Fernleigh, Caringbah South facts for kids

Fernleigh is a special old house in Caringbah South, New South Wales, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, which means it's important to keep and protect because of its history. It was once a boatshed and a family home, and it's also known by other names like Mandalay and York House.

A Look Back at Fernleigh's Story

Early Days and First Owners

Many historians believe that Fernleigh was finished in 1821. It was built for Thomas Laycock Jr.'s second wife, Margaret Connell, and his six children. Even though Thomas Laycock Jr. mostly lived at his other home, Kelvin, in Bringelly, this house was built for his family. It's thought to be the very first house built in the Sutherland area.

Later, in 1858, John Connell Laycock bought this piece of land. He also bought other large areas in the Caringbah and Burraneer Bay regions. John Connell Laycock was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, which is like a state parliament. He helped make laws and decisions for New South Wales.

Thomas Holt's Influence

In 1860, John Connell Laycock sold Fernleigh to Thomas Holt. Holt started buying up a lot of land in the Sutherland Shire. Eventually, he owned most of it, about 12,500 acres! Thomas Holt was also a very important person in New South Wales. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, another part of the government. He was also a successful wool buyer and invested in many properties. For a short time, he was even the Colonial Treasurer, managing the state's money.

Holt tried many different things on his land, like raising sheep and cattle, growing oysters, cutting timber, and mining coal. He even suggested building a dam on the George's River to supply water to Sydney, but the government didn't agree.

Changes Over the Years

In 1873, Holt sold the land to Charles York. York built a stone cottage there, which he called "York House." This house was built in the Georgian Revival style, a popular type of architecture at the time.

The Gannon family bought the property in 1888. They are believed to have changed the building and renamed it Fernleigh in 1889. The Gannon family was very involved in sports in the area. They owned Fernleigh until 1905, when the land was divided and sold again.

Around 1905, the house had some big changes. The verandah (a covered porch) was made bigger, wrapping around two sides. Horse stalls were removed, and the servants' quarters, which used to be in a separate building, were joined to the main house. This created a large living room. Small attic bedrooms were also added upstairs.

Later Owners and Modern Use

Over the next few decades, Fernleigh had several different owners, including important people like Otto Fredrick Wunderlich, a well-known Sydney businessman. In 1914, Rose Annie Isabella Rofe bought the property, but she and her husband didn't live there full-time.

In 1935, Harry Peel, a merchant and keen sailor, bought Fernleigh. He was known for a motorboat race trophy named after him, the "Harry Peel Trophy."

In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Errol Alcott bought the property, and it has been in their family ever since.

Part of Fernleigh has been used as a commercial marina and slipway since the early 1940s. It was first known as "The Three Pines Boatshed." A marina is a place where boats can be docked and serviced. The Three Pines Boatshed part of the property was separated in the 1970s and is now called Burraneer Bay Marina. It has many boat berths and facilities for boat maintenance.

A fun fact: The famous Australian folk song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" by Rolf Harris, a friend of the Alcott family, was reportedly launched on Fernleigh's front lawn! The road the house is on, Fernleigh Road, was named after the house itself.

What Fernleigh Looks Like

The main part of Fernleigh is built in a classic Old Colonial Georgian style. It has four rooms with a wide hallway down the middle. The walls are made from thick, hand-cut sandstone blocks, about 45 centimeters (18 inches) thick! The roof is made of original slate, and the chimneys are also very old.

The house has seven bedrooms. The stone used to build it was cut right on the property, and you can still see signs of the old quarry behind the house. Above the front door, a stone carving shows the year 1821. The timber used inside was cedar, which came from a small group of trees nearby.

The house has been changed and added to over the years. For example, the original verandah only went across the front, but now it extends further. The area between the house and what used to be a separate kitchen building has been enclosed to create a large sitting room.

Underneath each of the main rooms, there's a cellar with a trap door. These cellars helped keep the house cool in summer and provided a cool place to store food near the kitchen.

In 1920, a ballroom was added to the house, and in the 1930s, an Art Deco style bathroom was put in.

Why Fernleigh is Special

Fernleigh is considered very important because it's believed to be one of the oldest houses in the Sutherland area, possibly built as early as 1821. Its long history and connection to important early settlers and politicians make it a valuable part of New South Wales' heritage.

Because of its historical importance, Fernleigh was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This listing helps protect the house and its history for future generations.

See also

• Australian residential architectural styles