Tempe House and St Magdalenes Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tempe House and St Magdalene's Chapel |
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Tempe House, 2019
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| Location | 1 Princes Highway, Wolli Creek, Bayside Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1833–1836 |
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| Official name: Tempe House & St Magdalenes Chapel; Discovery Point Park (21st century name created by Australand for redevelopment) | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 725 |
| Type | Convent/Nunnery |
| Category | Religion |
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Tempe House & St Magdalene's Chapel is a special historical place in Wolli Creek, Australia. It includes a grand house and a chapel. The house was designed by John Verge and built between 1833 and 1836. Later, the chapel and other buildings were added by architects Sheerin & Hennessy. This important site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Tempe House
Tempe Estate got its name from the beautiful "Vale of Tempe" in Ancient Greece. This was because of its large, lovely gardens that made the Cooks River view even better.
Early Days and Alexander Brodie Spark
The idea for Tempe House started in 1831. It was built for Alexander Brodie Spark, a wealthy businessman. The house is a rare example of architect John Verge's work. Spark bought the land in 1826. By 1836, many people lived and worked on the estate.
Spark wanted the estate to look like a perfect natural paradise. He even created a small hill called "Mt Olympus" with Australian plants. The riverbanks were turned into big lawns. Since people could only get there by boat, a wharf was built for guests. The house became a popular place for parties. Its gardens were famous for having many types of grapevines from France.
Between 1839 and 1841, a dam was built using stone from nearby cliffs. This dam was made by convict workers. It made the views even more amazing. The dam also helped connect the estate to the city by road. So, in 1841, Spark built a carriage drive, a new coach house, and stables.
Spark faced money problems in the 1840s. He tried to sell the estate but couldn't. He passed away in 1856. Spark was buried at St Peters Anglican Church, where he was a trustee.
New Owners and a School for Girls
In 1859, Tempe Estate was sold to brothers Patrick and Thomas Maguire. They never lived there but rented it out. A very important person, Caroline Chisholm, leased the house from 1863 to 1865. She was famous for helping people in Australia. Caroline Chisholm used Tempe House to run a school for young ladies.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan
In 1885, the estate was sold to the Good Samaritan Order. They were a group of nuns who helped women in need. By 1887, the Sisters had built new buildings for a refuge, laundries, and living spaces. These new buildings were called St Magdalene's Refuge, or The Retreat.
A new chapel was built next to the house in 1888. By 1900, over one hundred people worked in the laundry. Architects Sheerin and Hennessy designed the new buildings. The chapel's design is similar, so they likely designed it too. The main house stayed mostly the same until the 1940s.
By 1944, the Retreat became a training center for girls who needed help getting back on track. In the 1940s, 55 girls lived there. More facilities were added, like a swimming pool in 1959. The Good Samaritan Order owned Tempe Estate for over 100 years. In 1989, they sold it to Qantek, a part of Qantas.
Protecting the Heritage
In 1990, a special order was made to protect Tempe Estate, including the house and its grounds. The landscape was seen as more important than some of the newer buildings. So, most of the Good Samaritan Order's buildings were taken down, except for the Chapel and the iron fence.
The property was sold again in 2000. New high-rise buildings have been built on parts of the former estate, especially near the new railway station.
What Tempe House Looks Like
Tempe House covers about 12 acres. It is surrounded by a railway line, the Cooks River, the Princes Highway, and an industrial area. The house is still mostly in its original form. It has strong walls, timber floors, and a timber roof. The design is balanced and uses classic styles. Tempe House stands in a beautiful garden setting, like an "Arcadian" landscape, with a long, winding driveway.
The grounds are very important because they show how gardens were designed in the early 1800s. This includes "Mt Olympus," a unique group of trees. The old walls, gateposts, and sundial are still there. The grounds are also important because the Sisters of the Good Samaritan used them for 100 years. The old olive trees and eucalyptus trees on Mount Olympus show what the natural area was like. Mount Olympus and its trees are a rare sight and a clear landmark on the Princes Highway.
Mt. Olympus is a small hill on the eastern side of Tempe House, next to the Cook's River. The Princes Highway is just east of it.
Tempe House Details
The front of Tempe House has curved verandahs and keeps its original look. There are two sets of cedar French doors with fanlights above them. The windows are placed evenly. The verandahs have round columns on each side of the main stairs. The main entrance has a wide, eight-paneled door.
The side of the house has a simple courtyard with one entry, which is the original six-paneled cedar door. You can see the original hipped roof from the courtyard, though it has been changed a bit.
Inside, many rooms still have French doors. There are old fireplaces and six-paneled doors in most common areas. Every room has views of the trees. The house is built around a central hallway. The cedar woodwork is detailed and similar throughout the house. The parlor and dining room have colonial marble fireplaces and French windows that offer great views of the river. You can still see the original floorboards in the back rooms.
St Magdalene's Chapel Details
The chapel was built about 50 years after Tempe House. It is made of good quality red brick with cream brick and sandstone details. The chapel shows the architectural style of its time, which is Victorian Gothic. It is about 20 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a steeply sloped roof.
The front of the chapel has stained glass windows with carved sandstone sills. It has simple gables with stone eaves, copper gutters, and round downpipes. The side of the chapel has a simple rose window high on the gable end.
The inside of the chapel is simply decorated. The stained glass windows show religious scenes. The most impressive part is the vaulted cedar ceiling, which is supported by arched ribs. The chapel is mostly one large room. The altar stretches across the width of the building and has a fancy balustrade made of wrought iron and timber.
Why Tempe House is Important
Tempe House is very important because it's an old house from the 1830s that is still mostly the same, along with its original landscape. It's a rare example of Neo-Classical Georgian architecture, designed to look like a beautiful "Arcadian villa." It's the only one of its kind in the Sydney area.
The site is also important because of its connection to famous people like A.B. Spark, the first owner, and later, Caroline Chisholm and the Sisters of The Good Samaritan Order.
St. Magdalene's Chapel is the only building left from the 100 years the Sisters of the Good Samaritan owned the property. It shows their beliefs and the important charitable work they did for many years. The chapel is also special because of its architecture.
Tempe Estate is a well-known landmark in the local area. Its gardens and grounds are culturally important because of how A. B. Spark designed them to be beautiful and romantic. The "Mt Olympus" area, with its unique trees, is a rare example of early 19th-century garden design.
There might be old things buried underground from the early days of the estate. Finding and studying these could help us learn more about how people lived in colonial times, including wealthy families, their staff, and convict servants. It could also teach us about how reform institutions like the Sisters' refuge worked in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Tempe House & St Magdalenes Chapel was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it meets several important criteria:
- It shows the history of New South Wales.
The house and gardens are still very much as they were, which helps us understand the cultural history of New South Wales. It's a great example of 19th-century landscape styles. Tempe House was owned by important people in the colony.
- It is connected to important people in New South Wales history.
The property has a strong link to Alexander Brodie Spark, who was a key social figure. He was a rich businessman who also built other famous places. He helped build St Peters Church and made the Cooks River area popular through art. The site is also connected to architects John Verge and Sheerin and Hennessy, and to Caroline Chisholm, who ran a school there.
- It shows great design and creative skill.
Tempe House and its setting were designed to be an "Arcadian Villa," like a Greek temple. It was placed to make the most of the beautiful Cooks River views, with "Mt Olympus" as a backdrop. This makes it a rare and well-preserved example of 1830s landscape design. The views from the house are still similar to those in old paintings.
- It has a special connection with a community or group.
When the Sisters of the Good Samaritan owned it, the site was a place for helping people. It also became a place for local religious and sports groups. Tempe House is a landmark for the local community. Spark's parties and the Sisters' charitable work made it a center for community activities. The Chapel is important as a spiritual center for the Sisters' work for almost a century.
- It can teach us new things about history.
The site offers a great chance to study early colonial architecture and landscapes. It can also show us what 19th-century Australian landscape paintings were like. The old parts of the garden can tell us about the early natural and cultural landscape. Any old remains found could teach us about Spark's family, their servants, and convicts. They could also show how gardens were designed in colonial Sydney.
The site could also help us understand: * How wealthy families lived and what they bought. * What living and working conditions were like for convicts. * How social classes and gender roles worked in the 1800s. * The layout of early colonial estates. * How reform institutions like the Sisters' refuge worked and how they tried to help women.
- It has rare or unique features.
The house and its setting are a rare example of a well-preserved picturesque landscape from the 1830s and 1840s. Tempe is a rare and very complete example of John Verge's work. St. Magdalene's Chapel has unusual features like its stone eaves and vaulted cedar ceiling. The survival of Australian plants in the garden is also rare.
Studying the site can help us learn about early 19th-century households and how people lived in Sydney. The things found there could show us about all the different people who lived in the house: owners, servants, and convicts. The evidence from the reform institutions is rare and can give us knowledge that no other source can.
Images for kids
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Tempe House, 2019
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St Magdalene's Chapel
