Perth House

Perth House
Perth House
Location	85 George Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°48′54″S151°00′28″E / 33.8150°S 151.0077°E
Built	1841
Architect	James Houison
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Perth House and Stables
Type	state heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	155
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
Builders	James Houison
	Location of Perth House in Sydney Perth House (Australia)

Last updated December 11, 2024

Perth House is a heritage-listed former residence and school for girls at 85 George Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Houison and built in 1841. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.^[1]

History

Perth House, stables and carriageway were built in 1841 by James Houison for George Oakes, a landholder of the Parramatta district and member of the Parliament of New South Wales. The architect of the house was James Houison, who designed many houses in Parramatta. The original cottage garden around the house, stables and carriage way was likely to have been planted between 1844 and 1846, including the Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) which survives today.^[2]^[1]

A photo in 1880 shows Perth House was used as a girls' school at that time.^[3]^[1]

The building was for sale in September 2016, advertised as being suitable for uses including hospitality, professional services and childcare.^[4]

Description

Perth House is a single-storey Colonial/Victorian Georgian residence with a hipped roof to a central block with encircling verandahs. Constructed of coursed and dressed sandstone blocks with quoins 2 courses deep. The spacing of the Doric moulded square timber verandah pots is unusual. The verandah is paved with stone. Small paned sash windows and a 6 panelled door with fanlight. Generous grounds and plantings. Cedar joinery. Two storied stone out-building at the rear. Archaeological Site: AZP Cross Reference: PC 71^[1]

To the west of the house and north of the stables near the footpath on George Street is a large mature Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla), thought to date from c. 1844-6, in the time of Oakes. This tree is most probably a remnant of the original cottage garden of Perth House.^[5]^[1]

West of the house is the carriageway, leading to the stone out-building (former stables) behind (south of) the house.^[1]

The property was in good physical condition as at 27 October 2006.^[1]

Heritage listing

Perth House and Stables is of State significance as it demonstrates c. 1850 aspirations with regard to taste and lifestyle on a domestic level. It demonstrates a high degree of creative excellence and is a fine example of medium sized domestic architecture. It has strong associations with important figures such as George Oakes and James Houison.^[6]^[1]

Perth House and Stables 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 course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

Perth House and Stables reflects the changing circumstance of Parramatta through the gradual attrition of the land holding. The relatively small accommodation of the house caused its occasional enlargement to the south, firstly by enclosure of the south west verandah area. Division into flats and offices in the 20th century reflected the increasing commercialisation of central Parramatta, with key residential areas on its fringe.^[6]^[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.

Perth House was apparently built for pastoralist George Oakes, son of a former missionary, who became first Member of the Legislative Assembly for Parramatta as well as a lengthy involvement in local municipal politics. Perth House is also associated with James Houison, who arrived in the colony as a steerage passenger, quickly established himself as an astute builder and urban land speculator and later became known as an architect/builder of recognised talent as well as an important figure in municipal politics.^[1]

The site has further significance due to its association with the Superintendent of Government Buildings at Parramatta who resided on the site - adjacent to the lumber yard - at an earlier date.^[6]^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

This item is aesthetically significant.^[1]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

This item is technically or scientifically significant.^[1]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

Perth House and Stables has a considerable degree of unity in its materials, form and scale and is a rare reminder of the harmonious and generally low scale architectural character once in Parramatta.^[1]

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

Perth House and Stables is an important and typical example of a c. 1850 house designed by the fashionable Parramatta architect of the day, James Houison.^[6]^[1]

Related Research Articles

Experiment Farm Cottage is a heritage-listed former farm and residence and now house museum at 9 Ruse Street, Harris Park, City of Parramatta, Sydney, Australia. It is one of Australia's oldest standing residences, being built in c. 1834. It is located at the site of Experiment Farm, Australia's first European farmstead, which was itself created by Australia's first land grant. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Elizabeth Farm is a historic estate located at 70 Alice Street, Rosehill, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Elizabeth Farm was the family home of wool pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur. The estate was commenced in 1793 on a slight hill overlooking the upper reaches of Parramatta River, 23 kilometres (14 mi) west of Sydney Cove. The Burramattagal clan of the Dharug people are the traditional custodians of the area; their presence is recalled in the name Parramatta.

Tresco is a heritage-listed residence located at 97 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Thomas Rowe and built by Rowe from 1867 to 1883. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The property has previously functioned as a private residence, navy housing, and homestead and was originally indigenous lands. Before 2004 it was owned by the Royal Australian Navy and served as an official residence for the senior naval officers in New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yaralla Estate</span> Hospital in New South Wales, Australia

The Yaralla Estate, also known as the Dame Eadith Walker Estate and now home to the Dame Eadith Walker Hospital, is a heritage-listed hospital at The Drive, Concord West, City of Canada Bay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

St John's Cathedral is a heritage-listed, Anglican cathedral in Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. St John's was given the status of provisional cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in 1969, and designated a Regional Cathedral in 2011 for the Western Region. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 March 2010.

Rouse Hill Estate is a heritage-listed homestead and estate off Windsor Road, Rouse Hill, City of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. Rouse Hill House and farm was the family home of Richard Rouse, the Colonial Superintendent of Public Works and Convicts at Parramatta.

Prince Alfred Square is a 1.5-hectare (3.7-acre) park on the northern side of the Parramatta River in the central business district of Parramatta. It is one of the oldest public parks in New South Wales and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. St Patrick's Cathedral is located directly opposite the square to the west.

Yasmar is a heritage-listed house at 185 Parramatta Road, Haberfield, New South Wales, Australia. It has variously served as a private home, Sunday school, children's court and juvenile remand and detention centre, and is now used by community groups and as a correctional services training facility. It was designed by John Bibb and built from 1856 to 1858. The surrounding site has also been known as Yasmar Hostel, Yasmar Detention Centre, Yasmar Child Welfare Home, Ashfield Remand Home, Yasmar Shelter and the Yasmar Juvenile Justice Centre. The property is owned by Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA). It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 February 2000.

Silverwater Prison Complex Conservation Area is a heritage-listed complex consisting of a historic house and various prison structures associated with what is now known as the Silverwater Correctional Complex, located at Holker Street, Silverwater, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by John Verge and Walter Liberty Vernon and built from 1829 to 1850. It is also known as Silverwater Correctional Centre, Mulawa Correctional Centre, Silverwater Gaol, Newington Estate, Silverwater State Hospital and State Hospital & Asylum for Women. The property is owned by Corrective Services NSW. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Bella Vista is a heritage-listed residence at Elizabeth Macarthur Drive, Bella Vista, The Hills Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1830 to 1960. It is also known as Kings Langley, Stock Farm, Seven Hills Farm and Bella Vista Farm. The property is owned by The Hills Shire Council and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Chalet is a heritage-listed residence located at 2 Yerton Avenue, Hunters Hill, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed and built during 1855; and assembled by German carpenters Willhelm Gross, Frederick Lemm, and Jacob Arndt. It is also known as The Bungalow (1867) and The Nora Heysen Studio. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 June 2005.

Rydalmere Hospital is a heritage-listed former orphanage, psychiatric hospital and now university campus at 171 Victoria Road, Rydalmere, in the City of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly known as the Female Orphan School and Protestant Orphan School. It is now the Parramatta South Campus of the Western Sydney University. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Riverview House is a heritage-listed former orchard and now residence at 135 Marsden Road, West Ryde in the City of Ryde local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1860 to 1878 by George Spurway. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Brislington is a heritage-listed former residence, inn, doctor's surgery, nurses' home and now museum at 10 George Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1819 to 1821 by John Hodge. Incorporated into the former Parramatta District Hospital for many years, it now serves as the Brislington Medical and Nursing Museum. The property is owned by the New South Wales Department of Health. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Broughton House is a heritage-listed former residence, school and now nursing home at 43a Thomas Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1838 and was possibly designed by John Verge. It has also been known as Newlands, Bowden House, Parramatta Convalescent Home and Parramatta Nursing Home. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 October 1999.

Hambledon Cottage is a heritage-listed former residence and now house museum at 47 Hassall Street, Harris Park, City of Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The cottage was built from 1821 to 1825, with the initial section being designed by Henry Kitchen. It is also known as Firholme, Valley Cottage and Macarthur Cottage. The property is owned by Parramatta City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 September 2012.

Macarthur House is a heritage-listed former residence and school building and now offices at 8 Melville Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Houison, Arthur William McKenzie Mowle and David Sheedy and built from 1855 to 1856 by James Houison. It has also known as Morton House and Pemberton Grange. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Bowman House is a heritage-listed former residence and now Hawkesbury Area Office of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at 368-370 Windsor Street, Richmond, New South Wales, an outer suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was built from 1817 to 1820 by James Blackman. It is also known as Bowman's Cottage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Claremont Cottage is a heritage-listed residence at Claremont Crescent, Windsor, New South Wales, an outer suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was built from 1807 to 1822. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Thompson Square Conservation Area is a heritage-listed precinct centred around Thompson Square in Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia. 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 "Perth House and Stables". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00155. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
↑ Gerloff, 2010
↑ Kass, 1996, ML SLNSW PX*D 302/3/25
↑ "Historic Parramatta cottage with 175-year local history to be offered for sale". Jones Lang LaSalle. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
↑ Tanner & Blackmore CMP, 1988, as quoted in Gerloff, 2010
1 2 3 4 Howard Tanner & Associates, 1987

Bibliography

Adoranti, Kylie (2016). 'Plans bring luxiry 'to the people: 4.5-star hotel's bars and cafes to be open to all'.
Bairstow, Damaris (1989). Perth House : historical archaeology : report.
Gerloff, Olga (2010). Landmark is 165 years old (about the Moreton Bay fig tree on George Street).
Howard Tanner and Associates Pty. Ltd. and Kate Blackmore. (1988). Perth House Conservation Plan.
Walker, Meredith (1993). City of Parramatta Heritage Study.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Perth House and Stables , entry number 00155 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.

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-155-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Perth House and Stables". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00155. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .

[nswshr-155-1090-2] Gerloff, 2010

[nswshr-155-1091-3] Kass, 1996, ML SLNSW PX*D 302/3/25

[4] "Historic Parramatta cottage with 175-year local history to be offered for sale". Jones Lang LaSalle. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.

[nswshr-155-1092-5] Tanner & Blackmore CMP, 1988, as quoted in Gerloff, 2010

[nswshr-155-1093-6] 1 2 3 4 Howard Tanner & Associates, 1987

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]