Oakleigh, Potts Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oakleigh |
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Oakleigh, 18 Ward Avenue, Potts Point
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| Location | 18 Ward Avenue, Potts Point, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1839–1880 |
| Official name: Oakleigh; Goderich Lodge (part of its estate) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 425 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Oakleigh is a special old house in Potts Point, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, which means it's an important part of history and needs to be protected. This house was built around 1880. It stands on land that once belonged to a much older estate called Goderich Lodge, which is no longer there.
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History of Oakleigh
First Peoples of Sydney
The Eora people were the Aboriginal people who lived along the coast around Sydney. The area of central Sydney is often called "Eora Country." Within the City of Sydney, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal groups of the Eora. We don't have written records of their language. Today, there's a discussion about whether they spoke a separate language called "Eora" or a dialect of the Dharug language.
When Europeans arrived in Sydney, the Cadigal and Wangal people faced huge 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.
Early European Settlement
Europeans began settling near what is now Kings Cross from 1810. One of the first settlers was Thomas West, who built a water mill. This area, from Potts Point to Kings Cross, was known as Darlinghurst in the 1830s. It was likely named after Governor Ralph Darling's wife, Eliza.
The rocky ridge in this area was called Eastern or Woolloomooloo Hill. In 1822, Judge-Advocate John Wylde received the first land grant here. Later, in 1830, Joseph Hyde Potts bought land from Wylde. Potts Point is named after him.
By the late 1820s, Sydney was becoming crowded. Governor Darling decided to divide Woolloomooloo Hill into large "town allotments" for grand homes. He gave these land grants to important members of the colony.
The homes built on these grants had to follow special "villa conditions." These rules made sure only one large house was built on each property. The houses also had to be well-designed and surrounded by beautiful gardens. By the mid-1830s, these "white" villas looked very impressive from Sydney Harbour.
Goderich Lodge and Oakleigh's Land
Oakleigh stands on land that was once part of a large estate given to Thomas Macquoid in 1839. Macquoid was the High Sheriff of New South Wales. His home, "Goderich Lodge," was designed by architect John Verge in 1832. It was named after F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, a British Prime Minister.
Macquoid arrived in Australia in 1829. He had worked in Java and as Sheriff of India. He was hopeful about his new role in the colony. However, he soon faced difficulties with his job and money problems. He died in 1841.
After Macquoid's death, Goderich Lodge was sold. It was rented by important people like Dr. William Broughton, the first Bishop of Australia. Later, in the 1850s, a wealthy merchant named Frederick Tooth bought it. The house was eventually bought by Captain Charles Smith.
Captain Smith died at Goderich Lodge in 1897. His wife stayed there until at least 1904. By then, the original large estate had been divided into smaller properties. Goderich Lodge was torn down in 1915. Today, the Hampton Court Hotel stands where it used to be. A small lane, Goderich Lane, still carries its name.
Oakleigh itself is a Victorian-era house built around 1880. It's in the Italianate style, which means it has features like a tower room. It was built as a large home with five main rooms and smaller utility rooms over three floors.
In the early 1900s, Oakleigh was changed into a boarding house. A new "L" shaped addition was built at the back. It had 12 more rooms with small kitchens. There were also servants' quarters and stables nearby, but these were removed in the 1960s to build flats.
The Boucher/Williams family owned Oakleigh as a boarding house for most of the 20th century. In 1949, the Coucke family moved into Oakleigh from Europe. They bought the house in 1963. Cecelia Coucke and her children grew up living there.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, developers wanted to knock down Oakleigh to build a hotel. The Coucke family fought hard to save their home. In 1985, Bob Carr, who was the Minister for Planning, put a permanent conservation order on Oakleigh. This order protects the house from being demolished.
What Oakleigh Looks Like
Oakleigh is a Victorian Italianate style house from around 1880. It has five large rooms and four smaller rooms or bathrooms spread over three floors. It also has a special tower room called a belvedere.
In the early 1900s, the house was changed into a boarding house. A three-story addition was built at the back. This part had 12 more rooms with small kitchens. These rooms were connected by a timber verandah. Nearby, there were buildings for servants and stables, but these were taken down in the 1960s to make way for new apartments.
We don't know much about the original garden plan for Oakleigh. However, some old trees on the property might have been part of it. These include:
- A large Stenocarpus sinuatus (Queensland firewheel tree), about 20 meters tall.
- Two large Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia) trees, each about 15 meters tall.
A tall Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese fan palm) might have been planted later. There are also old terracotta edging tiles and some flowering Clivia plants from the original garden. Until the early 1980s, a tall tree fern grew near the front gate.
Heritage Listing
Oakleigh was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in New South Wales.
