Evatt House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Evatt House |
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Evatt House, 69 Junction Road, Wahroonga, NSW
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| Location | 69 Junction Road, Wahroonga, Ku-ring-gai Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1940 |
| Built for | Clive Raleigh Evatt and Marjorie Evatt |
| Architect | Stuart Traill |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian Revival |
| Official name: Evatt House; Parklands | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 24 September 2004 |
| Reference no. | 1711 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Evatt House, also known as Parklands, is a special house in Wahroonga, Sydney, Australia. It is located at 69 Junction Road and is considered a heritage site. This means it is an important place with a rich history. The house was built in 1940 and is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2004 because of its historical importance.
A Look Back: Evatt House History
First People of the Land
Long ago, about 20,000 years ago, Aboriginal people lived in the area around Evatt House. They used rock shelters for homes. Different languages were spoken around Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). The "Kuringgai" language was spoken on the north side. The "Darug" people lived on the south side, stretching to the Blue Mountains.
When Europeans arrived in 1788, a terrible smallpox sickness spread. It caused many Aboriginal people to die. Sadly, between 50% and 90% of the population was lost. Even after this, some Kuringgai people continued to live in the area. They would gather and collect supplies from Europeans.
How Wahroonga Grew
Before trains and the Sydney Harbour Bridge made travel easy, the Ku-Ring-Gai area was far from Sydney. It had small farming communities. People made a living by cutting timber and growing vegetables.
Wahroonga started to grow into a suburb after the railway line opened in 1890. This brought new roads and homes. The local government, called the Shire of Ku-Ring-Gai, was formed in 1906.
Building Evatt House
The land where Evatt House stands was once part of a huge property. In the 1890s, some businessmen bought land in Wahroonga and sold smaller pieces.
In 1937, Clive Raleigh Evatt bought three blocks of land. Clive Evatt (1900-1984) was a well-known politician in New South Wales. He was a member of Parliament for the Labor party.
Clive and his wife, Marjorie, asked architect Stuart Traill to design their new home. The house was built in 1940 in the Georgian Revival style. Marjorie Evatt was very involved in designing the house.
The Special "Bush Garden"
What made Evatt House unique was its garden. Instead of a typical English-style garden, the Evatts decided to keep the native plants and trees. This was quite unusual and forward-thinking for the time.
Later, in the 1960s, "bush garden" became a popular term. Books like "Designing Australian Bush Gardens" helped people learn about using native plants. Other people, like Walter and Marion Griffin in the 1920s, also encouraged planting local species. This idea of using Australian plants helped show a sense of Australian identity.
The Evatt Family and Their Friends
Clive Raleigh Evatt was born in 1900. His older brother was the famous politician Herbert Vere Evatt. Clive had a successful career, though his brother was more famous.
Clive studied law and became a top lawyer. In 1939, he became a Member of Parliament for the Labor party. He served as the Minister for Education and later Minister for Housing. He was known for being smart, friendly, and witty.
Clive Evatt loved the arts and often hosted parties at Evatt House. Many important artists, thinkers, lawyers, and politicians visited their home.
Famous Visitors and Family Achievements
Some famous people who visited Evatt House included Clive's brother, H. V. Evatt, who was a federal politician and the first Secretary-General of the United Nations. The famous artist Sidney Nolan also visited. Even actors Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh were guests! The Evatts also supported many musicians and artists. Their art collection included works by Australian modern artists.
The Evatt children who grew up in the house also became very successful:
- Elizabeth Evatt was the first woman Chief Justice of the Family Court.
- Penelope Seidler became an architect and married the famous architect Harry Seidler.
- Clive Evatt Jnr became a well-known art dealer in Sydney.
These children continued their family's interest in law and the arts.
In 1950, Clive Evatt helped the architect Harry Seidler. Seidler wanted to build a modern house, but the local council said no. As Minister for Housing, Evatt stepped in and allowed the house to be built. Harry Seidler said his first visit to Evatt House in 1950 was "momentous." Evatt's support helped convince Seidler to stay and work in Australia.
The Evatt family owned the house until 1986. Clive and Marjorie lived there until they passed away in 1984. After the house was sold, some small changes were made. A clay tennis court was added, and the driveway was changed.
What Evatt House Looks Like
Evatt House is a grand house built in the Georgian Revival style. It was designed by Stuart Traill in 1940. The gardens were likely created around the same time. The tennis court was added after 1986.
The property has about one hundred trees, mostly native Australian species. Some of these trees might have been there before Europeans settled the area. You can find large Sydney red gums and Turpentines. There are also Blackbutt, White stringybark, and Red Mahogany trees. These trees are native to the area and show what the original landscape was like. Most of the trees are 40 to 80 years old, meaning they grew back after the land was cleared.
There is also a "Clive Evatt Reserve" nearby, which is a park managed by the local council.
The house and gardens are mostly still in their original state. They have become a bit worn over time, but they are still very special.
Why Evatt House is Important
Evatt House is considered very important to the history of New South Wales. It is listed on the State Heritage Register for several reasons:
Connecting to History
The "bush garden" at Evatt House is important because it was one of the first attempts to keep native Australian plants in a suburban garden. This idea of using Australian plants helped show a growing sense of national identity.
The house also represents Clive R. Evatt as a new kind of Labor politician. He focused on social improvement and human rights, not just working-class issues.
It is also a good example of a large, upper-middle-class home from the mid-20th century in Wahroonga.
Important People and Their Stories
Evatt House is strongly linked to the Evatt family, who lived there for almost 50 years (1940-1986). Clive Raleigh Evatt and his wife Marjorie were important figures. Their children, Clive Evatt Jnr, Elizabeth Evatt, and Penelope Seidler, also became very successful in their own fields.
Clive Evatt was a patron of the arts and entertained many important people at his home. These visitors included his brother "Doc" Evatt, artist Sidney Nolan, and actors Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
The house also shows how Australian culture was supported in the mid-20th century. The combination of the Georgian Revival house and the native bush garden shows a modern and progressive view of Australian identity.
Beautiful Design and Creativity
Evatt House is a great example of a Georgian Revival style home in the Ku-ring-gai area. It is still mostly original and sits impressively on a large block of land with mature trees. The architect was Stuart Traill. Clive's wife Marjorie and other family members also helped with the design.
The garden is significant because it was an early example of a "bush garden" in Sydney. This was unusual for the time, as most people preferred English-style gardens.
Community and Culture
Evatt House is important because it shows how Clive Evatt, as a politician, represented a new way of thinking for the Labor party. He wanted the party to appeal to a wider range of people. He was a big supporter of the arts, and his home was a meeting place for many important people in art, law, and politics.
The house's style, combined with its native garden, shows how the Evatt family supported Australian culture and a modern way of thinking.
Unique Features
While Evatt House is a great example of its style, it is not considered rare. There are other Georgian Revival homes in the Ku-ring-gai area.
