Vaucluse House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vaucluse House |
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Vaucluse House, Sydney
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| Etymology | Fontaine de Vaucluse |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | House, re-purposed as a museum |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | 69A Wentworth Road, Vaucluse in Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°51′20″S 151°16′25″E / 33.855512°S 151.2736407°E |
| Current tenants | Sydney Living Museums |
| Construction started | 1803 |
| Completed | 1839 |
| Client | Henry Browne Hayes |
| Owner | Historic Houses Trust of NSW |
| Grounds | 11 hectares (28 acres) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | W. C. Wentworth (attrib.) |
| Developer | Sir Henry Browne Hayes |
| Official name | Vaucluse House |
| Type | Built and landscape |
| Criteria | a., c., d., e., f. |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 00955 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
| Builders |
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Vaucluse House is a special historic home in Vaucluse, Sydney, Australia. It was once a large farm and country estate. Today, it is a popular museum and public park. The house was built between 1803 and 1839 in a style called Gothic Revival. It was designed by William Charles Wentworth and built by Sir Henry Browne Hayes and W. C. Wentworth. The property is managed by Sydney Living Museums, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its important history.
Vaucluse House is a 19th-century estate with a main house, a kitchen, stables, and other buildings. It is surrounded by 28 acres (11 hectares) of beautiful gardens and grounds. The estate is located on the south-eastern shores of Port Jackson. It is one of the few 19th-century houses near Sydney Harbour that still has much of its original land and setting.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Vaucluse House
The Vaucluse Estate started with several land grants. Thomas Laycock received 80 acres (32 hectares) in 1793. Robert Cardell received 25 acres (10 hectares) in 1795. Francis MacGlynn received 40 acres (16 hectares), and William Wentworth received 370 acres (150 hectares).
Early Days: Sir Henry Browne Hayes
In 1803, an Irish man named Sir Henry Browne Hayes bought Laycock's land and another piece next to it. Hayes built a small cottage and other buildings there. He named the property Vaucluse. This name likely came from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, a famous spring in France, which was admired by the Italian poet Petrarch.
Hayes was sent to New South Wales in 1802 for a legal issue. Governor King wanted him to live away from Sydney. So, in 1803, Hayes was allowed to buy the land. He built a small but charming cottage and several other buildings. He cleared 50 acres (20 hectares) for farming and planted thousands of fruit trees. None of these trees are still there today. Some stories say Hayes surrounded his property with turf from Ireland to keep snakes away. In 1812, Governor Macquarie pardoned Hayes, and he sailed back to Ireland.
After Hayes left, the property's ownership was unclear for a while. In 1822, Captain John Piper acquired it. Newspapers at the time described it as a "small farm." Between 1813 and 1827, the estate was owned by several different people.
The Wentworth Family Era
On August 27, 1827, William Charles Wentworth bought the 40-acre (16-hectare) estate from Captain John Piper. Wentworth was a famous explorer of the Blue Mountains, a lawyer, and a newspaper publisher. He added more land, bringing his harbourside estate to 515 acres (208 hectares). Wentworth used Vaucluse as his family home. He also used it to show his important position as a public figure.
W. C. Wentworth was born in 1790. His father was a surgeon, and his mother was a former Irish convict. He spent his early years on Norfolk Island. In 1802, he was sent to England for his education. When he returned in 1810, Governor Macquarie gave him 1,750 acres (708 hectares) of land. In 1813, Wentworth, along with Gregory Blaxland and William Lawson, led the first expedition to cross the Blue Mountains. For this, he received another 1,000 acres (405 hectares).
Wentworth continued his father's business activities. He also studied law in England. In 1818, he wrote a book about the Colony of New South Wales. In his book, he argued for political changes, like allowing people in NSW to elect their own assembly and have trials by jury. Wentworth returned to NSW in 1824. When his father died in 1827, William inherited his property, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the colony.
Wentworth and his wife, Sarah Cox, moved to the estate with their growing family in 1828. They made many big changes to the house and grounds over 25 years. By the 1830s, they had added turrets to the house, built a sandstone stable in 1829, and added a large kitchen wing and convict barracks.
An artist's sketch from 1840 shows a clear view of the house. It also shows a well-grown climbing plant over the verandah. Wentworth made more changes to the main house in the late 1840s. This included adding decorative edges to the verandah.
Vaucluse House and its furniture were meant to create the right social setting for Wentworth, his wife, and their ten children. Sir Henry Browne Hayes's small cottage was completely hidden by Wentworth's grand Gothic mansion. The main rooms were designed to impress. The Drawing and Dining Rooms, long hall, and sweeping staircase were very fashionable. Vaucluse House was never fully finished, partly because of an economic downturn in the 1840s.
Wentworth was an important figure in colonial politics. He helped form the Australian Patriotic Association. He also played a key role in improving education and establishing The University of Sydney. He was a member of the Legislative Council and helped draft a new constitution for NSW.
The House During Leases and Family Returns
In March 1853, the Wentworth family sold most of the house's contents and moved to Europe. In December, the house and 163 acres (66 hectares) were leased to John Hosking for three years. The lease required him to keep the "park, gardens, orangeries, vineyard and buildings" in good order.
When the Wentworths briefly returned in 1861–62, they made many improvements. They built the Gothic Revival iron verandah and installed a fountain in the pleasure garden. They also introduced new plants to the gardens and orchards. The family returned to England in 1862. After that, the estate was looked after by various agents, relatives, and family members. Visitors have enjoyed the beautiful Wisteria sinensis climber on the house's verandah every spring since 1862.
In 1867, a very dry year, the fire brigade was called to a fire at Vaucluse House. The fire reached the garden, but the brigade stopped it from damaging the house. Pictures from this time show a well-established front garden, a fountain, and a large Norfolk Island pine tree.
From the late 1870s, the house was occupied by family, friends, or caretakers. William Wentworth died in England in 1872. Even after his death, his wife Sarah and their unmarried daughter Eliza continued to care for the property, even from abroad.
Vaucluse House Becomes a Public Park
In 1900, the house's contents were sold at auction. The house remained empty until 1911. Then, about 28 acres (11 hectares), including the house and garden, were taken over by the Government of New South Wales. It was to be used as a public reserve. The goal was to create a public recreation area.
To make way for public use, some old structures were removed. These included the ruins of the convict barracks, workers' cottages, and old fences. Between 1910 and 1920, the original gates were replaced with four new sets of gates. The house, though mostly empty, was opened to the public on weekends and holidays. In 1917, two towers were added to the eastern side of the house. This made the house look more complete.
In the 1920s, more changes were made to the gardens. A kiosk (now tearooms) was built, and new bridges were added over the creek. The ground around the stables was changed to create footpaths. Original gravel paths were paved. The last parts of the orchard and vineyard were removed. Wentworth's original entry road disappeared and was replaced by Wentworth Road and Olola Avenue.
During the 1930s Depression, many relief workers helped improve the park. Concrete paths were laid, and stone walls were built along the creek. A large rose garden was created in the central lawn. The garden was also decorated with beds of azaleas, cannas, and other flowers. This transformed the 19th-century estate into a 20th-century public park.
In 1968, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service took over the house and grounds. They replanted over 200 native trees. In 1981, the property was transferred to the Historic Houses Trust of NSW (now Sydney Living Museums). They started a long-term plan to preserve the grounds. This plan was based on studying the site's history, old paintings, sketches, and family papers.
Today, Vaucluse House is still one of the few 19th-century houses on Sydney Harbour that keeps much of its original setting. The estate is carefully divided into different areas. These include a pleasure garden, a kitchen garden, service areas, and paddocks.
Vaucluse House Gardens
In 1999, a conservation plan was made for a small area next to the house's kitchen. This area had been used as a rubbish dump and then a car park. It was decided to bring back a kitchen garden there. They used old seeds from the UK, choosing types of vegetables and fruits that were available when the Wentworths lived there (1827–1853).
Staff researched to find out which vegetable seeds from that era were available in Australia. In 1830, it was said that "in this garden there grows the most delicious fruit in the colony." Seed-saving groups provided old varieties. Many also gave the dates when these were first brought to Australia.
These seeds were planted in the new kitchen garden for the first Kitchen Garden Festival in March 2000. Fruit trees like apricots, plums, pomegranates, and apples were also planted. Today, the garden grows about 90 varieties of vegetables. Many, like Musselburgh leeks and Cos lettuce, are still common today. Rarer ones include salsify and scorzonera, which are like thin parsnips.
Sir Henry Browne Hayes's original Vaucluse Cottage still exists. It is now part of the larger house, hidden within Wentworth's additions. The Wentworth kitchen garden might have been Hayes's original garden too.
Sydney Living Museums celebrated 100 years of Vaucluse House as a museum in 2015. They held a free open day with demonstrations and a display of treasures from William Charles Wentworth's collection. In 2016 and 2017, the drawing room and orientation rooms were refurbished. The orientation room now helps visitors understand the site's long history. It tells stories from its Aboriginal connections to its time as a museum.
Exploring Vaucluse House: What You'll See
Vaucluse House is a large Gothic-style home. It was built around a much smaller house from 1805. It has decorative walls, towers, and iron verandah posts. The verandah wraps around three sides of the front of the house. The back wings create a small courtyard. The roofs are made of slate and galvanised iron. Inside, you can see beautiful old wooden details, marble fireplaces, and patterned tiles on the hall floor. The main house has reception rooms, bedrooms, and servants' quarters.
Inside the House: Ground Floor
- KITCHEN: This is in the middle of the large two-storey service wing, built in 1829. Service wings were often separate to keep the main house safe from fire. Here, the cook and staff prepared all meals. The dresser, food safe, and cast iron cooking range are original.
- SCULLERY: This is where dishes were washed. Dirty water was poured into a drain.
- DAIRY AND LARDER: The dairy was for preparing milk, butter, and cheese. The larder was for storing food. These rooms show how Vaucluse operated as a self-sufficient estate.
- CELLARS: The two-roomed cellars were used to keep food and wine cool. The inner room still has its arched brick bins for wine bottles. Hooks for hanging cured meats are on the original ceilings.
- HOUSEKEEPER’S ROOM: This room was the center of all household tasks. The housekeeper managed the linen and supervised the female servants.
- BUTLER’S PANTRY: This pantry was like an office for the head of the household staff. From here, they could watch activities in the house. Lamps were cleaned and stored here. China, glass, and silverware were also cleaned and kept here.
- FAMILY HISTORY ROOM: In 1900, this room was a library. Today, it has an exhibition about the Wentworth family's history.
- BREAKFAST ROOM: This room is part of the house built between 1837 and 1840. Many large colonial houses had a second dining room for informal family meals. The furniture was bought in England around 1872.
- DINING ROOM: This room has family portraits, as was common in the early 19th century. The oak furniture belonged to the Wentworth family. The Gothic Revival sideboard and cupboards are from about 1845. The dining table and chairs might have come from Europe in 1859. The floor has unusual Italian glazed tiles. The fireplace is made of marble from New South Wales.
- LITTLE TEA ROOM: This room was likely one of Wentworth's first additions after 1828. It is set up as a small, informal sitting room. It was cool in summer with French doors opening to the verandah. In winter, its small size made it easy to heat.
- DRAWING ROOM: This room was partly built within Sir Henry Browne Hayes's original stone cottage and finished in 1847. The wallpaper border, plaster details, and fireplace are all original. The drawing room was meant for potential partners to meet the Wentworth daughters. Today, it has copies of famous paintings bought by the Wentworth family in Italy.
Inside the House: First Floor
- SECOND ROOM: In 1853, this was a private family sitting room. The fireplace is original. Furniture has been chosen based on a list of items from the house in 1853.
- PRINCIPAL BEDROOM: In 1853, this main bedroom had a wardrobe, chest of drawers, and washstand. The four-post bed has a reproduction of a fabric known to be used in another Gothic Revival house. The bed has three mattresses: straw, horsehair, and feathers.
- FITZWILLIAM’S ROOM IN THE HALL: Vaucluse House was not fully completed in the mid-1840s. The large open upper hall was divided by cupboards to create a bedroom for Wentworth's second son, Fitzwilliam.
Inside the House: Second Floor
- CHILDREN’S ROOM: This nursery was probably used by the four youngest Wentworth children, aged five to 12 in 1853. The room is set up like a typical children's room from the mid-19th century, with children's furniture and toys. The metal beds have mosquito nets.
- MISS WENTWORTH’S ROOM: This room was named for the eldest unmarried Wentworth daughter. In 1853, Sarah Eleanor and Eliza Sophia Wentworth shared it.
The Grounds and Gardens
The grounds of Vaucluse House have distinct areas for different uses. Each area had different ways of being cared for. The property originally had eight main zones:
- Main entry area: This was for people arriving and moving around.
- The core garden, or pleasure garden: This area had a formal lawn around a fountain. It had neatly cut grass and gravel paths. The original shrubbery was likely smaller, allowing views to the harbour.
- Park/pasture land: This was outside the core garden, with scattered trees in rough grass. Much of this area has changed due to the estate's shrinking size.
- Vineyard and orchard: The locations of these have been found from old photographs.
- The Orangery: This was a place for growing citrus trees. Its exact location is not known, but it might have been in the South Paddock.
- Kitchen (vegetable) gardens: These were likely for growing food. An 1830 diagram and old aerial photos show signs of cultivation.
- The estate backdrop: This was native forest on the hillsides. Most of this natural vegetation is now gone due to housing development.
- Beach paddock: This area was near the harbour.
Over the 20th century, some important plants were removed from the grounds. These included two Araucaria pines, a fig tree, two Magnolias, and willows along the creek.
Today, the garden still has some native plants and 19th-century bushes. It also keeps the original path and drive layouts. The remains of the 19th-century garden are mostly on the eastern side of the stream. This garden has three main parts:
- The Central lawn: This stretches from the verandah to the shrubbery. It has a beautiful Victorian fountain and is surrounded by a path.
- Shrubbery: This is at the northern end of the lawn. It is an informal area with paths and oddly shaped garden beds.
- Stable area: The carriage loop in front of the stable is still there, though its size and shape have changed a bit.
- The kitchen garden: This was recreated around 2001 on the site of the original kitchen garden.
The pleasure garden is filled with plants from the 19th century. It has a shrubbery area and a border of trees and shrubs along a long lawn. This garden is a great example of the "Gardenesque" style. This style became popular in the 19th century when many new and exotic plants became available. Plants were displayed as unique "specimens" to show off their different leaves, flowers, and shapes. Vaucluse House's pleasure garden is Sydney's best example of this style, over 150 years later.
The garden has plants from all over the world:
- From the Americas: Many ornamental plants from South America were grown in the colony early on. Examples include blue ginger, Brazilian plume flower, and dahlias.
- From Africa: Plants from Africa became very popular in colonial NSW because they were hardy and beautiful. Examples include bleeding heart vine, Nile lily, and bird-of-paradise flower.
- From Asia: Plants from Asia, especially China, had a big impact on Sydney gardens. Vaucluse House has a large collection of 19th-century Camellia plants from China. Other Chinese plants include shell ginger and Wisteria sinensis.
Current Condition and Changes Over Time
As of 2015, the house and grounds were in good condition. Sir Henry Browne Hayes's original cottage still exists, even though it's now part of Wentworth's larger house. The Vaucluse House property, while still having much of its original layout, has lost some important parts. This is due to the surrounding land being used for other things and changes in how the grounds are maintained. The area now feels more like a suburban park than a large country estate.
The house itself is still very much like it was before 1900. It has many original features, like old wallpaper and fireplaces. This makes it a rare example of mid-to-late 19th-century architecture.
Key Changes and Dates
- 1803: Sir Henry Browne Hayes builds a small cottage and other buildings. He clears land for farming and plants fruit trees.
- 1827: William Wentworth buys the estate. He adds more land, making it 515 acres (208 hectares).
- 1828-1830s: Wentworth makes major additions to the house, including turrets, a large kitchen wing, and convict barracks.
- 1853: The Wentworth family sells most of the house's contents and moves to Europe. The house is leased to John Hosking.
- 1861-1862: The Wentworths return briefly and make improvements. They build the Gothic Revival iron verandah and install a fountain.
- 1900: The house's contents are auctioned. The house remains empty until 1911.
- 1911: The NSW Government takes over 28 acres (11 hectares) of the estate to use as a public reserve. Old buildings like convict barracks are removed.
- 1910-1920: The original gates are replaced. The house is opened to the public on weekends.
- 1917: Two towers are added to the eastern side of the house to make it look complete.
- 1920s: Changes are made to the garden and carriage circle. A kiosk (now tearooms) is built. Original gravel paths are paved.
- 1930s: During the Depression, relief workers lay concrete paths and build stone walls. A large rose garden is created.
- 1966: Wisteria is removed from the front verandah and replaced. Gardens are made more formal.
- 1996: A large fig tree is removed due to poor condition, and a new one is planted.
- 2000: A kitchen garden is recreated on the site of the original one, using 19th-century plant varieties.
Why Vaucluse House is Important
Vaucluse House is important for many reasons:
- Historical Significance: It was the family home of William Charles and Sarah Wentworth from 1827 to 1853. This was a time when Wentworth was very important in Australian society. It was also Australia's first "House Museum," showing early efforts to preserve public history. The house and its collection show how the Wentworths lived and their social standing.
- Architectural and Design Importance: The house is a rare example of a 19th-century Gothic-style home near the harbour. It shows how houses, other buildings, and the landscape worked together in a colonial estate. The garden is a rare example of a 19th-century mansion garden that has not been completely divided up.
- Community Connection: The grounds, including the Beach Paddock and Tearooms, have been a popular place for local residents and visitors since 1910. It has also provided jobs for the local community since the early 19th century.
- Research Potential: The house has many original documents and objects that help us understand the cultural and natural history of New South Wales. The garden still has remnants of native plants and the original layout.
