Bedrooms x 6, home theatre, WIR, bathrooms x 2, grand stairs, servant stairs, grand corridor, balconies x 4 | |
Attic | 349 | Attic rooms x 2, Storage x 1 | |
Coach House residence | Ground floor | 170 | Living room, kitchen, bedrooms x 3, bathroom, garage/laundry |
Garage | 70 | Double garage |
Name | Prominence |
---|---|
Alexander (Alex) McArthur | Founder of A&W McArthur Colonial Merchants. Member of NSW Leglslative Assembly. British Member of Parliament. |
William Alexander McArthur | Partner in A&W McArthur Colonial Merchants. British Member of Parliament. Junior Lord of the Treasury in Britain. |
Judge Thomas Callaghan | District Court Judge. Chief Judge of the Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions. |
Magnus Jackson Peden | Mayor of Randwick (1869-1870) |
John Beverley Peden | Member of NSW Legislative Council. Queens Counsel. Dean of Faculty of Law at Sydney UNiversity. |
Joseph Barling | NSW Under-Secretary for Public Works; Commissioner of the Public Service Board |
Frederick (Fred) Squire Tidswell | Prominent Sydney hotelier - Coogee Bay Hotel; Royal Hotel (George St); Metropolitan Hotel (King St) |
Francis (Frank) Tidswell | Prominent Australian physician. Director of Pathology at Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children. |
Colonel George William Bell | Consul-General for the United States |
Paul von Buri | Consul-General for Germany |
Georges Playoust | President of the French Chamber of Commerce. Councillor of French Foreign Trade (senior diplomatic position) |
Cosens Spencer | Firm producer. Movie entrepreneur. Movie studio owner. Founder of what is now EVENT Cinemas. |
Reginald Leslie 'Snowy' Barker | Olympic medallist (swimming, boxing). Rugby star. Sports promoter. Hollywood actor. Australia's 'first action movie star'. |
Cobdon Parkes | Prominent Australian physician. Son of Sir Henry Parkes (NSW Premier) |
James Oswald Fairfax | Newspaper publisher and chair of John Fairfax & Sons Ltd. Media magnate. Philanthropist. |
James Ashton | Member of NSW Legislative Assembly. Minister in NSW Government. |
Henry Tancred | Prominent businessman and co-founder of Tancred Bros Industries (meat wholesaler) |
Isaac Barker Hodgson | Mayor of Randwick (1900-1902) |
Neighbours to Nugal Hall in immediately adjacent properties have also included John See (NSW Premier, 1901-1904) and George Kiss (Mayor of Randwick, 1877-1879).
As at October 2021, Nugal Hall is of State significance in NSW as an example of an impressive two storey mansion constructed of sandstone in the Gothic Revival style. Designed by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis it was completed in 1853. The original land was a grant to Alexander McArthur, in 1851 by Governor Fitzroy, of 8.3 hectares (20.7 acres). Although not of the very high quality of a few Sydney Gothic Revival houses, Nugal Hall is nevertheless impressive. It is associated with a number of significant people. It is significant in Coogee and Randwick where increasing high rise development has deprived the area of much of its architectural history. The house sits well in its grounds and is visually important locally. [1] [35]
Nugal Hall was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. [1]
Randwick is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick. The postcode is 2031.
Coogee is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, eight kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district.
Kensington is a suburb in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located four kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area (LGA) of the City of Randwick.
The Spot is a locality in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, south-east of the CBD. The Spot is located in the south-eastern part of the suburb of Randwick, around the intersection of Perouse Road and St Pauls Street. It is a vibrant part of Randwick and consists of a collection of shops, restaurants, cafes and a cinema.
Emanuel School is an independent Jewish co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school, located on a heritage-listed campus in the Sydney eastern suburb of Randwick, in New South Wales, Australia. The school was founded in 1983 in Woollahra. The current Randwick site was purchased in 1984 and was opened in 1985. In 1986, Prime Minister Bob Hawke officially opened the school. Emanuel School currently caters for approximately 900 students from Pre-school to Year 12. The Principal has been Mr. Andrew Watt since 2018. The school is affiliated with the Jewish Communal Appeal, the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA).
Randwick Boys' High School (RBHS) is a high school located in Randwick, Sydney, Australia, between Rainbow Street and Avoca Street. It is a boys' high school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education with students from years 7 to 12. The school was established in 1944 as a junior high school, gaining full high school status in 1949. The history of the school can be traced back to 1883 with the establishment of Randwick Public School.
The St Jude's Church is an active Anglican church in Randwick, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of a significant heritage group that includes the church, cemetery, rectory and original Randwick Borough Chambers, later converted to church use. The group is located on Avoca Street, Randwick, and has a federal heritage listing. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Francis (Frank) Tidswell was an Australian physician who served as the Director of the Government Bureau of Microbiology, New South Wales from 1908 until 1913. In this role he has been noted as "a pathologist of distinction who never sublimated his personality to his public service role." From 1925, until his death in 1941, Tidswell was the Director of Pathology at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney. In an obituary, The Medical Journal of Australia wrote of him as an "extremely clear thinker, young in mind and receptive of new ideas. In his gentleness of manner, and quiet courtesy, the [children's] hospital has lost a most valued specialist." Tidswell is considered one of Australia's pioneering microbiologists.
The Ritz Cinema, also known as the Ritz Theatre, is a heritage-listed cinema located at 43 St Pauls Street, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Aaron Bolot and built in 1937 by C. & B. J. Williams. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The architect, Aaron Bolot, is known for his classic art deco buildings throughout Sydney, such as his commissions for grand apartment buildings in Potts Point.
Cliffbrook is a heritage-listed former residence, school and government building and now university research, administration building and university press located at 45-51 Beach Street, Coogee, New South Wales, an eastern suburb of Sydney, Australia. Built in 1921, its design is attributed to John Kirkpatrick. The building is owned by the University of New South Wales. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Sandgate is a heritage-listed former residence, repatriation hospital and heritage centre at 128 Belmore Road, Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. It was built during 1879 by Simeon Pearce. It is also known as Kilkerran and Felton. The property is owned by Randwick City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Venice is a heritage-listed apartment building and residence in Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1884 to 1885 by Stephen Gee. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Randwick Presbyterian Church is a heritage-listed Presbyterian church located at 162 Alison Road in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The church was designed by Sir John Sulman and built from 1889 to 1890 by George Gale. The property is owned by the Randwick Presbyterian Church and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 8 May 2008.
The Randwick Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office located at 124 Alison Road in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The former post office was designed by Walter Liberty Vernon in his capacity as NSW Government Architect and was built from 1897 to 1898 by W. B. Chessell. It is also known as Randwick Post Office (former) and Jubilee Fountain. The property is owned by Australia Post (Federal Government). It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 June 2000.
Rathven is a heritage-listed former private residence and boarding house for school and private residence in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by George Raffan during 1887. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Corana and Hygeia are a heritage-listed pair of semi-detached residences at 211-215 Avoca Street in the Sydney suburb of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. They were built from 1893 to 1894. They are also known as Corana & Hygeia Victorian Terraces,Corona, Randwick Lodge and has recently re-branded to The Lurline. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Hooper Cottage is a heritage-listed residence at 17 Gilderthorpe Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1847 to 1848. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
The Big Stable Newmarket is a heritage-listed former Aboriginal land, farm stables, residence, hotel, factory and detention centre and now stables at 29-39 Young Street in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Cranbrook Stables;. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Thomas Tidswell was an Australian architect, notable for his design of sporting facilities in Sydney.
Quinton Tidswell was a New South Wales–born Australian artist who was known for his etchings and works on paper. For many years Tidswell was a resident of the state of Victoria and the Castlemaine Art Museum hold a selection of his work. The National Gallery of Australia hold fourteen of his works. His father was an architect working in Sydney and Tidswell’s important works on paper are often of now demolished architecture in and around Macquarie Street, Sydney and of the historic and early settlement of Windsor, New South Wales.
This Wikipedia article contains material from Nugal Hall , entry number 00173 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.