Ildemere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ildemere |
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Ildemere, with the boat shed on the right and "Ildemere Cabin" on the left.
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| Location | 11-11a Bay View Street, McMahons Point, North Sydney Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1879–1888 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Filligree |
| Official name: Ildemere | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 390 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Ildemere is a special historic house located at 11–11a Bay View Street in McMahons Point, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1879 and 1888. This beautiful building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, meaning it's protected for its historical importance.
Contents
The History of Ildemere
Early Owners and Construction
The land where Ildemere stands was sold in 1879 to Edwin Maximilian Dietrich, a jeweller from Sydney. The house itself was likely built around 1879. Dietrich lived in Ildemere until 1897.
After Dietrich, the house had a few other owners. William Percy Maschwitz owned it from 1897 to 1906. Then, C. W. Gaden took over in 1906.
Unique Features and Additions
Some special parts of the house, like the unique floor on the verandah, were probably added by Dietrich in the 1890s. This floor has a special design with a swastika symbol and a coat of arms. The swastika was an ancient symbol of good luck long before it was used by the Nazis. The coat of arms looks like one belonging to the Dietrich family.
There's a small hint that an architect named David McBeath might have designed the original house around 1879. It's important to know that there is no proof that Ildemere was ever a German Consulate.
Famous Resident: Don Bradman
From 1932 to 1934, the famous Australian cricketer Don Bradman lived at Ildemere. His family rented the downstairs part of the house from the Allan family, who owned it at the time.
What Ildemere Looks Like
The Main House (Built Around 1879)
Ildemere is a wonderful example of a Victorian-era waterfront mansion. It has many unique details. It's very important because it's one of the last houses of its kind along this part of the foreshore that still has its original waterfront and boat shed.
The house also has a significant garden. You can see it clearly from the water, which is a big part of its charm.
The building is designed in the Victorian Filigree style. This style often includes decorative ironwork.
Architectural Details
The house is a two-storey building made of brick. The main side, which faces east, is covered in a material that looks like ashlar (cut stone). The north side has painted brick with exposed eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls).
The south side is two storeys and has an Edwardian style. It's made of painted brick with exposed rafters (the beams that support the roof). The roof is complex, and there are brick chimneys with special decorative supports.
The windows are a mix of styles. Some are round-arched, and others are double-hung or casement windows. The south side has a large, round-arched Edwardian window. The eastern side of the house has a bay front, which is a windowed projection.
There's a two-storey verandah at the front and side. It has cast iron posts, balustrades (railings), brackets, and decorative valances. The floor of the verandah is made of terrazzo. Inlaid into the floor are a swastika symbol, a German coat of arms, and the name Ildemere right in front of the main door.
The house has a beautiful, well-established terraced garden. There's also a two-storey weatherboard boat shed, which was shown in a photo from 1911.
The Boat House (Built 1888)
The boat house at Ildemere is special because it's one of the few boat houses from the 1800s that still exists. It's mostly in its original condition and is still part of the Ildemere property.
It's a two-storey building made of weatherboard with a gable roof made of corrugated iron. It sits right at the water's edge, above a sandstone seawall. It has been changed a bit to be used as a living space, with windows added to one end. The upper floor has a balcony supported by diagonal struts.
The ground floor door, which faces the water, has been changed to full-length doors. However, you can still see the parts where a pontoon ramp would have been attached to the timber beam at the base.
Changes Over Time
The boat shed has had some major changes, but they were done in a way that fits with the original style. Windows were added to the north side. There's also a smaller boat shed made of fibro and corrugated iron. This smaller shed was probably built to cover an existing slipway (a ramp for boats).
The boat house was built as an extension of the main house and still has a strong connection to it.
Why Ildemere is a Heritage Site
Ildemere was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it meets several important requirements:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: This place is considered very rare locally because of its historical importance.
- It's linked to important people: It has a strong connection to people who were important in the history of the region.
- It's beautiful and well-designed: Ildemere is seen as very rare locally for its beautiful design and the skill used to build it.
- It's a rare example: It represents uncommon or rare parts of the cultural history of New South Wales.
- It shows typical characteristics: It's a good example of a certain type of historic place in New South Wales, both historically and aesthetically. It also represents the local community.
