Venice, Randwick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Venice
Venice, Randwick, in October 2014
Location	66 Frenchmans Road, Randwick, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1884–1885
Architectural style(s)	Gothic Revival
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Venice
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	175
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
Builders	Stephen Gee
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Venice is a special old apartment building and home located at 66 Frenchmans Road in Randwick, Australia. It was built between 1884 and 1885 by a builder named Stephen Gee. This building is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is protected because of its history and unique design.

A Look Back in Time

Early History of the Land

Before the 1780s, Aboriginal people lived in this area. They used the land for fishing and important cultural activities. You can still find signs of their presence, like rock carvings and grinding grooves. In 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip saw a "long bay" which we now know as Long Bay.

Aboriginal people have lived in the Sydney area for at least 20,000 years. The Cadigal people lived south of Port Jackson towards Botany Bay. The local clan near Maroubra was called "Muru-ora-dial". Over time, many Aboriginal people moved inland or faced challenges when Europeans arrived.

How Randwick Grew

One of the first land grants here was given to Captain Francis Marsh in 1824. In 1839, William Newcombe bought land closer to the current town hall.

Randwick got its name from a town in England called Randwick, Gloucestershire. Brothers Simeon and James Pearce suggested the name. Simeon was born in the English Randwick. He and his brother helped develop Randwick and nearby Coogee. Simeon came to Australia in 1841 as a surveyor. He built his home, Blenheim House, on land he bought from Marsh. He named his property "Randwick".

Simeon Pearce worked hard to get a road built from Sydney to Coogee. This road was finished in 1853. He also helped make Randwick an official suburb. In 1857, the first St Jude's church was built.

Randwick grew slowly at first. It was separated from Sydney by swamps and sandhills. Travel was difficult, even with a horse-bus. The bus often got stuck in the sand, and passengers had to push it out!

Randwick had different kinds of people living there. Wealthy families lived in large, fancy houses. But many working-class people lived on market gardens, orchards, and pig farms. Some even lived in simple huts or tents. There was also a poorer area called Irishtown, where families lived in makeshift homes. They often took on the hardest jobs to survive.

In 1858, the NSW Government passed a law allowing suburbs to become municipalities. This meant they could collect money and improve their area. Randwick was the first suburb to apply and became a municipality in February 1859.

Randwick was also known for sports. It had a racecourse called the Sandy Racecourse since 1860. In 1863, John Tait started the Randwick Racecourse. This made a big difference to Randwick. Trams soon connected the suburb to Sydney. Randwick became a busy and successful place, and it still is today.

Today, some old houses have been replaced by apartment buildings. Many people from different countries have made Randwick their home. Students and workers from the nearby University of NSW and Prince of Wales Hospital also live here.

The Story of Venice

The land where Venice stands was once part of a large area given to the Church of England. In 1882, the Church started dividing this land into smaller blocks. A lawyer from Sydney, Thomas James Dickson, leased two of these blocks for 99 years. He had to pay rent and build a strong house on the land. He also had to maintain it and pay taxes. No noisy or dirty businesses were allowed.

In 1884, Dickson sold his lease to Stephen Gee, a builder from Sydney, for a small amount of money. This suggests that some small building, maybe stables, was already there. In 1889, Gee sold the lease for a much higher price. This shows that Gee built the main house, which was a "gentleman's" residence. Joseph Jonathon Dakin, another builder from Randwick, bought it.

An old map from 1891 shows that Venice had water connections. It also shows two small buildings behind it and a fountain on the north side.

The first person listed as living at 66 Frenchmans Road was Mrs. Nicholson in 1893. The building was not lived in by Stephen Gee for very long.

From 1897 to 1906, the name Venice appeared in the directory with G.H. Holmes as the resident. It's likely he was renting the house. From 1909 to 1919, different people lived there. In 1920, Venice was first called "Venice Flats". It was changed into four separate apartments around this time.

In 1979, Dr. H. M. Kalmuth bought Venice to use as a family home. He started restoring it in the 1980s. Because the Randwick Historical Society was worried about the building's condition, it was given a temporary heritage protection order in 1979.

In 1981, the Heritage Council of NSW suggested making the protection permanent. After some discussions, a Permanent Conservation Order was made on May 15, 1982. This order was then moved to the State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

In 2009, money was given through the NSW Heritage Grants program to help with more restoration work.

What Venice Looks Like

Venice is a large and impressive two-story house. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular in the late Victorian era. The front of the house is balanced, with a central entrance area. It has fancy timber fretwork on its one-story verandahs.

Inside, the house is also balanced. There is a wide hallway in the middle with a grand staircase. Behind the staircase is a beautiful stained glass window with a detailed pattern.

The main rooms on the ground floor are on either side of the hallway. The service area, like the kitchen, is at the back on the right side.

The house has many high-quality original details. These include diagonal chimneys, a tiled path and hallway, a leadlight front door, bay windows, timber wall panels, fireplaces, and decorated cornices, ceilings, and ceiling roses.

The design of Venice is very special. There is no other house quite like it in Randwick. The quality of its design suggests that a skilled architect might have designed it, even though there is no clear proof.

Changes Over Time

• 1884/1885: The building was constructed.
• 1920: It was changed into four separate apartments (flats).

Why Venice is Special

As of 2011, Venice is a rare and unique example of late Victorian Gothic architecture. It still has most of its original details. The house and its remaining garden add a lot to the look of Frenchmans Road. It also helps us understand the early history of Randwick. The house is very important for its architecture in Randwick and across New South Wales.

Venice was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.