The Priory, Gladesville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Priory, Gladesville |
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The Priory, pictured in January 2009
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| Location | Manning Road, Gladesville, Municipality of Hunter's Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1847–1874 |
| Built for | The Marist Fathers in Australia |
| Architect | Main part (1857):
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| Architectural style(s) | Palladian or Old Colonial Regency |
| Official name: The Priory; Gladesville Hospital; Gladesville Asylum; The Priory and curtilage | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 3 December 2004 |
| Reference no. | 1720 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
| Builders | Thomas Stubbs, the Marist Brothers and Thomas Salter |
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The Priory is a special old building in Gladesville, Australia. It has been many things over the years. It was once a farm, a place for people needing special care, a convent for religious sisters, and a family home. Today, it is mostly empty, with plans for it to become a community arts center.
The main part of The Priory was designed by William Weaver and Henry Hardie Kemp. It was built between 1847 and 1874. This historic site is also known as Gladesville Hospital or Gladesville Asylum. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 3, 2004, because of its important history.
Contents
The Priory's Long History
Who Lived Here First?
Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the Wal Umedegal Clan lived in the Kelly's Bush area. They spoke the Guringai language. They mostly ate fish and shellfish. They also hunted animals and gathered plants. Not much is known about their way of life.
Early European Settlers
In 1788, Captain John Hunter explored Sydney Harbour. He made detailed maps of the area. Hunter later became the Governor of the Colony. The area of Hunters Hill is named after him.
In 1855, some special houses were built in Hunters Hill. These were prefabricated Swiss Cottages. This area became known for its French settlers. These houses were the first planned group of homes in the area. This started the idea of Hunters Hill as a "garden suburb."
Thomas Stubbs' Farm (1835-1847)
Thomas Stubbs bought land near Tarban Creek in 1835. He built a sandstone farmhouse and other buildings. He farmed his 18 acres of land. This part of the building is now called the 'Stubbs Wing'.
The Marist Fathers' Home (1847-1874)
In 1847, Thomas Stubbs sold his land to the Marist Fathers. They were a religious group looking for a base in Australia. They wanted to support their missionaries in the South Pacific.
In 1857, the Fathers built a new building on the site. They called it "Villa Maria." This new building became their main base. It included parts of Stubbs' original farmhouse. The new building was designed by William Weaver. It was built in a style called Palladian or Old Colonial Regency.
Weaver was a well-known architect in New South Wales. Villa Maria was one of his early projects. It was built quickly and cost 1685 pounds. The building had a beautiful, balanced design. It also had a courtyard, a common feature in Weaver's designs.
The Marist Fathers continued to farm the land. They grew orchards and vineyards. The property was a place for missionaries to rest and recover. It also stored supplies for their missions on Pacific islands.
A wooden chapel on the site held the body of St Peter Chanel for a short time. He was an important saint for Catholics. Another important figure, Blessed Giovanni Mazzucconi, also lived there. These connections make The Priory very important for Australian Catholics.
By 1864, the Marist Fathers moved to a new "Villa Maria" nearby. They tried to sell the old Villa Maria to the government for a hospital. This sale did not happen at first. They kept the property for a few more years. They used it as a convent. Finally, they sold it to Thomas Salter in 1874.
Thomas Salter's Home (1874-1888)
Thomas Salter bought the house and farm for A£2,000. He renamed the house "The Priory." Around 1875, he added his own L-shaped extension. This part is now called the 'Salter Wing'.
An old map from 1885 shows Salter's property. It had the main house, a kitchen, stone terraces, a shed, and stables. There was also a tennis court, gardens, and a poultry yard.
Gladesville Hospital Takes Over (1888)
In 1887, Thomas Salter sold The Priory to Gladesville Mental Hospital. This was the first psychiatric hospital on the Australian mainland.
The Priory became the first building used on the Riverglade Campus. This was the northern part of the hospital. For over 60 years, patients farmed the land. They grew fruits and vegetables for the hospital. Land was also reclaimed along Tarban Creek to create more farming space. A 1928 map shows The Priory was used as the "dairy" for the hospital.
Changes in the 20th Century
Not much changed at The Priory in the early 1900s. The land below the Mission House was used as a golf course. The Priory itself became the Ladies' Club House.
During World War II, an air raid shelter was built near the vegetable gardens. This shelter was for patients and staff.
In the 1950s, The Priory building was changed. The Mission House was taken down in 1952. The cow shed became a store. Some of Salter's stone garden buildings were removed.
The NSW Public Works Department made more changes in 1967. Toilets were removed to create a boiler room. A new brick extension was added for showers and toilets. Some windows were changed into doorways or filled in. Fire escape doors were added, but later removed.
A large kitchen was put into the Salter wing around 1967. This meant removing walls and fireplaces. The grounds also changed. Mud flats at Tarban Creek were filled in to create more farmland. In 1957, soil from the vegetable garden was used to build a sports oval. An old citrus orchard was buried in the 1970s and 1980s. All these changes affected the landscape around The Priory.
More recently, The Priory was a ward for patients who needed some supervision. Patients still tended the nearby vegetable gardens.
Riverglade Hospital Era (1975-1985)
In 1975, the hospital area north of Victoria Road was renamed Riverglade Hospital. It focused on caring for people with developmental disabilities. The Priory was used for patient housing until 1985. It was known as Ward 2.
After 1985, the Mental Health Review Tribunal used The Priory as offices. More repairs were done. Ceilings and cornices were removed. The roof of the Stubbs wing was replaced. Modern doors and hardware were installed.
In 1994, the land around The Priory was divided. The Priory building itself stayed with the government. The surrounding land was sold to private developers. The Priory continued to be used as offices until 2003.
In 2006, approval was given to build townhouses nearby. Land north and east of The Priory became public open space. In 2007, The Priory and its grounds were given to Hunters Hill Council. This was to keep it in public hands.
Keeping The Priory for the Community
Since 2007, Hunters Hill Council has managed The Priory. A special trust was set up to help restore and preserve it. The Council wants The Priory to become a cultural and heritage center. This might include art and museum spaces, meeting rooms, and gardens for events. There might also be a cafe.
What The Priory Looks Like
The Main Building
The Priory's main building is made of local sandstone. It has slate roofs. It has three main parts. The front part was designed by William Weaver. It has a two-story central section with single-story wings. The wing on the northeast includes the older stone cottage built by Thomas Stubbs. Thomas Salter added an L-shaped Gothic structure to the northern end.
Gardens and Other Structures
The main building sits on a sandstone terrace. It is surrounded by more sandstone and brick retaining walls. These walls create different levels in the garden.
Around the building, you can find old outbuildings and their remains. There's a stone kitchen to the north. Stone terraces show where the old garden was. A brick air raid shelter is south of the main building. You can also see where an old "latrine" building used to be.
Underground, there are remains of a cow bail, stables, and old road layouts. These can tell us more about how the site was used.
Many old trees still grow around The Priory. These include camphor laurels, Lombardy poplars, and Mediterranean cypresses. There are also jacarandas, date palms, and fig trees. Some trees grew from seeds dropped by birds.
You can also see a steel pipe arbour with a yellow Mrs Banks' rose. There are bottlebrush trees and crepe myrtles. Hedges of Cape honeysuckle and Cape plumbago grow on the retaining walls.
The Priory's Condition
As of 2003, The Priory building was in good shape. The land around it has a lot of potential for finding old things. For example, the remains of the cow bail and stables are still there.
The nearby freshwater creek was likely visited by Aboriginal people long ago. Any work near the creek needs to consider this history.
The area around The Priory holds clues about its past. Old kitchens, stone terraces, and the air raid shelter can tell us how people used the site. The old trees also show how the gardens changed over time. These old buildings, archaeological sites, and plants help us understand the history of New South Wales.
In 2001, remains of a stable from the early 1900s were found. These stables were from when The Priory was part of the Gladesville Asylum. They were not considered old enough to need special protection.
The Priory is a great example of colonial regency style. It still looks much like it did in the past. Its setting is very special, even with new housing developments nearby.
How The Priory Has Changed Over Time
- 1847: Thomas Stubbs built the original stone farm cottage.
- 1857: The Marist Fathers added a new building designed by William Weaver. This building faced the harbor. A courtyard and terraces were created.
- 1853-1874: The Marist Fathers bought more land and moved in 1864.
- 1862: The first Villa Maria did not sell to the government for a hospital. The Marist Brothers continued farming the site.
- 1874+: Thomas Salter added an L-shaped Gothic extension. This added two more rooms to the house.
- 1885: A map shows a coach house, well, poultry yards, tennis lawn, and other buildings. Terraces were also visible.
- 1887: The Priory became the first building used by Gladesville Hospital. By 1890, 38 patients lived there.
- 1887-1947: Patients farmed the land to grow food for the hospital. More land was created by filling in areas along Tarban Creek.
- 1928: A map shows a large stables building and a cow bails building. The Priory was called "The Dairy."
- Early 20th Century: The land below the Mission House became a golf course. The Priory was used as the Ladies' Club House.
- Around 1942: An air raid shelter was built.
- 1950s: The Priory building was altered. The Mission House was taken down in 1952. The cow shed became a store.
- 1966-1967: The NSW Public Works Department made many changes. Toilets were removed, and a boiler room was added. A new brick extension provided showers and toilets. Windows were changed, and fire escape doors were added (later removed).
- Around 1967: A commercial kitchen was installed. This changed the inside of the house.
- 1967: More changes were made to verandahs, chimneys, and internal finishes. The grounds were also altered. Mud flats were filled in, and soil was removed for a sports oval.
- 1975: The hospital area was renamed Riverglade Hospital. The Priory became Ward 2 for patients.
- 1985: The last patients moved out. The Mental Health Review Tribunal used it as offices.
- 1994: The land around The Priory was divided and sold. The Priory remained government property.
- 2003: The Mental Health Review Tribunal moved out, and The Priory became empty.
- 2006: Approval was given for new townhouses nearby.
- 2007: The Priory and its land were given to Hunters Hill Council to be a public reserve.
Why The Priory is Important
The Priory is a special place because of its history and beauty. It shows how the land, plants, and buildings have changed over time.
It has connections to early settlers and the Marist religious group in Australia. It was also a key part of the Gladesville Asylum for over 100 years. This makes it important for understanding the history of care for people with mental health needs in New South Wales.
The main building is a great example of colonial regency architecture. It was designed by William Weaver. The site also has old outbuildings and archaeological features. These all help tell the story of The Priory.
The Priory is important for several reasons:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: It was part of early land grants and farming. It was the first permanent home for the Marist Fathers in Australia. It was also a big part of the Gladesville Asylum for over a century. This shows how farming and care for people have changed. It even has a rare World War II air raid shelter.
- It's linked to important people and groups: It shows the early settlement of Hunters Hill. It's connected to the Marist Fathers and their missions in the Pacific. Important religious figures like St Peter Chanel and Blessed Giovanni Mazzucconi lived or rested here. It also has a strong link to the history of Gladesville Hospital.
- It's beautiful and well-designed: The Priory and its landscape are beautiful. They combine hills, different plants, open spaces, and views of the water. The building itself is a fine example of colonial regency style. It's special because it combines the old farm cottage with later additions.
- It's important to the community: The Priory shows the history of the Marist Order and Gladesville Hospital. The change from patients farming the land shows how ideas about care changed. The local community also fought to protect The Priory from development.
- It can teach us more: The land around The Priory has many old structures and remains. These can teach us more about how people used the site over time. The old trees also show how the gardens developed.
- It's a rare and unique place: The Priory has many layers of history still visible. This makes it unique in showing the history of New South Wales and Australia.
