Ewenton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ewenton |
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Ewenton.jpg) |
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| Location | 1 Blake Street, Balmain, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1854–1872 |
| Architect | James McDonald |
| Official name: Ewenton; Blake Vale | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 197 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Ewenton is a historic house located at 1 Blake Street in Balmain, Sydney, Australia. It was designed by James McDonald and built between 1854 and 1872. This beautiful home is also known as Blake Vale. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, meaning it's a very important building to protect.
Contents
History of Ewenton
Ewenton's story began in 1837. A large piece of land, where Ewenton now stands, was bought by Robert Blake. He was a former soldier who decided to work in the NSW Sheriff's Office. Blake planned to build several houses on his land to rent out.
Early Days as Blake Vale
The first house, "Blake Vale," was built for Robert Blake in 1854–1855. It was a simple, one-story house with a basement. Blake moved in during December 1854. However, he sold the property in October 1856 and moved to another of his houses nearby.
Cameron Family Era
In 1856, Major Ewen Wallace Cameron bought the property. He was a successful businessman. Cameron also bought more land from Blake in the years that followed. The area around the house became known as Ewenton Street, named after him.
Cameron had a large family. To make more space, he hired architect James McDonald in 1860. McDonald added a fancy entrance and a stone upper floor with a slate roof. This new part of the house had large windows with great views of Sydney. Cameron renamed the house "Ewenton."
The house was made even bigger in 1872 with a new three-story stone wing. This part of the house had a strong, detailed design. The stonework around the windows was very unique. These changes were also designed by James McDonald.
Ewenton had impressive gates at the end of Blake Street. Carriages would drive around the house to the stables. There was also a path for people walking to the front door. Cameron also had a wharf and a boat shed by the water.
Changes and New Owners
Ewen Wallace Cameron passed away in 1876. His family continued to live in the house for some years. After his wife Sophia died in 1878, the land was divided into smaller sections.
In 1879, Johanna Cameron, who was not a direct family member of Ewen, bought Ewenton. She was the wife of John Cameron, who became the mayor of Balmain.
By 1891, the Cameron family had moved out, and Ewenton was empty for a short time. From 1892 to 1913, it was used as a boarding house. Different people lived there during this period.
In 1911, Henry Brisbane Swan bought Ewenton. He was a timber merchant. Swan expanded his business by opening a timber yard near the house. He was also the mayor of Balmain several times. The Swan family owned Ewenton until 1950.
Neglect, Fire, and Restoration
After 1950, a company bought Ewenton and used it as a storage building. The house was neglected and fell into disrepair. In 1980, a fire badly damaged the older part of the house. Luckily, the 1872 section was saved by firefighters.
After being used as an industrial site for many years, Ewenton was restored in 1985. It became a home again as part of a new housing development called Cameron's Cove. The damaged parts, like the bay window, were rebuilt using old photos. The gardens were also fixed up.
In 1991, Dr. John and Susan Yiannikas bought Ewenton. They worked hard to restore the house and create a beautiful garden. They made changes to the garage and entrance to make the house more useful. They also added many plants, creating a lovely green space.
In 1992, more work was approved. This included fixing up the inside and outside of the house. They also added a swimming pool in the basement and a Victorian-style gazebo in the garden. A new sandstone driveway was built in 1998, following the old design.
Ewenton's Design
The House's Look
Ewenton was built in different stages, from 1854 to 1872. It shows a mix of styles, including Georgian, Victorian Classical Italianate, and Victorian Rustic Italianate. It has interesting sandstone details.
From the east side, facing the water, the house looks like a three or four-story sandstone building. Some special parts include a bay window on the third floor, a decorative wooden verandah, and arched windows.
The house has a hipped and gable-ended slate roof. It features a bay window and a verandah. The south wing, built in 1872, is very different from the north wing. It has high-quality stonework with unique window designs.
The verandah goes across the basement level. Above it, on the ground floor, the verandah changes height at the arched doorways. It has a curved steel roof supported by timber columns with fancy tops. A criss-cross pattern is used for the railings on both verandahs.
On the first floor of the north wing, there's a central bay window that sticks out. It has its own cone-shaped roof and large windows.
You enter the house from the west side. There are tall iron gates at the end of Blake Street. A curving path leads from the gates to the main entrance. A long driveway also leads to a separate garage building. The east side of the house looks out over Ewenton Park and Sydney Harbour.
The Garden
Ewenton is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It has large camphor laurel trees on the west side of the house. There are also sandstone walls, gate posts, and paths. The main entrance is off Blake Street, where the original sandstone gate posts still stand.
The house's eastern side can be clearly seen from Ewenton Park. This side faces Sydney Harbour.
Since 1991, the owners have focused on creating a wonderful garden. The drive from Blake Street feels like entering a private park. Mature camphor laurel trees provide shade and glimpses of the harbour. Many sub-tropical plants and old-fashioned shrubs grow under these trees.
The garden has different types of plants. For example, shell ginger is used along the boundary. Shade-loving plants like Mackaya bella and giant fan palms grow in drifts. Other plants include giant bird-of-paradise flowers and various types of ginger.
More recently, plants like Hydrangea, Camellia, and angel's trumpets have been added. These bring more color and variety to the garden. The driveway, though not original, follows the old path and feels like part of the garden.
Near a modern garage, the garden becomes steeper. A large floating boulder supports a pavilion. Around it, you can see plants like Philodendron, clipped hedges, and Agave.
A circular garden with an urn marks the top of the steps to the front door. It has low-growing plants like beefsteak plant and spike flower. A large stone bench, made from parts of an old wall, is also a feature.
Near the house entrance, a steep bank is filled with colorful plants. These include Mexican lilies, grey sage, and rock roses. Dwarf date palms and pink angel's trumpets add more interest.
A path leads around the south side of the house. Below the garage, there's a garden shed hidden by dwarf palms and ornamental bananas. The path on this side is made from recycled sandstone.
On Ewenton's eastern side, the garden opens up to the harbour. This area, once a sloped garden, is now a lawn and part of Ewenton Park. A large Moreton Bay fig tree, seen in photos from 1872, still stands here.
Modifications and Dates
- 1854-1855: "Blake Vale" was built.
- 1860 & 1872: The house was extended and became "Ewenton."
- 1892-1913: The house was used as a boarding house.
- 1950s onwards: Used for industrial purposes and storage, leading to neglect.
- 1980: The house suffered fire damage.
- 1986: The outside of the house was restored.
- 1992: More exterior restoration, an indoor swimming pool was added, and a Victorian gazebo was placed in the garden.
- 1998: A new two-car garage, basement storage, and a new sandstone driveway were built.
Heritage Importance
Ewenton is important because it's one of the few large Victorian waterfront estates in Balmain that is still mostly complete. It shows how architectural styles changed during the Victorian era. The house's original design from 1854–1855 and its later extensions from 1860 to 1872 are all part of its unique look. It has interesting sandstone details.
The property still has parts of its original gardens, including some Victorian-era trees. Ewenton is also important because of its connection to Major Ewen Wallace Cameron, a leading citizen of Balmain, and the architect James McDonald.
Ewenton was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
