Loggan Rock facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Loggan Rock
Loggan Rock, pictured in 2012.
Location	111 Whale Beach Road, Avalon Beach, Northern Beaches Council, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1929–1953
Architect	Alexander Stewart Jolly with 1953 modern extension designed by Max Collard
Architectural style(s)	Californian Bungalow
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Loggan Rock; Cabin Avalon; Log and Rock
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	15 August 2008
Reference no.	1779
Type	Other - Residential Buildings (private)
Category	Residential buildings (private)
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Loggan Rock is a special house in Avalon Beach, Australia. It's listed on the heritage register, meaning it's an important historical place. The house was designed in 1929 by Alexander Stewart Jolly in a style called Californian Bungalow. Later, in 1953, Max Collard added a modern part to it.

The house was built over many years, from 1929 to 1953. It's also known as Cabin Avalon or Log and Rock. Loggan Rock was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 15, 2008.

History of Loggan Rock

Ancient Aboriginal Land

Experts believe that Aboriginal Australians have lived in the Sydney area for at least 40,000 years. Different language groups lived here, with smaller clans speaking different dialects. The Guringai language was spoken in Northern Sydney, where Avalon Beach is.

You can still find lots of evidence of their long history. There are many rock etchings in Kuring-gai Chase National Park. This park is right next to Pittwater's western side.

Early Settlement in Pittwater

The Pittwater area is named after an estuary (a river mouth) of Broken Bay. Broken Bay is where the Hawkesbury River meets the sea. This river helped form the Cumberland Plain and Sydney basin.

Pittwater was found in 1788, the same year the first British colony started in Australia. Around 1800, Governor Phillip, the first governor, named it. He named it after William Pitt the Younger, who was the British Prime Minister. Governor Phillip said it was "the finest piece of water I ever saw."

For a long time, the area was used for farming or holidays. Its beautiful beaches were popular for camping. After World War I, more houses started to appear. But most of the building happened after World War II. Today, Pittwater is the northernmost part of Sydney's coastal area.

Loggan Rock's Land Story

The land where Loggan Rock stands was first given to John Joseph Therry in 1837. This was a large piece of land, about 113 hectares (280 acres). In 1924, a smaller part of this land, about 14.5 hectares (36 acres), was sold to Ernest Ebenezer Way.

Ernest Way then divided the land into smaller lots. In 1928, he sold two lots (179 and 180) to Harold Kent. By 1932, the land for Loggan Rock was part of six house lots.

In 1932, Kent sold Lot 175 to Charles Berry Grieve. Architect Alexander Stewart Jolly began designing and building Careel House on that land. While building Careel House, Jolly also started building Loggan Rock. He built it as a holiday cabin for his friend, Lionel Hurley, who was a film censor.

Hurley didn't officially own the land until 1937. That's when he bought and combined several lots (176 to 180).

How Loggan Rock Was Designed

The log cabin part of Loggan Rock was finished in 1931. Then, in 1934, the stone tower was built next to it. The tower has a laundry and bathroom on the bottom floor. It also has two bedrooms on the first and second levels.

Lionel Hurley owned the house until 1950. Then, the artist and sculptor John Bonar Dunlop and his wife Hilary bought it. In the 1950s, the Dunlops added a kitchen, dining room, and lounge room to the tower building. They also updated the tower at that time.

In 1959, Dr. Herbert Sheridan, a dentist, bought the property. Later, Jan Smith and Greg Saunders bought it and restored it. They then sold it to the current owners, Gerry and Regina Sutton, in 2003.

Alexander Stewart Jolly

Alexander Stewart Jolly was born in 1887 near Lismore. He worked in his family's business, learning about timber milling, building, and making furniture. In 1904, his brother visited America. He brought back new ideas about building materials and designs. This greatly influenced Jolly's architectural style.

In 1908, Jolly worked for an architecture firm in Sydney. During this time, he designed the Clunes Coronation Hall. Between 1912 and 1917, he returned to Lismore. There, he designed several well-known buildings. These included St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Casino. He also designed St Mary's Roman Catholic Convent and St Bartholomew's Anglican Church in Alstonville.

When he came back to Sydney in 1918, he started his own business. From 1918 to 1923, he designed Belvedere in Cremorne. This house is a great example of the Australian version of the Californian Bungalow style. It was inspired by American architects Charles and Henry Green. Belvedere is one of only two Jolly houses listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. The other is Hy Brasil in Avalon Beach.

Jolly's designs were unique. He used timber and stone in unusual ways. He also created special fireplace areas called inglenooks. These early designs showed the start of his "organic architecture" style. This style became more dramatic in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Loggan Rock is a great example of this.

Jolly's commitment to this imaginative style might have come from his illness. He retired from office-based architecture in 1923. After retiring, he preferred the peace of the bush over the "rushing hell" of the city. A passage from his children's book, "The Spirit of the Bush", shows his feelings:

"A man was once very tired and weary of the city. His business had failed and he was reduced to his last few pounds. This worried him, so he decided to give all the money he had to his wife and asked her to make it last as long as possible."
"I will go into the bush and seek for gold as there is no work to be had in the city... He thought as he as he walked along of the many disappointments in his life and felt that at last he was doing the right thing in going away."

In the late 1920s, Jolly went to Avalon. He worked with real estate developer A. E. Dalwood. Jolly offered to design homes for people buying new land there. He would camp at Avalon and draw very detailed plans for the houses. He cared so much about how the stone and timber were placed. He often built these parts himself. He would choose specific stones and branches and put them exactly where they should be.

During this time, Jolly designed and built:

• Loggan Rock (1931, 1934): A creative example of organic architecture using logs and rocks.
• Careel House (1934): A more traditional house, like a Scottish castle.
• Stonehaven (1933): A unique cabin made of stone rubble.
• Hy Brasil (1933): Another bush cabin, blending stone and timber.

These houses showed a new direction in Jolly's architecture. They used natural rocks, tree trunks, logs with bark, and forked branches. These were built into unique shapes that looked like boulders or animals. They were very different from normal buildings with straight angles.

Famous People at Loggan Rock

Lionel Hurley, the first owner of Loggan Rock, was an early film censor. He helped create rules for the new Australian film industry. Many famous people visited Loggan Rock when Lionel Hurley owned it. One was filmmaker Frank Hurley.

Frank Hurley was a very important photographer and filmmaker. He took pictures of the Mawson and Shackleton expeditions to Antarctica. He was also an official photographer during both World Wars. He made many well-known documentary and feature films in the 1930s.

Both Lionel and Frank Hurley were known for hosting fun parties. Many famous people from theatre, film, and art circles attended. Guests included Ralph Doyle, a film distributor, and his wife, Patricia Minchin. Patricia was a famous model for the Atlantic Ethyl oil company. Ken Hall, who wrote and directed the popular Dad and Dave movies, was also a regular guest. He was a pioneer in the Australian film industry.

Before World War II, other well-known Sydney residents also enjoyed the cabin. It was a regular weekend getaway for Margaret Jay, a successful interior designer. Elisabeth MacIntyre, a famous children's writer and artist, also visited often.

The flow of artistic visitors continued in the 1950s. At that time, artist Bonar Dunlop and his wife owned Loggan Rock. They entertained famous artists like Arthur Murch, who won the Archibald prize. These owners built the 1950s extension.

What Loggan Rock Looks Like

Loggan Rock is built on a rocky hill called Careel Head. The property has several interesting parts. These include a log cabin on a stone base. There's also a stone tower from 1934 with a 1950s extension. The garden is also very special.

The house and garden are designed with many small, cozy areas. These include courtyards, terraces, viewing platforms, walls, steps, and paths. They are all carefully built into the natural rocks and trees of the bushland. Paths and steps wind up the steep hillside. There are many stone benches placed to catch views and sunlight. These spots are perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature.

Other creative features include a sandstone seating niche under the cabin's large chimney. There's also a stone terrace with a sandstone table. An outdoor fireplace sits between the cabin and the main house. There's also a stone planting box and an internal staircase cut into the rock. The main house has three fireplaces inside. Many old trees and native plants, like rock orchids, have been kept. The garden is very different from the formal gardens popular in the 1920s and 1930s.

Loggan Rock has two main parts. There's a log cabin, and then a separate tower building with a 1954 extension. The building seems to grow out of the steep hillside. It has a base of random stone blocks. These support a huge stone chimney and strong posts made from tree trunks. The roof of the cabin is made of shingles. Its veranda is held up by a shapely tree trunk and branch.

The walls of the cabin are filled with round logs, with their bark still on. Some logs are laid horizontally, like old Australian slab cottages. Others are vertical, like miner's huts. Some are even angled in unique ways. Tree branches form the window frames, with glass panes set into the forks of the branches.

Inside the cabin, the main room is shaped roughly like a cross. On the west side is an inglenook, a cozy corner with a fireplace. The fireplace has a huge stone chimney above it. On the east side, a bay with seats leads to doors. These doors open onto a sunny paved area behind the cabin. On the south, windows offer views towards Avalon. On the other side, a gallery (a raised area) is reached by a stepladder with a rope baluster. Below the gallery, large wooden doors open onto a sandstone veranda. This veranda has views down the valley.

The interior is designed for people to sit and chat. It has built-in rustic furniture. Stone benches are part of the walls, around the fireplace, or facing into the room. A huge banksia tree trunk is sliced to form a table. Its polished surface branches out like boughs. Shelving is built into the walls. The fireplace nook is perfect for gathering and warming hands. Windows on either side of the chimney let in light and offer views.

The "Loggan Rock" tower building and 1954 extension are placed perfectly. Their windows look out over Whale Beach and the Pacific Ocean. They also offer views of Avalon, Careel Bay, and Pittwater. The angled living room from the 1950s gives views in all directions. These additions were made when Hillary and John Bonar Dunlop owned the property.

The additions are single-story. They include a bathroom, kitchen, kitchen inglenook, dining room, and living room. They connect to the 1934 tower. These additions are made of vertical timber weatherboard over a timber frame. They sit on a rubble sandstone base that holds back the rock outcrop. The living room even hangs out over the rock formation.

The tower and its additions have a flat roof. Wide timber eaves on the north, east, and west sides protect the large glass windows and doors. These open onto the upper terrace, extending the indoor space. These additions are a rare example of a mix of post-war and local architectural styles.

The tall, straight tower looks very different from the log cabin. It's a strong stone block building. It's cut into the bedrock, and the sandstone blocks used to build it came from that same rock. The cabin is from 1929, and the tower next to it is from 1934.

The most important parts of Loggan Rock are the Log Cabin, the Tower, the garden setting, and the Banksia Table.

Condition of Loggan Rock

As of April 26, 2006, the buildings and garden were in good shape. The previous owners, Jan Smith and Greg Saunders, had recently restored them. The shingle roof was replaced. The garden was cleared of weeds and is well cared for. All the walls, paths, steps, and stone features are now visible and in good condition.

The place is mostly unchanged. Small changes to the buildings and garden were fixed during the restoration in 2002–2003.

Changes Over Time

• 1929: Log cabin construction began.
• 1931: Log Cabin was completed.
• 1934: The Tower was completed.
• 1954: The modern extension to the Tower was completed.

Loggan Rock is next to Careel House, at 105a Whale Beach Road. Careel House was also designed by Alexander Stewart Jolly. Both are thought to be the earliest houses on Careel Headland.

Why Loggan Rock is Important

As of March 23, 2007, Loggan Rock is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's one of three "organic" houses designed by Alexander Stewart Jolly in Avalon. These houses still have their unique natural settings. Each house is a special creation by an architect who made very distinctive buildings.

Loggan Rock is cleverly built from stone and timber. It uses natural rocks, boulders, cut sandstone, timber shingles, rough logs, tree trunks, and forked branches. The log cabin, tower, and their surroundings show great creative skill. They are rare examples of "organic" architecture that fits perfectly with nature.

Loggan Rock, along with Careel House and Hy Brasil, shows a special set of design styles and ways of living. Built in the late 1920s and early 1930s, these houses show Jolly's unique ideas and architectural influences.

Loggan Rock and the other Jolly houses were also places where many people from Avalon's lively arts community gathered. This community grew after World War I and thrived for forty years. The house and garden are historically important. They were home to Lionel Hurley, a film censor, and Bonar and Hillary Dunlop, important artists.

Its history is even richer because of its connection to many important people in the film and art world in New South Wales and Australia. These include:

• Frank Hurley: A famous filmmaker and artist who used Loggan Rock for work and relaxation.
• Ken G. Hall and the Cinesound crew: Important pioneers in the film industry.
• Patricia Minchin: An actress and model.
• Ralph Doyle: A film distributor known as "Mr RKO."
• Elisabeth MacIntyre: A noted children's writer and illustrator.

The place also has local importance. It can help us learn more about land sales and building projects by A. S. Jolly and A. E. Dalwood. It's an important link to how Careel Headland and the wider Avalon area developed.

Loggan Rock shows the work of architect Alexander Stewart Jolly and "contemporary" design after World War I. Jolly designed and built Loggan Rock when he retired from city architecture due to illness. The playful design of the log cabin and tower uses natural materials. It shows Jolly's desire to leave the "rushing hell" of the city. He wanted to reconnect with the peace of nature. The buildings and their built-in furnishings are valuable for studying architecture and design.

Loggan Rock was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 15, 2008.

Loggan Rock's Historical Significance

Loggan Rock Cabin, the Tower, and the garden are important to the history of New South Wales. They are three examples of Alexander Stewart Jolly's work on the Avalon Peninsula. They show how Jolly's work changed from the Californian Bungalow style to his unique organic style. Loggan Rock and the other organic houses Jolly designed in Avalon are a unique and important part of the organic architecture movement in Australia.

Loggan Rock's Connection to Important People

Loggan Rock is important because it's linked to many famous people in architecture and the arts.

Alexander Stewart Jolly was a leading architect. He was known for his Californian Bungalow style. Loggan Rock is one of several houses in Avalon that show how his architecture developed into organic architecture.

Lionel Hurley, a pioneer in film censorship, was the first owner. He hosted many famous visitors. These included Frank Hurley, Patricia Minchin (actress and model), Ralph Doyle ("Mr RKO"), Ken G Hall (director of Dad and Dave films), Elisabeth MacIntyre (children's writer), and interior designer Margaret Jay. In the 1950s, Loggan Rock was home to artists Hillary and Bonar Dunlop. They were well-known for their photography, sculpture, and abstract art.

Loggan Rock's Unique Design and Creativity

Loggan Rock is important for its beautiful design and high level of creativity. It's one of three "organic" houses by Alexander Stewart Jolly in Avalon. Each is a unique creation by an architect who made very special buildings. Loggan Rock is cleverly made from stone and timber. It uses natural rocks, boulders, cut sandstone, timber shingles, rough logs, tree trunks, and forked branches.

The Loggan Rock log cabin, tower, and their surroundings show great creative skill. The buildings in their garden setting are rare and outstanding examples of "organic" architecture that fits perfectly with nature. Loggan Rock, along with Careel House and Hy Brasil, shows a special set of design styles and ways of living. These houses, built in the late 1920s and early 1930s, show Jolly's unique ideas and architectural influences.

The cabin, tower, and 1950s additions seem to grow naturally from the landscape. This makes the buildings beautiful and a great example of organic architecture in Australia.

Loggan Rock's Social and Cultural Importance

The place has a strong connection to early holidaymakers and weekend visitors to Avalon. They came to enjoy the natural bushland. The property was also a gathering place for many people from Avalon's lively arts community. This community grew after World War I and thrived for forty years.

Loggan Rock's Research Potential

The place can provide more information about land sales and building projects by A. S. Jolly and A. E. Dalwood. It's an important link to how Careel Headland and the wider Avalon area developed.

The place is important because it shows the work of architect Alexander Jolly. He was an important architect of the early 20th century. His architecture shows the development of Arts and Crafts and organic architectural styles in Australia. The buildings and their built-in furnishings are valuable for research into architectural design and techniques from the early 20th century.

The garden design can also provide valuable research information. It shows how Australian native gardens became popular and understood.

Loggan Rock's Rarity

Loggan Rock is a rare example of Jolly's organic architecture. While Hy Brasil and Careel House also show his experiments with organic forms, each of the three houses in Avalon is unique. They are linked by their use of materials from their surroundings, blending with the landscape. So, Loggan Rock is a rare part of a rare group of Jolly's buildings. These buildings show his interest in the organic style later in his career.

The furniture and garden of Loggan Rock are a rare record of a unique culture. This culture focused on appreciating organic forms and natural materials.

Loggan Rock as an Example of a Type of Place

Loggan Rock and its setting are considered a great example of Jolly's organic architecture. Loggan Rock and its garden are seen as perfect examples of Alexander Stewart Jolly's architecture and his ideas. These ideas were about how buildings should relate to the natural Australian landscape.