Tresco, Elizabeth Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tresco |
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| Location | 97 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1867–1883 |
| Built for | Thomas Rowe |
| Architect | Thomas Rowe |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Italianate |
| Official name: Tresco, grounds and trees | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 780 |
| Type | Villa |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Thomas Rowe |
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Tresco is a historic house in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, Australia. It was designed and built by Thomas Rowe between 1867 and 1883. This beautiful home is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it is an important place that needs to be protected because of its history and special features.
Over the years, Tresco has been a private home and even housing for the Royal Australian Navy. Before 2004, it was the official home for important naval officers in New South Wales. Long ago, the land where Tresco stands was home to Indigenous people.
The History of Tresco House
Early Days and First Owners
The area around Elizabeth Bay was once a fishing village. It was set up by Governor Macquarie around 1815 for the Cadigal people. The bay itself was named after Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth.
The land for Tresco was part of a much larger property. This property was given to Alexander Macleay in 1831. He was an important government official. In 1839, Macleay built a large stone house called Elizabeth Bay House nearby. He also created huge gardens with many interesting plants.
After Macleay faced money problems, his son William took over the property in 1845. When William died in 1865, the land went to his brother George. George then decided to sell off parts of the large estate.
Building Tresco
In 1865, the land was divided into smaller blocks. People who bought these blocks had to build a large house within five years. Thomas Rowe, a well-known architect, bought one of these blocks. He started building Tresco, and it was finished in 1868. Rowe lived there until 1876.
The first house Rowe built had two floors and 13 rooms. It was made of Sydney sandstone with a slate roof. It also had a coach house, stables, and a garden. The house had an Italianate style entrance. This means it looked like buildings from Italy, with fancy details. It also had an open porch facing Elizabeth Bay.
Thomas Rowe was born in England in 1829. He moved to Australia in 1848 and became an architect in Sydney in 1856. He was also involved in local government. He even helped start the Institute of Architects in New South Wales.
New Owners and Changes
After Rowe, William Oswald Gilchrist took over the lease in 1876. Then, George Charles Westgarth and his family lived at Tresco from 1880 to 1891. Westgarth made the biggest changes to Tresco. In 1883, he added a large new section to the east. He also added a second floor to the kitchen area.
Westgarth also designed much of the garden. He added a summerhouse, a fernery, and a boathouse. Many of his eight children were born at Tresco.
After 1891, Tresco was rented out to different people. In 1902, the government took over the lease. It became the official home for naval officers at Garden Island in Sydney.
In 1913, the Australian government fully took ownership. From then on, Tresco was the official residence for the most senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy. This was true during both World War I and World War II.
During the Navy's time, only small changes were made to the house. These included changing some bedrooms and adding new ceilings. From 1991 to 1997, Tresco was carefully restored. Experts fixed the roof, stone walls, and many original features inside. New bathrooms were also put in.
In 1997, the government sold Tresco to a private family. It was sold again in 2004 to Janette and David Waterhouse. Since then, they have done a lot of work to update the inside. They also turned the old stables into an office and a wine cellar.
What Tresco Looks Like
The Site and Garden
Tresco sits on a 3,300-square-metre (36,000 sq ft) piece of land. It's at the northern end of Elizabeth Bay Road. The land slopes down towards Elizabeth Bay. High stone walls surround the property on some sides.
The site has great access to the water. It even has a swimming pool that fills with water from the bay.
The garden at Tresco is terraced, meaning it has different levels. It slopes down to the harbour. The garden has a tall timber mast and is beautifully designed. It includes four large fig trees. There's also a summerhouse and a fernery. Paths lead down to the bay, where there was once a boat pound and boathouse.
Tresco, its grounds, and trees are important. They show a great example of a Victorian house by the water. The original house was designed by Thomas Rowe in 1867. George Westgarth added more to the house and garden in 1883.
The property is also important because of its link to Alexander Macleay's original land. Tresco is one of the few original pieces of land left from when the large estate was divided in 1867.
Some of the important trees in the garden are:
- Three Moreton Bay figs (Ficus macrophylla)
- One carob bean tree (Ceratonia siliqua)
- One American bull bay/evergreen magnolia (M.grandiflora)
Two of the fig trees are near the water. The third, very large fig tree is higher up in the garden. This tree is amazing and one of the best in Sydney. It's huge and can be seen from many places around the harbour. The carob bean and magnolia trees are also very old. They might even be from the original gardens of Elizabeth Bay House.
The Villa (House) Itself
The house itself is about 454 square metres (4,890 sq ft) in size. Tresco has two main floors and a basement. There are two courtyards at the back of the house. The house has 13 rooms.
Tresco is a two-story building made of sandstone blocks. It is built in the Victorian Italianate style. This means it has a grand, elegant look inspired by Italian architecture. It has a hipped roof made of slate tiles. There are stone chimneys and wooden eaves.
The house has two main parts. The main house is mostly balanced in its design. It has two wings, one to the east and one to the west. A two-story wing extends to the south. This part contains the garage.
The main entrance is on the west side. It has a fancy sandstone entrance (called a portico) with a balcony above it. Inside, a central hall and staircase connect the two floors. On the ground floor, there are three large living rooms. These include the dining room, drawing room, and billiard room. These rooms open onto an enclosed porch facing north. To the south are smaller rooms like a study and library.
The house has beautiful cedar wood details everywhere. This includes door frames, skirting boards, staircases, and cupboards. The floors are made of polished wood. Each main living room has a fireplace.
The first floor is divided into two parts. The larger western part has four bedrooms, bathrooms, and a utility room. The eastern part has the master bedroom, a dressing room, and a bathroom. The bedrooms have carpet, and the ceilings have decorative plasterwork.
The two-story wing to the south holds the kitchen and other service rooms on the ground floor. It also has the garage at the back. This wing has a semi-enclosed wooden porch on the eastern side. This porch leads to bedrooms on the upper floor and into the main house.
Condition and Updates
Tresco has been well-maintained. During the Navy's time, only small changes were made. These included changing some bedrooms and adding new ceilings on the ground floor.
Between 1991 and 1997, Tresco was carefully restored by expert architects. They fixed the rock overhangs and retaining walls outside. They also improved the drainage around the site. Inside, they repaired the roof and stone walls. Many of the original features and fittings were fixed or put back. New bathrooms were also installed during this time.
Some other changes over the years include:
- 1883: A new east wing was added. This included a billiard room, children's dining room, and more bedrooms.
- 1991: Major restoration and renovations took place.
- 1997: A security system was installed.
Why Tresco is Important
Tresco is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's a very important place for the history and culture of New South Wales.
National Importance
Tresco is important for the whole country. It was the main home for the Captain-in-Charge of the Navy in Sydney from 1903. Since 1913, it has been the home of the Flag Officer-in-Charge of the Royal Australian Navy.
State Importance
Tresco is important for New South Wales because:
- It's a great example of a Victorian Italianate style house. It still looks much like it did when it was built.
- It shows the excellent building skills used in the mid to late 1800s. The recent restoration work also shows modern conservation skills.
- The house, garden, and waterfront structures add a lot to the beauty of Elizabeth Bay. They are a clear landmark from the Harbour.
- It is connected to famous people like architect Thomas Rowe and George Westgarth.
- It is one of the few original pieces of land left from the 1867 subdivision of the Elizabeth Bay Estate. This subdivision was done in an unusual way, with land sold on a leasehold basis.
Historical Significance
Tresco is historically important because it's one of the few original properties left from the 1867 subdivision of the Macleay Point estate. Many other properties were divided up even more later on. Tresco was one of the first buildings constructed after the subdivision. It remains a rare example of the grand houses built back then, as most others have been torn down. It helps us understand how prime harbour-front land was developed in the 1800s.
Connection to Important People
Tresco is important because of its link to Thomas Rowe, the architect who designed and built it. It's also significant because it was the official home for the most senior officers of the Royal Australian Navy for many years.
Beautiful Design and Features
Tresco is beautiful to look at. It's a large, impressive sandstone house from the 1800s in the Victorian Italianate style. Its beauty is enhanced by its location high on a ridge, with a lovely garden and amazing views over Sydney Harbour. The terraced garden is special because of its old trees, especially the huge Moreton Bay fig. The garden's layout, paths, and waterfront structures also add to its unique charm.
Social Importance
The house has a high level of social importance for people in the Royal Australian Navy. It served as their main official residence for a long time.
Research Potential
Tresco is important for what it can teach us. It shows the quality of 19th-century woodworking, plasterwork, and building techniques. The Boat Pound is also rare and shows how waterfront structures were built back then. The house, its other buildings, and gardens are great examples of how old places can be carefully restored.
Rarity
Tresco is a rare and special example of a grand Victorian house. It still has its original land and garden, overlooking the Harbour from Macleay Point.
Images for kids
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External detail of Tresco
