Jenner House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jenner House |
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Jenner House, pictured in 2014
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| Location | 2 Macleay Street, Potts Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1871–1877 |
| Architect |
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| Architectural style(s) | Regency Revival |
| Official name: Jenner House; Fleet Club; Stramshall; Jenner Private Hospital; Kurragheen; Lugano | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 776 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Jenner House is a historic home located at 2 Macleay Street in Potts Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by Edmund Blacket and built in 1871. Later, in 1877, Thomas Rowe added a third floor. Over the years, this grand house has been known by several names, including Fleet Club, Stramshall, Jenner Private Hospital, Kurragheen, and Lugano. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's a very important historical building.
Contents
History of Jenner House
Early Aboriginal History
The "Eora people" were the original Aboriginal people living along the coast around Sydney. The area where Jenner House stands is part of what is known as "Eora Country." Specifically, the Cadigal and Wangal groups of the Eora people were the traditional owners of this land.
When Europeans arrived in Sydney, the Cadigal and Wangal people faced many challenges. However, their descendants still live in Sydney today. Many Aboriginal people from across New South Wales have moved to Sydney suburbs like Pyrmont and Redfern since the 1930s.
How Potts Point Was Settled
In the 1830s, the whole area from Potts Point to Kings Cross was called Darlinghurst. It was likely named after Governor Ralph Darling's wife, Eliza. The rocky hill stretching from Potts Point was known as Eastern or Woolloomooloo Hill.
Early Sydney was very crowded and not very clean. Important citizens wanted better places to live. Woolloomooloo Hill was perfect because it was close to town and had amazing views. In 1828, Governor Darling decided to divide Woolloomooloo Hill into large "town allotments." These were big plots of land for grand homes and gardens. He gave these plots to important people in the colony.
The homes built on these plots had to follow special "villa conditions." These rules made sure only one large house was built on each plot. They also had to be well-designed and surrounded by beautiful gardens. By the mid-1830s, these "white" villas looked very impressive from Sydney Harbour.
Building Jenner House
The land for Jenner House was created in 1866. It was part of a larger estate owned by Alexander Macleay. In 1871, a businessman named Lebbeus Hordern leased the land. He hired a famous architect, Edmund Blacket, to design a two-story house called Stramshall. This house was built in the Regency Revival style.
In 1875, the lease was transferred to J. T. Neale. Just two years later, in 1876-77, a third story was added. This addition was designed by another architect, Thomas Rowe. The house's name was changed to Kurragheen, and later to Lugano.
Jenner House as a Hospital
In 1915, the building became the Jenner Private Hospital. Some small changes were made to help it work as a hospital. A garage was also built in the 1920s during this time. Many important people were treated at the hospital. For example, a former Sydney mayor, Sir Matthew Harris, was treated there. Also, Premier of South Australia Richard Layton Butler received care there when he became ill during a visit to Sydney.
In 1940, the Australian government bought the property. This was part of a larger plan to build the Captain Cook Graving Dock nearby. Much of the original garden facing the harbour was removed. The hospital continued to operate until 1952. Then, the Royal Australian Navy took over the building.
The Navy used the building for various purposes until 1998. In 1966, any remaining smaller buildings were taken down. After the Navy left, the property was sold to a horse breeder named Tony Peterson in 1998. The house was then carefully restored. In 2009, it was sold again to Terry and Wendy Mullens, who completed a three-year restoration project.
What Jenner House Looks Like
The House Itself
Jenner House is a grand 19th-century home. It was designed by Edmund Blacket in 1871, with the third floor added by Thomas Rowe in 1877. The inside of the house has interesting details, some designed by Blacket and his employee, J. Horbury Hunt.
The house has three main levels and a small basement. It also has a separate garage built in the 1920s. Inside, you'll find about eight bedrooms and six bathrooms. The house features shiny wooden floors, a very large cellar with many rooms, and high ceilings. It sits on a strong sandstone foundation.
The building shows a mix of architectural styles from the late 1800s. The lower two floors on the front (western side) show the elegant Regency style. Other parts of the house have the more decorative and less symmetrical look of the 19th-century Italianate villa style.
The Gardens and Grounds
Jenner House faces Macleay Street. It originally had gardens that stretched all the way to the harbour. However, in 1940, part of the land was taken to build the Garden Island Dockyard.
The house is surrounded by gardens. On the west side, facing Macleay Street, there's a large front garden. It has a circular driveway for carriages, a central lawn, and a fountain. A big evergreen magnolia tree is a special feature of this garden.
To the east, there's a lower back garden. It also has a circular lawn and a significant sandstone wall. This wall sits above natural sandstone rocks and overlooks the nearby Navy base. From the house, you can see Sydney Harbour and its entrance.
In 2006, a study of the landscape found several important features:
- A large Magnolia grandiflora tree at the front.
- A line of Camellia plants at the back.
- Parts of the original wall along Macleay Street.
- The semi-circular sandstone wall in the back garden.
- The sandstone cliff next to the wall.
- Sandstone paving along the southeast side of the property.
Changes Over Time
Jenner House has seen many changes since it was built:
- 1875: The large Elizabeth Bay Estate was divided into smaller plots.
- 1880s-1890s: The upper grassy terrace had shrubs planted around its edges. This created a circular grass area with a gravel path and low hedges.
- 1915 onwards: The house was changed to work as a private hospital.
- 1920s-1930s: Three magnolia trees were planted near the Macleay Street entrance. Only one of these trees remains today.
- 1940s: A large part of the eastern garden was removed. This happened when the land was taken to build the Garden Island Naval Dockyard.
- Around 1941: The grassy terrace in the upper eastern garden was changed to fit a rectangular building. This building was likely used by the Navy during wartime, but it was later removed.
Why Jenner House is Important
Jenner House is important for many reasons:
- It shows what life was like for wealthy families in Potts Point in the late 1800s.
- The north wing of the house gives us a rare look at the living spaces for house servants.
- The property was a private hospital for 40 years. It also has a long connection with the Navy and the building of Garden Island, which was a huge engineering project in Australia.
- Jenner House is a great example of architect Edmund Blacket's work, with interesting details by him and J. Horbury Hunt. Thomas Rowe designed the second floor.
- The building shows how architectural styles changed in the late 1800s. It mixes the elegant Regency style with the more decorative Italianate villa style.
- It is connected to other grand 19th-century homes nearby, like Bomera and Tarana and Elizabeth Bay House.
- The area around Jenner House might also hold important historical clues in its building materials and old garden layouts.
- Jenner House's garden seems to be the only remaining garden from the many fashionable 19th-century villas in Potts Point. It's a great example of a well-designed suburban garden from that time.
Jenner House was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
