Babworth House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Babworth House |
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Babworth House, Mt. Adelaide Street gates, pictured in 2014
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| Location | 103 Darling Point Road, Darling Point, Municipality of Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1912–1915 |
| Architect |
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| Architectural style(s) | Federation Arts and Crafts |
| Official name: Babworth House; Mount Adelaide (site of) (demolished) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 13 August 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1300 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Messrs W. Gawne and Son |
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Babworth House is a beautiful old building in Darling Point, Sydney, Australia. It's famous for its history as a grand home and later as a school and hospital. Today, it provides accommodation for staff. It was built between 1912 and 1915 and is known for its special Federation Arts and Crafts style. This amazing house is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it's a very important part of Australia's history and architecture. It is also known as Mount Adelaide.
Contents
History of Babworth House
Early Sydney Days
The area where Babworth House stands was originally called Yarranabbee by Aboriginal people. In the 1820s, Governor Ralph Darling named it Mrs Darling's Point, honouring his wife. After a new road was built in 1831, many trees were cut down. The land was then sold off in large blocks.
In 1833, a successful businessman named William Macdonald bought a large piece of land. He had come to Australia as a convict but built a successful life. Macdonald named his land Mount Adelaide. He spent a lot of money on it and even planted a vineyard. This vineyard was possibly designed by Thomas Shepherd, a famous landscape designer of the time.
Thomas Shepherd, the Garden Designer
Thomas Shepherd was one of the first landscape gardeners in New South Wales. He was also known for teaching about garden design and growing grapes. He arrived in Sydney in 1827 and started the first commercial plant nursery.
Shepherd wrote books about gardening in Australia. His ideas helped people understand how to grow plants in a different climate. He also taught about designing gardens to look beautiful. The vineyard at Mount Adelaide is the only garden design we know for sure that he created.
The Mount Adelaide Estate
After William Macdonald left Australia, the Mount Adelaide estate was sold. In 1849, Mortimer Lewis, a government architect, bought part of the land. He built a house on the highest point, enjoying the harbour views. This house was later expanded by Edmund Blacket, another important architect.
Over the years, the estate changed hands several times. It was owned by John Croft and then Henry Mort. The original Mount Adelaide house was old and didn't have modern comforts. By the early 1900s, the land around it had been divided into smaller blocks.
The Hordern Family Builds a New Home
In 1910, Samuel Hordern II bought Mount Adelaide. His family was very well-known in Sydney for their large department stores, Anthony Hordern & Sons. Samuel wanted a grand, modern home for his family. So, the old Mount Adelaide house was pulled down.
Between 1912 and 1915, a huge new mansion was built. It was designed by architects Morrow and De Putron. This new home was called Babworth House. It had about 40 rooms, including a billiard room, and was filled with the latest technology and luxurious finishes. The cost was very high for the time, showing how wealthy the Hordern family was. Babworth House became a symbol of their success and place in Sydney society.
Babworth House as a Hospital
After Sir Samuel Hordern passed away in 1956, Babworth House was sold. It was bought to be used as a private hospital. After some discussions, it became an after-care unit for St Vincent's Hospital from 1961 to 1980.
Later, the house was empty for a few years and was even used as a filming location for movies like Kitty and the Bagman. In 1986, it became a temporary home for the Sacred Heart Hospice. Since 1989, Babworth House has been used as accommodation for nurses.
What Babworth House Looks Like
The Gardens
The gardens of Babworth House are just as special as the house itself. They were designed to have many different styles. You can find Italian-style terraces with balustrades and cypress trees. There are also areas with sculpted rockwork and plants like palms and bird-of-paradise flowers, giving it a tropical feel.
The gardens have formal stairways that lead down to sunken gardens and grottoes. They also feature a beautiful collection of plants. The site was carefully shaped to create different garden areas, including a rose garden and an oak glade with bluebells.
The House's Design
Babworth House sits on the highest point of Darling Point, offering amazing views. It's a two-storey building with walls made of finely finished cement. It has beautiful decorations inspired by the Art Nouveau style around its windows and chimneys.
The house has an interesting, uneven shape with large gabled areas and bold balconies. The windows are usually double-hung, with a single large pane at the bottom and six smaller panes at the top. The roof is made of slate, with copper gutters and downpipes that were specially designed for the house.
Inside, Babworth House shows a mix of styles, including Edwardian, Classical Revival, and Art Nouveau. The main rooms on the ground floor include an entry hall, dining room, drawing room, and a large ballroom or billiard room. Many of these rooms are covered in beautiful wood panelling made of English oak and Queensland maple. The ceilings have detailed Art Nouveau decorations.
The drawing room is painted and has carved wood details. It features a beautiful white and green marble fireplace. The main staircase is heavily carved in the Art Nouveau style, with large newel posts (the main posts at the top and bottom of a staircase).
Condition and Importance
Babworth House is in excellent condition. The site also has archaeological potential, meaning there might be old remains from the 1830s vineyard. These remains could tell us more about early farming and garden design in Sydney.
Changes Over Time
- 1830s: Vineyard planted on the Mount Adelaide Estate.
- 1837+: Mortimer Lewis builds a house on the estate.
- By 1857: The house is enlarged and finished.
- 1858+: Edmund Blacket adds more to the house.
- 1893-1910: The land around the house is divided and sold.
- 1912-1915: The old house is demolished, and the new Babworth House is built for Samuel Hordern II.
Why Babworth House is Important
Babworth House is considered one of Australia's largest, finest, and most complete grand houses from the early 1900s. It's important for both its history and its beauty.
- Rare Architecture: It's a great example of the Federation Arts and Crafts style. The detailed work on the outside and inside, with Art Nouveau and classical designs, is very unique and of high quality.
- Beautiful Gardens: The gardens are a key part of the estate. Even though the property is smaller now, the gardens still provide a wonderful setting for the mansion. The stairs, balustrades, and grottoes in the garden show the same high quality of building as the house.
- A Glimpse into the Past: The estate shows how wealthy families lived in Darling Point during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It reminds us of a time when large homes needed many servants to run them.
- Hordern Family Connection: Babworth House was the home of Sir Samuel Hordern, whose family founded the famous Anthony Hordern's stores. It shows the long connection of the Hordern family with Darling Point.
- Special Plants: The garden has a significant collection of plants from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It also contains rare plants that are not often seen in Sydney.
Babworth House was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 13 August 1999.
