The Priory, Burwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Priory and grounds |
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The Priory, c1987
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| Location | 213 Burwood Road, Burwood, Municipality of Burwood, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1877 |
| Official name: Priory and Grounds; The Priory & Grounds | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 287 |
| Type | Mansion |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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The Priory and grounds is a special old house located at 213 Burwood Road in Burwood, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was built way back in 1877. This historic home is also known as Priory & Grounds. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's a very important building that needs to be protected.
Contents
The Priory: A Historic Home
Burwood's Early Days
Parramatta Road was one of the first roads in Australia. It was built in 1791. This road connected Sydney Cove to the settlement at Rose Hill. Later, Liverpool Road opened in 1814. It was part of Governor Macquarie's Great South Road.
Early land grants shaped the area. Captain Thomas Rowley received land for his Burwood Farm estate. William Faithful got a large grant south of it. Rowley named his farm after a place in Cornwall, England. He owned about 750 acres of land.
In 1812, the estate was sold by mistake. A businessman named Alexander Riley bought it. He built Burwood Villa in 1814. An artist named Joseph Lycett described the estate in 1824. He said it had a beautiful garden. This garden was full of fruit trees like oranges, lemons, and peaches.
How Burwood Grew
For a long time, Burwood had only a few inns and big undeveloped estates. But in the 1830s, these large estates started to be divided. This brought more settlers to the area. The Rowley family got their land back in 1833. They divided it into smaller lots. These lots were sold for country homes and small farms.
The railway came to Burwood in 1855. This made it much easier to travel to Sydney. People could now live in Burwood and work in the city. This led to a big increase in population. Burwood grew a lot between 1874 and 1900.
In the late 1800s, many people believed Burwood had a healthy climate. It was seen as a good place to escape the city's pollution. This is why many large mansions, like The Priory, were built here. Life was simpler back then. There was no street lighting until 1883. Homes used candles or lamps for light. Piped water did not arrive until 1886.
The Garden Suburb Idea
Between 1889 and 1918, Australia's population grew quickly. More homes were needed. Public transport like trams and ferries helped people move around. This led to the growth of suburbs.
The idea of a "Garden Suburb" became popular. This meant suburbs with special areas for homes and shops. They had free-standing houses, wide streets with trees, and many parks. This was different from the crowded city areas. Streets like Burwood Road and The Appian Way show this design.
Building The Priory
The Priory was built in 1877. It was built by a grazier named Mowbray Forrest. A grazier is someone who raises livestock like sheep or cattle. Forrest was an important person in Burwood.
The Priory is a great example of the large homes built for rich families in the late 1800s. It was one of the first big mansions on Burwood Road. It reminds us that Burwood was once a very fashionable place to live in Sydney.
What is The Priory Like?
The Priory is a two-storey Victorian mansion. It was built in 1877. It has a tall, three-storey tower with lots of decorations. There is also a two-storey verandah with fancy cast iron railings. A beautiful bay window adds to its charm.
The house is made of brick, cement, and stone. The walls are painted. The tower is very ornate. It has a front section that sticks out. This section has a decorated bay window on the ground floor.
The Priory has a very large garden. This garden is also very important. It shows how grand these homes used to be. The house is set far back from Burwood Road. It has a circular driveway made of gravel. This driveway is lined with neat box hedges. There is also a fenced tennis court behind the house.
Garden Features
The front garden has been carefully restored. It now has the gravel drive, box hedges, and a cast iron fountain again.
Many large, old trees line the front fence along Burwood Road. These include:
- Queensland /macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia)
- Lemon-scented gums (Corymbia citriodora)
- Port Jackson figs (Ficus rubiginosa)
- Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis)
- Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
- Brush box (Lophostemon confertus)
More old fig trees are found to the south on Minna Avenue. These trees show how big The Priory's land used to be before it was divided.
Heritage Listing
The Priory and Grounds was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This listing helps protect this important piece of history for future generations.
