Mount Wilga House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Wilga House |
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Mount Wilga House, 2018
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| Location | 2a Manor Road (Rosamond Street), Hornsby, Hornsby Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1913–1914 |
| Architect | Henry Marcus Clark (attributed) |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Queen Anne |
| Official name: Mount Wilga House; Mt Wilga | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 535 |
| Type | Mansion |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Mount Wilga House, also known as Mt Wilga, is a special old building in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a grand home and later a hospital that helped people get better. This amazing building is considered a heritage-listed site. It was designed by Henry Marcus Clark and built between 1913 and 1914. Today, Mount Wilga House is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, meaning it's protected for its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back: Mount Wilga's History
Early Days in Hornsby
The area around Hornsby became important when the North Shore railway line was extended in 1886. This line connected to the Main North line, making it easier to travel to places like Newcastle and Brisbane. The train station was first called Hornsby Junction. Later, in 1900, it was simply named Hornsby.
The Clark Family's Grand Vision
The story of Mt Wilga Estate began in 1907. Georgina Clark, whose husband was the famous Sydney shop owner Henry Marcus Clark, bought a large piece of land in Hornsby. Over the next year, they bought even more land, creating a huge estate.
In 1908, Mr. Clark built a very long suspension bridge. It stretched over 150 meters (520 feet) across a deep valley. This bridge made it easy for guests to visit their new property from the Hornsby railway station.
Mr. Clark planned Mount Wilga to be his winter home. He wanted the garden to hide the house at first, then slowly reveal it as visitors arrived. There was a formal garden area, open fields, and an orchard.
Building the Mansion
Sadly, Henry Marcus Clark passed away in 1913 while the large house was being built. His wife, Georgina, finished the construction in 1914. The house was built in the beautiful Federation Queen Anne style. The Clark family lived at Mt Wilga until 1919.
Changes Over the Years
In 1926, Mrs. Clark sold the house and some of the land. The land was then divided into smaller blocks, and Manor Road was created. In 1928, Mt Wilga was further divided into 67 smaller plots for homes. However, the main house remained privately owned until 1952.
A Hospital's New Purpose
In 1952, the Australian Government bought Mount Wilga House. They turned it into a rehabilitation hospital. This hospital helped people recover from injuries and illnesses. It operated for 35 years, until 1987. During this time, new buildings were added, and the house changed to fit its new role.
During the 1950s, the Mt Wilga Rehabilitation Hospital played a big part in starting the Australian Paralympic movement. Staff members like John Grant, Eileen Perrottet, and Kevin Betts helped lead this important effort.
Protecting a Heritage Site
People became worried about the future of Mount Wilga House. So, in 1987, it was officially protected as a heritage site. This happened just before the property was sold again.
Later in 1987, a company called Alpha Pacific bought the site to use as a private rehabilitation hospital. They wanted to divide the land, but the Heritage Council said no at first. Eventually, a modified plan was approved to divide the site into two large parts.
One part was sold in 1990 to a Buddhist group called the Nichiren Shoshu Sokagakkai Australia. They used it as a Buddhist Cultural Centre. The other part continued to be a private hospital.
Garden Transformations
The original gardens, planned by Marcus Clark, were changed a lot when the hospital was built. The formal garden, open fields, and orchard were lost. Today, the remaining grounds around the house are mostly open lawns. Many of the original trees were removed over time.
In 1991, a plan was made to manage and protect the house for the Buddhist group. They made some small changes, like repainting and adding carpets. They also turned a smaller building into a women's temple. However, they moved from the site in 1999, and bigger plans for the temple were never started.
Recent Years and Renovations
After 1999, the site was sold again. It was empty for a while or used as a private home. Several owners tried to turn it into a retirement village, but these plans didn't work out. During this time, many newer buildings that weren't historically important were taken down. Important repair work was done on the house.
The current owners bought the homestead in 2010. In 2015, a major renovation plan was approved. The goal was to update the house and its grounds to be a modern family home. This included adding an underground garage, a large verandah, and a swimming pool. As of 2023, the family that bought the property in 2010 still lives there.
Exploring Mount Wilga's Features
The Grand Site
Mount Wilga House sits proudly on top of a long ridge. It has amazing views of the countryside, including another grand house called Mount Errington across the valley.
The Gardens and Grounds
Even though the gardens have changed, a large area of garden still surrounds the house. This includes parts of the eastern garden, the driveway, and some of the old service area. You can still see the tennis court and bowling green.
A grand driveway leads up to a circular carriage loop in front of the house. In the middle of this loop is a tall Canary Island date palm, which is about 14 meters (46 feet) high. The original sandstone gate arch at the entrance is gone, but a sandstone pedestrian entrance on the eastern side remains. It's covered in climbing fig and has a beautiful old wrought iron gate.
The grounds also have large sloping lawns and some shrubs. You can find many mature trees here, including:
- Bunya Bunya pine
- Port Jackson or rusty fig
- Monterey pines
- Camphor laurels
- Brush box
- Evergreen magnolia
- Crepe myrtle
Along the southern edge, there's a row of turpentine trees. Other mature trees include sweet gums, frangipani, a rare rose apple tree, and an ironbark tree. There's also a large Chinese wisteria vine on the tennis court fence.
The Beautiful Residence
Mount Wilga House is a single-story mansion with a basement and a three-story tower at the very top. It has brick walls, a complex roof with terracotta tiles, and tall chimneys. The verandahs have unique polished granite columns.
The house still has its original casement windows, some with leadlight glass. The original doors and other wooden details inside are also still there. Much of the original interior of the house has been kept.
Why Mount Wilga House is Special
Mount Wilga House is an outstanding example of a late Federation Queen Anne style mansion. It has an impressive roof with many levels and beautifully decorated gables. The details on its verandah are also very unusual and interesting.
The house is generally in good condition, and many of its original interior features are still present. It was once owned by Marcus Clark, a leading Sydney retailer of his time. The grounds still show parts of the original garden layout and have mature trees from the Federation period. Because of all these reasons, Mount Wilga House is considered very important to the history and heritage of the region.
Mount Wilga House was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
