the bafmain The Peninsula 311 association J Incorporated ISrillBIII news sheet

Vol 29 No 3 issue 229 Founded 1965 June/July 1994

Edmund Thomas Blacket was St James's Church spire and then 1869. The first indication of any resi the Governor's Mansion. If he had ever dence in Darling Street is a listing for in Bolmoin intended going on to New Zealand, plans Edmund T. Blacket in Sand's Directory Edmund Blacket {1817-1883), whose apparently were, abandoned. Bishop of 1871 (which indicates actual resi w o r k i s s o f a m i l i a r t o r e s i d e n t s o f Broughton was so impressed with dence in 1870.) It is unclear why he only Balmain, was, according to Joan Kerr in Blacket's letters of recommendation that resided there for less than five years; it is "Our Great Victorian Architect", probably he almost immediately appointed him obvious he still owned the house, which one of the most prolific and versatile Inspector of Schools for the Church of he definitely designed and built himself, architects Australia has ever known. His England in the Colony, which was as he left it to his two younger daughters, work included hundreds of churches and fortunate for Blacket (and New South who were unmarried at the time he made domestic buildings, but also extended Wales!). In 1845 he was the architect for his will in 1881. into virtually every Victorian building St Mary's School in Adolphus Street. Whatever the reasons, Blacket is next type from abattoirs and asylums to ware By 1847 Blacket was Diocesan listed in Booth Street in Sands Directory houses and woodstores. Architect and also enjoyed a flourishing of 1875. From 1876 to 1882 he was listed Blacket was born on 25 August 1817 private practice. Even before that he by Sands in Darvall Street. For many in Southwark, England, the seventh child wrote his brother that "I have already years it was thought that he resided at of James Blacket, a prosperous cloth succeeded marvellously and altho' 1 do Alderley which he had designed and merchant, and his wife Margaret. He was not officially bear the title, yet 1 hear 1 am built in Booth Street and which is now the educated at the Millhill School, a pretty well known as the Church core of the Balmain Hospital. However, Congregational College near Barnet in Architect." Certainly he was responsible further research now indicates decisively Hertfordshire and then worked in his for St Mary's Church, Balmain, which that this is not so. [See article on next father's office in London and at a linen was built in 1846. [The church was much page.) Before he died on 9 February mill in Stokesley, Yorkshire. While living enlarged in 1859 by William Weaver and 1883, Blacket had moved once more to there he designed and built the town William Kemp, but the original Blacket Roland Villa in Croydon Street, clock and the Wesleyan church organ. chancel was retained.) He was appointed Petersham. Blacket married Sarah Mease in 1842, the Colonial Architect in 1849 and Blacket was buried in Balmain shortly before the two left England designed the Balmain Watch House Cemetery beside his wife Sarah, but their forever on the SS Eden. On arrival in lower part five years later. remains were cremated and the ashes Sydney he wrote in his diary that he During this period Blacket and his moved to St Andrew's Cathedral when thought he had never seen "such growing family (he and Sarah produced the cemetery became Pioneer Park in exquisite a scene" although he also eight children) lived in Glebe. He had 1941. The ashes were placed behind the described it as "like the artifical grottoes purchased the land at 393 Darling Street, choir stall, which is the memorial to and mountains which we see [in) County where the Manor House now stands, in Bishop Broughton who was so closely country houses, but on a large scale." September 1860 but did not move to connected with the inception of Blacket's The first marr-made object he noticed Balmain until after Sarah's death in career and who continued to take an interest in it throughout his life. In addition to the buildings already noted, Blacket's legacy in Balmain in cludes Captain Pearson's House, later called Eastcliff by Major Jaques, in Pearson Street (c.l844); Woodleigh in Stack Street (c.l870); St Thomas' Church, Rozelle, (then Balmain West, 1874) and Rectory (1882); and the Convent of the Immaculate Conception in Jane Street 1876 (now altered). S o u r c e s : " M y N a m e i s B l a c k e t " , Nicholas Vine Hall, "Our Great Victorian Architect, Edmund Thomas Blacket" Joan Kerry, "Blacket in Balmain", National Trust 1981. Blacket's house now the Manor House Bonnie Davidson Land Management sperous tenants, as the buildings often buy a small terrace or workingmans lack modern facilities. This combination cottage. Soon after, th^ modernise or ^ I ^he variety of experience that the of factors keeps rents low and enables add extra rooms, unaware that they may A community currently enjoys is occupation by a variety of tenants. contribute to the destruction of the very achieved through a diversity of built Today's high construction costs for environment that enticed them origin form. Fundamentally, a variety of land comprehensive redevelopment result in ally. Many of the small one bedroom uses will encourage diversity of building increased rents and a reduction in the dwellings are within the finances of types, which in turn, will be used by a variety of built environment. This could young couples or single persons. If they variety of people. These forms of be argued as a reason for allowing little are extended or replaced, the stock of diversity are already part of the Peninsula or no development to occur. This would affordable housing is depleted. environment. be far from ideal, as many buildings will It is probable that low-rise urban Achieving a diversity of land use in the eventually become obsolete. New buildings will continue to dominate built environment is partly dependent on building stock is often necessary to en simply because high-rise housing is ensuring a wide range of building types liven an environment. more costly. In research for AMCORD are available, at affordable rates. Greater A balance of building stock, providing (Australian Model Code for Residential levels of affordability will help to ensure a range of ages and conditions, will help Development) it was revealed that a shift a wider range of uses. generate a broader spectrum of rents. from a four-storey scheme with 63 Economic pressures can work Planning has no direct control over the dwellings to one with a nine-storey (with against achieving diverse urban enviror>- rents charged, but can indirectly influ lifts) and 77 dwellings resulted in a ments. From a developer's perspective, ence through Council's policies for substantial increase in the cost per a building that operates as a single use mixed use areas should ensure the dwelling. Even though the number of is often easier to manage and finance, economic sustainability of existing uses, dwellings on the site increased from 63 than a development comprising a but enable them to be recycled or re to 77 and the land cost per dwelling fell, number of different uses. This issue can placed when appropriate. Change in the the effect of the additional construction affect diversity, from the individual urban environment is inevitable and cost per square metre (a rise from $750 to $1245) meant that the average cost of building through to the area. desirable and planning should be con A greater diversity in the urban en cerned about managing that change an identically sized two bedroom vironment can be achieved by the affectively, (above from Leichhardt dwelling rose 17% (Scott Carver 1992). retention and reuse of older buildings for Council Planning Interface draft). Market conditions favouring high-rise new uses. Often, older building stock will Many newcomers to the Peninsula, development are likely to be confined to have little, or no money tied up in it. This attracted by the ambience and some inner areas, to sites converted stock attracts limited demand from pro- convenience of the closeness of the city. from non-residential use.

is foolish to go on depleting built occupied it - all are solid history, awaiting Conserving Old Buildings resources by applying throwaway con discovery, evaluation, interpretation. sumer principles to buildings. A building (Condensed from Robert Irving's Old thebuildings pastare but not are Just symbols links with of can be given a new life by adapting it to rationale of conservation in Leichhardt community stability. The loss of this suit a new function. People are prepared Historical Journal No 15) stability breaks the perpetual partner to pay for the things that old ship that makes for orderly growth in buildings have that are not society. provided in modern struct Many examples of architecture are ures - high ceilings, large works of art, evoking pleasure, or windows, ornamental and admiration, or awe - irrespective of size decorative work. Renovation or function. A building can be worthy of can take less time than new keeping even if it has no intrinsic beauty, building and can be staged so so long as it contributes something to the that no one part may be used quality of a place. It is false to think that before the whole is finished. if a building looks bad, then it is bad. A Rehabilitation imposes fewer good rehabilitation can make a public social costs than new seemingly worthless old building sparkle development by saving on with new life. Old buildings are cost of services. educational because they are unassum A building is more than a ingly truthful historical records, buildings piece of real estate; it is a link are wonderful education tools. A whole in the chain of the National way of life may be understood by Estate, a primary source his studying the buildings of a precinct. torical item. The site on which Caring signifies good economics: it stands, the materials from keeping a fine building can demonstrate which it is made, the tech a community's self esteem. Built and niques of its construction, its natural resources are not bottomless. financial envelope, the people Verandah awnings are returning. Above in Darling St Balmain, Re-using makes economic sense too. It who have built and have National Bank {M'oposed. Opposite page, shop in Darling St Rozelle. required to build his own new home in Balmain Personality Booth Street. A Brownrigg & Langley survey map of 1861 has the name of Henryin Earnshaw Manchester,Tidswell England was cl820, born the Henry Tidswell on the Booth Street site son of Thomas Earnshaw Tidswell and where he lived until his death. This Nancy, nee Kay. He married Elizabeth house, which Henry named Alderley, Roby in Yorkshire in 1850. Their first h a d e l e v e n r o o m s a n d w a s b u i l t child, Henry Parker Tidswell was born in principally of sandstone. It was designed Chorlton in November 1851. by Edmund Thomas Blacket and for Shortly after the birth they sailed for many years was believed to have been Sydney in the ship F C Clarke. The ship's Blacket's own home. Further research passenger list showed Mr and Mrs has now proved that it was a Blacket Tidswell and two daughters arriving in h o u s e b u t w a s n e v e r B l a c k e t ' s h o m e . Sydney. At that time Henry would still Henry built Alderley cl860 and lived have been in dresses, as was the custom there until his death in 1882. of the day, and would have looked like a In 1886 Henry's executor, his eldest little girl. Their second child, Lilla Mary son Henry Parker Tidswell, sold the was born 1 August 1853, just before the house and the three parcels of land to the Henry in St Mary's Church. Henry joined ship arrived in Sydney. Trustees of Balmain Hospital for the Balmain Masonic Lodge in 1868 and The ship's records include Mr and Mrs approximately £3000. The name was their Treasurer from 1870-73. Wilson and five children. Soon after Alderley obviously held great signific In 1867 he stood for and was elected arrival Henry Earnshaw Tidswell was a ance for the Tidswell family as It was Alderman of Balmain Council to fill an merchant in partnership with G H Wilson, used by the youngest son, Frederick extraordinary vacancy in the South who, it would seem, had arrived on the Charles, for his house at Bexley and by Ward, Mr Mossman having been same ship. Henry Parker's son, Henry Francis, for disqualified from office due to On arrival the Tidswell family lived at his property at Marengo Flats. insolvency. In June 1867 the Supreme Surry Hills where two more children were After Edmund Blacket died in 1883 Court cleared Mr Mossman so Henry born. By 1858 they had moved to his sons continued to work as architects resigned to allow Mr Mossman to be re Balmain where they rented Shannon under the name Blacket Bros. They elected. Grove, now NolO Ewenton Street designed houses for two of Henry Henry again stood for Council in In February 1860 Henry purchased Tidswell's sons, Henry Parker at Bexley February 1877 and having been elected lot 4 of the subdivision of Gilchrist's and George Earnshaw at Woolwich with a clear majority he was appointed original subdivision of lot 4 section 5 of {Hunter's Hill). The plans for both these Treasurer for the Borough. A special the Balmain Estate from James Hugh houses and for another for Mrs Tidswell committee was appointed in 1878 to in of Bexley can be seen in the Mitchell Palmer. Later, in March, he purchased a vestigate the accounts of the Borough portion of lots 5 and 6 of lot 4 sect 5 from Library in Sydney. Sadly no plans for after a deficiency of £127/15/4. The James Hugh Palmer for £150. He Alderley at Balmain have survived. Mayor then suspended the Council Clerk purchased for£182, at public auction in During his life in Balmain, Henry James Roby. The Assistant Council June 1867, lot 3 of the original Earnshaw Tidswell was a very commun Clerk, Mr Glassop, was also threatened subdivision of lot 4 sect 5 from Frederick ity minded man. He served St Mary's with dismissal. James Roby resigned on T Humphrey, the Official Assignee of the Anglican Church, Balmain East as a March 19th 1878 and Council voted to Estate of Nathaniel Caston. In July 1860 churchwarden, sidesman and auditor. keep Glassop on. Henry Tidswell dis he raised a mortgage of £1387 on the Six of Henry's children, born at Balmain, agreed with this decision and in first two parcels of land from the NSW were baptised in St Mary's (two died in consequence resigned as Treasurer of Building Society. This amount was infancy ). There is a memorial plaque for the Borough on 2 April 1878. Henry did not stand for re-election when his term finished. Henry Earnshaw Tidswell died on October 23rd 1882 and was buried in the old Balmain Cemetery ( Now Pioneer's Park Leichhardt). His wife Elizabeth died shortly afterwards on April 16th 1883 was buried alongside her husband. After the cemetery was closed in 1912, Matilda, widow of Henry Parker Tidswell, removed Henry's and Elizabeth's head stone, but not their remains, to Woronora Cemetery. Sources:- Land Titles Office, St Mary's Anglican Church Records, Brownrigg & Langley survey map, Mitchell Library. Bonnie Daoldson G Ro TidsioeU varieties, so plant them accordingly. They can also be propagated from seed, Apology (Jn^lJxcL ^^baJm which can be sown in autumn or spring. Acknowledgment for the source of C o l o u r s o f C a n n a s Cannas like plenty of moisture but not the two paragraph introduction to the Leichhardt Town Plan in the April issue bog conditions. Being quick-growing was not credited to Peter Reynolds from Addgardena glow withto that coloursunny duringspot thein your hott they can also absorb extra plant food. est time of the year by including some Plant In soil enriched with plenty of the Leichhardt Historical Journal Mo 18, cannas in your planting. Cannas come in organic material, some animal manure page 76. all tints of red, pink, orange, and slow-release fertiliser. Leichhardt Historical Journal and yellow as well as spotted The best time to divide The LHJ 1-18 are now available at the cannas is winter. Plants that and multi-coloured. Seldom Watch House. Cost 1-12$10. 13-18$15. a t t a c k e d b y p e s t s a n d won't be lifted can be topped Full set $175. diseases and requiring little with organic material from Each journal includes Book Reviews, but attention, cannas will bright mid-summer until late space here precludes their inclusion in e n a s u n n y c o r n e r . autumn if grown in a full this index list. Cannas are most effect-\- s u n n y p o s i t i o n . W h e n Contents ive when grown as a com cannas have finished flower LHJ No 1 1971 Reprinted 1994 plete bed planting, but they ing, the tall and untidy stems Foundation of this journal; A Roberts. are also pretty and adapt can be cut down to near the Remains of Birchgrove House; R Irving. able for spots or narrow ground. William and Annie Miller; D Kerohan. areas. They also can be Bonnie Davidson Robert J Stuart-Robertson; grown in large containers. As R S t u a r t - R o b e r t s o n they like the sun, they can be kept on the Responses of the Balmain people to the north or north-west of the house. There are dwarf, medium and tall growing 120th Anniversary Depression; M Wheatley Bishopgate Estate, M Soiling Lot 48 Darling St. Balmain; J Engle, P StThomas celebratedAnglican their 120th Church, yearRozeile, with a Reynolds & R Wise Heritage Week Success special service on 22 May. Archbishop R Book reviews; A Roberts M Goodlen presented the lesson with Heritagea great Week success 17-21 withApril many1994 visitors was Rector John Lousada in attendance. The at the Watch House to view the Murals in parish registers of St Thomas are at St The Balmain Association Inc the History Cell and the new Watch Andrews Cathedral, Sydney archives, representing Balmain, Birchgrove, House History display in the foyer. The but the parish would be grateful to copy Rozeile. old photographs displayed in the many anything relating to the Church and O u r A i m s A r e T o : • improve the living, working and shop windows along Darling Street parish. Contact 810 1072. created much Interest for the recreational amenities of our shopkeeper as well as the public. Book area • maintain all features having sales were stimulated and the response The Annual General to the Heritage Walks was gratifying. The natural architectural and/or Meeting of the Balmain historical value lovely sunny weather helped. Association Inc will be • compile and record history of The commitment to microfiche the the area & keep a permanent church registers has now included the St held on Wednesday 3 collection of items of historical Pauls Presbyterian Church in Rozeile August 1994 at 7.30pm interest (closed 1974) and the much depleted in the Watch House. • seek the cooperation of marriage register of the Campbell Street everyone concerned in the Presbyterian Church. In September 1969 realisation of the above items including a Baptismal Roll, The Watch House is open every Marriage Certificates and Register and W h a t ' s O n Saturday from 12 to 3pm several cartons of church papers were The Balmain Association meets on the stolen from a car owned by the Rev Jim first Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm Exhibitions at the Wsteh House in the Watch House McDonald, then Minister of Carnpbell Nado MHat • June 4^ 179 Darting Street, Balmain. Street Church. The car was parked Ink on Paper outside the Balmain Primary School The Endangered Species Mail c/o PO Box 57, BALMAIN. 2041. Our editorial phone/fax is 818 4954 while the Rev McDonald was giving June 10-12 scripture lessons. An appeal produced JuOe Chamberlin - July 30 to interested artists, potters, sculptors, etc. who would like to organise an no response. A great loss for family Aug 7 historians. Sus^ Kerville - Historic Papers exhibition in the Watch House are KaCft Harney Sep 3-11 urged to contact Steve South on 810 1411. Printed on recycled paper by Anita Johnston - Sep 17-25 Annual Subscriptions: Snap Print, Balmain Paper Makers of NSW © Mot to be reproduced without S u e C o w d e n - O c t 1 - 2 Household $16, Pensioners & authorisation Students $7, Organisation $21.