Dunara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dunara
Dunara, pictured in September 2017
Location	10 Dunara Gardens, Point Piper, Municipality of Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1882–1883
Built for	Charles Mackellar
Architect	Professor Leslie Wilkinson (1957)
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Dunara; Dorothea Mackellar birthplace
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	539
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
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Dunara is a beautiful old house in Point Piper, Sydney, Australia. It was built between 1882 and 1883. This special home is also known as the Dorothea Mackellar birthplace because the famous Australian poet, Dorothea Mackellar, was born and grew up here. Today, Dunara is a privately owned home and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.

A Look Back at Dunara's History

Point Piper's Early Days

The land where Dunara stands has a long history. It was once part of a large area given to Captain John Piper in 1820 by Governor Macquarie. Captain Piper was in charge of customs for the colony, which was a very important job. He built a grand house called Henrietta Villa on the land. It became a popular place for social events in Sydney.

However, Captain Piper spent too much money and got into serious debt. He even tried to take his own life, but thankfully he survived and moved to a quieter life in the countryside.

In 1827, a successful merchant named Daniel Cooper bought Henrietta Villa. Later, his nephew, also named Daniel Cooper, inherited the land. This younger Daniel Cooper became very wealthy and built an even bigger mansion called Woollahra House on the same spot as Henrietta Villa. He was also the first Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, which is like the leader of the state's parliament.

The Mackellar Family and Dunara

Dunara was built around 1882-1883 for Sir Charles Kinnaird Mackellar. He was a very important doctor, politician, and someone who helped many people in need. He was born in Sydney in 1844 and studied medicine in Scotland. When he came back to Australia, he became a well-known doctor and helped set up important health services like the North Head Quarantine Station and the Coast Hospital (now Prince Henry Hospital). He also became the president of the Board of Health.

Sir Charles Mackellar was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, which is part of the state's government. He cared a lot about children and helped create laws and homes for children who were neglected or had difficulties. He was knighted for his amazing work in medicine and public service.

Sir Charles married Marion Isobel Buckland in 1877. They had four children, and one of them was Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar, who became a famous poet.

Dorothea Mackellar's Childhood Home

Dorothea Mackellar was born at Dunara on 1 July 1885. She spent most of her childhood in this beautiful home. The house was large, with two floors, and had servants' quarters, stables, and lovely gardens. The name Dunara is an Indigenous word that means "gunyah" (a simple shelter) on the slope of a hill.

Dorothea was educated at home and traveled a lot with her parents. She learned to speak several languages, including French, Spanish, German, and Italian. She also attended some classes at the University of Sydney. Her life was very cultured and protected.

The Famous Poem: My Country

While staying at a family property called Torryburn in the Hunter region, Dorothea experienced a drought ending with rain. This inspired her to write her most famous poem, My Country. It was first published in London in 1908 and quickly became one of Australia's most loved poems. It captured the strong feeling of national pride that was growing in Australia at the time.

Dorothea traveled widely and published more poetry books and even some novels. She was honored with an OBE award in 1968, just before she passed away.

Changes to Dunara Over Time

After the Mackellar family, Dunara was sold to Sir Norman Kater in 1919 and then to Mr. Michaelis in 1931. During World War II, the house was used by the RAAF as a place for women officers to live.

In 1954, the large property around Dunara was divided into smaller blocks of land, and many new houses were built around it. Even though much of its original land is gone, Dunara still has a beautiful, clear view of Rose Bay.

Dorothea Mackellar's poem, In a Southern Garden, is thought to be about her childhood home, Dunara:

What Dunara Looks Like

The House and Garden

Dunara is a two-story house built with thick brick walls (about 45 cm thick) and a slate roof. It has beautiful cast iron railings and tiles on its veranda and balcony. The house used to have stables and a servants' wing, but these have been changed over time. The servants' wing is now a separate home.

When you enter Dunara, you step into a lovely hall with special carved wood details and patterned floor tiles. From this hall, you can go into the sitting room, drawing room, and dining room. All the rooms are large and have fireplaces, many with beautiful marble surrounds. There are five bedrooms, some with bay windows (windows that stick out from the wall) and original chain window sashes. The ceilings are high, giving the rooms a grand feeling.

The main bedroom is very big and has two tall windows that open onto the balcony. There's also a study area attached to it.

The house still has a small formal garden at the front and a more relaxed garden at the back, facing Rose Bay. Even though the surrounding bushland that once led to the water is gone, the house still enjoys a wonderful view of Rose Bay.

Condition and Changes

Dunara is in very good condition today. Over the years, some changes have been made to the house. For example, in 1933, an architect named G. Keesing made some alterations. Later, in 1957, Professor Leslie Wilkinson made more changes that fit well with the house's original style. More recently, some modern updates like air conditioning units have been added.

Why Dunara is Special

Dunara is very important because it is the oldest house still standing in Point Piper. It's historically significant because of its strong connection to Dorothea Mackellar, being her birthplace and a place that influenced her writing. The house itself is also a great example of a well-built Victorian-era home from the 1880s. It has kept many of its original features, and its owners have taken good care of it.

Because of its historical and architectural importance, Dunara was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.