A Premier Place to Introduction A guided walking tour of the streets and Live laneways of North focusing on our State’s political history and political figures A walking tour of the homes and who represented the area including the haunts of North Sydney’s former residences of Alexander Berry, Sir politicians George Dibbs, Bernard Holtermann, Edward M. Sayers, William Tunks and Colonel Distance: 4.6 km George Barney. On this walk we will also Approximate time: 3.3 hours view changes in the North Sydney Grading: medium to high landscape over the past 150 years since the people of NSW elected their first Parliament.

North Sydney has always been unashamedly conservative but sometimes independent in its political leanings (especially in more recent times with and Robyn Read). Labor members at state and federal level have been rare, unless they had a maverick past. William Morris Hughes, for example, was a right wing politician who represented North Sydney but had started his political life on the left.

By the 1880s the of the harbour had become a desirable living area, attracting professionals and businessmen who worked in the city and commuted by the steamers. A cluster of early political representatives lived in the central portion of North Sydney, yet others lived in Kirribilli and Neutral Bay. Unfortunately some of the homes of our politicians have been demolished to make way for development in the Central Business District and construction of the and Warringah Expressway.

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Our walk begins at North Sydney Railway Station GRAYTHWAITE, Union St Graythwaite is a fine house surviving as an example of the 19th Century residential Take stairs near entrance to Centra architecture of this area. The site is unusual in Hotel and cross over to Walker St. that it retains its original large tract of land with Turn right into Mackenzie St garden layout and historic plantings. Graythwaite is a former c1823 residence which has been WANGAN, Mackenzie St altered and has grown during the 19th century to Wangan (originally with a slate roof) was erected a grand villa c. 1874/75, and then undergone in 1870 by Mrs Catherine Dangar as the family adaptation to a convalescent hospital and home. Her husband Thomas Dangar (1807– nursing home after 1916. 1878) was a member of the Legislative Assembly 1861-1864, a member for the Upper In September 1832, Thomas Walker, public Hunter 1861-1864, and was involved in many official, paid 60 pounds 9 shillings for a 39-acre government committees. land grant. On the 25 October 1833, Thomas Walker conveyed 13 acres of his grant, to the Apart from his political duties, he was a north and east of where Graythwaite was later storekeeper and postmaster. He first worked in built, to William Miller, for 20 pounds thirteen Sydney, then moved to West Maitland and shillings. By 1837, Walker had built himself a began business in 1834, becoming the first residence on his grant almost adjacent to Miller's postmaster in Scone, 1836-1840. He also newly built house. An 1837 plan of the established the first Inn and store in Scone and Government Reserve on North Shore shows the carried mail and stores beyond the Liverpool Walker and Miller houses. In January 1845 Range before 1840. He also opened a store at Walker drew up his Will bequeathing his house Muswellbrook. In 1860 he returned to Sydney, Euroka and 16 acres to his wife. He died in and by 1864 listed as a squatter. 1850.

Thomas and Catherine Dangar sold the house to Three years after Walker’s death, the house and Mrs Catherine Mackenzie (hence the name of remaining land was sold to George Tuting, a this street) in 1875, and the latter sold it to Mrs mercer of Pitt St, Sydney for 1500 pounds, at Charlotte Smith about 1903. It was then which time the grounds were described as acquired by the Trustees of St. Francis Xavier’s comprising 113 acres. Tuting held the land only Church for a presbytery. briefly, possibly for the purposes of speculation at a time when land and house prices boomed in Walk along to end of Mackenzie St. Turn the early 1850s after the discovery of gold. He left into Miller St then right again into sold the house and land in 1853, for more than Lavender St. Cross over traffic lights and double what he had bought it for. On the 23 July walk along Union St to entrance of 1855, Tuting conveyed the house and land to Graythwaite (past entrance to SCEGS) Edwin Sayers, Sydney for £3900 pounds.

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The new owner, Edwin threatened the Savings Bank of New South Mawney Sayers (1818- Wales he appeared at its doors and wrote in his 1909), was a shipowner own hand a proclamation guaranteeing its who had arrived in Sydney deposits' (Australian Dictionary of Biography). from about 1850. He was mainly interested in the coastal Merchant and ship shipping trade. Sayers owner, Dibbs was occupied Euroka and educated at St remained there until 1868. As a merchant Philip's Church of seeking to utilise all of his available capital and England School and with the problems of unexpected calls being then the Australian made upon his resources, from unexpected College under the financial crises or due to the vagaries of bad Reverend J. D. shipping weather, Sayers needed to use his Lang. He became substantial house as security for loans at times. junior clerk with William Brown & Sayers was also a Member of the NSW Co., wine merchants Legislative Assembly 17 Jun 1859 -17 Jun 1859; in 1848. He joined and Member for St Leonards 17 Jun 1859 - his brother in Dibbs & Co., commission agents, 17 Jun 1859. He was a founder of North Sydney in c.1854; associated with father-in-law in School of Arts, Warden of St Thomas' Church of business ventures 1857-1859; then returned to England. He died in Mosman in 1909. J.C. Dibbs & Company, as manager of Newcastle branch and later the Sydney office. On 16 April 1860 Sayers conveyed the title to He travelled to Valparaiso, Chile, as corn factor, Clark Irving and others as trustees for the benefit opening a branch of J.C. Dibbs & Company in of Sayers' creditors. On 20 April 1860 further 1865; he was bankrupted by the failure of the conveyance of all of Sayers property to trustees Agra Bank 1866; he returned to Sydney in 1867 was signed. Sayers’ financial difficulties and by 1875 he had paid his creditors in full. continued until 8 July 1867 when the property was offered at auction by Richardson & Wrench, He appears to have left Euroka by 1880 when on behalf of the mortgagee. There were no he was gaoled for a year 1880 - 1881 for buyers. refusing on principle to pay £2000 damages for slander. He was a Member of Legislative The property was later acquired by Thomas Assembly representing West Sydney 1874- Allwright Dibbs, manager of the Commercial 1877, St Leonards 1882-1885, The Banking Company of Sydney. He leased the Murrumbidgee 1885-1894 and Tamworth 1894- house from 1872-1880 to his brother Sir George 1895.He was made Knight Commander of the Richard Dibbs (1834-1904), who was Premier Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in of NSW and Colonial Secretary 1891-1894. He 1892. Dibbs also moved into importing and ship was Premier in 1893 during the emergence of owning from 1869, becoming the Chairman of the financial crisis which resulted in panic the Steam Navigation Co. and taking a concerning the colonial banks. 'When panic leading role during the 1878 seamen's strike over use of Chinese labour. He announced North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 4

conversion from free trade to protection in July and liberty as a Convalescent Home for our Sick 1887, represented at the 1891 and Wounded Soldiers and Sailors and when Federal Convention and represented New South not required for that purpose as a Convalescent Wales, Victoria, South Australia and New Home in perpetuity for distressed subjects of the Zealand on a financial mission in London in British Empire regardless of Sect or Creed.' An 1892. He was also managing trustee, Savings official opening of Graythwaite was held on 1 Bank of New South Wales, 1896 - 1904. March 1916. Dibbs presented the deeds of Graythwaite to the Premier who handed the property on to the NSW branch of the Red Cross.

Alterations were made to Graythwaite to fit it out as a convalescent home. The house was at first used for less severely ill convalescents. In 1918, the Red Cross decided that Graythwaite should be converted into a Hostel for long-term cases of disablement. A change in emphasis required substantial changes to the building.

Graythwaite was later used as a convalescent 1897 view of the Graythwaite with widows walk home to 1977, when non-military cases were intact. (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF 1773 ) referred by the Health Commission. The Red Cross then decided to relinquish the Hospital to His brother Thomas Allwright Dibbs had been enable it to be used as geriatric hospital by the buying up many parcels of land on the North Home of Peace Hospitals, under the supervision Shore and by 1882 Euroka became the family of the Health Commission. The buildings were home of Thomas Dibbs who renamed it officially handed over in December 1980. Graythwaite. Dibbs' had a fine reputation as an astute and skilful manager of the Commercial Graythwaite's grounds contain one of the largest Banking Company of Sydney. His management and most significant collections of late 19th of the Bank was generally credited with saving it century and early 20th century cultural plantings from the fate of other less fortunate banks in the in North Sydney. Moreton Bay and 1890s Depression. Dibbs was apparently figs dominate an eclectic mix of exotic and shocked at the carnage taking place overseas Australian rainforest plantings including rare during the Great War and donated his home, historic and botanic examples. Graythwaite, to the state as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from the front. Return back along Union St and turn left into William St. Walk uphill and On 1 October 1915 the property was formally turn left into grounds of SCEGS at transferred by Dibbs to the Crown, in top of Blue St consideration of 'my admiration of and sincere sympathy for those brave men who have so unselfishly given their services and their lives fighting for the Empire in the cause of Justice North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 5

Sydney Church of England Grammar the School itself is quite secluded and School, Blue St undisturbed by major roads or expressways. In 1833 William Miller, Assistant Commissary- General of Government Provisions in the The Government passed the St. James' School Colony, purchased some of the North Shore Compensation Trust Act of 1886. This provided land originally granted to Deputy Assistant the funds for the foundation of a church school, Commissary-General Thomas Walker. When in order to perpetuate the original Crown grant Miller was transferred to Hong Kong in 1844 his and its purpose. The School was founded with home and land was passed on to his son (who the resultant 31,164 pounds. The official opening built Upton in Edward Street). took place on Saturday, 4 May 1889.

Bernard Holtermann eventually purchased the “The School is situated on the North Shore, on property in 1873 whereupon he proceeded to the premises hitherto known as Holtermann‟s erect a grand Italianate mansion from which a Towers, near Lavender Bay Wharf” (Provisional magnificent panorama of Sydney Harbour was Prospectus, 1889). photographed from the tower in about 1878. Whilst Sydney Church of England Grammar School is the School's official title, Shore is widely used and recognised in the community. "It was the boys themselves who invented 'Shore' in the earliest days of the School when...they had occasion to cheer their representatives in traditional sports." Finding it impossible to shout the full name and with 'Grammar' already in use by an older school, they shortened the officially termed 'North Shore' to the one-syllabled 'Shore'.

The Towers as seen from Union Street. In 1934 the school engaged architect Rupert (Courtesy State Library of NSW ) Minnett to redesign the former Holtermann mansion, now known as School House. The The Towers was purchased by the Church of building underwent dramatic modernisation and England in 1888 after Holtermann’s death and alterations and whilst the foundations and converted to the Sydney Church of England general outline of the original house and tower Grammar School. The house was substantially remained, the old iron and lace and semi-gothic rebuilt in the 1930s tower was removed in favour of the present red brick structure. The School stands on a site of five and a half hectares on a hilltop only two hundred metres Bernard Holtermann from North Sydney railway and bus station. It (1883-1885) left Germany has magnificent views of the Harbour and the to avoid military service and . In spite of this central position, arrived in New South Wales on 12 August 1858. He then North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 6

went to the goldfields from 1859-1860 but Martens designed the supported himself with other jobs. By 1868 he first St Thomas’ was a licensee of the All Nations Hotel. Church of which Holtermann floated Star of Hope Gold Mining Alexander Berry was Company in 1872 which found the largest known a notable benefactor. specimen of reef gold. As the rigours of a landscape painter's He also invested in Sydney real estate and was life began to tell on an advocate of construction of a North Shore the ageing Martens, Bridge. His civil service includes a period as an his friend Alexander Alderman of Hill End Borough Council. Bernard Berry found a post for Holtermann married Harriett Emmett on 22 him in 1863 as a parliamentary librarian. He died February 1868 at Bathurst and they had two on 21 August 1878 and was buried at St daughters and three sons. Thomas's Cemetery, North Sydney, where the rest of his family is also buried. Holtermann served as a Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 5 December 1882-29 April The house was bought by warehouse owner FB 1885, and was Member for St Leonards 5 Larke in 1878 and sold again to the Hon John December 1882-29 April 1885. Hughes MLC (1857-1912) who altered it again and built tennis courts. Return to William St and turn left and walk to Mount St. Turn right in Mount St and then right When it was auctioned in 1913 Hardie and into Edward St. Walk to Riley St and cross over, Gorman noted that the „spacious grounds, enter grounds via corner gates situated in Edward Street North Sydney [made it] very convenient and suitable for a gentlemen-of- Rockleigh Grange, No. 40 Edward St means, professional men, squatter and others‟. The present Rockleigh Grange is very different Instead the Catholic Church bought the property. to the stone picturesque Victorian Rustic Gothic As the premises for its Apostolic Delegation and villa that the colonial artist Conrad Martens in 1970 it hosted Pope Paul VI. inhabited The trees in Riley St on the left are relatively recent plantings on the old estate. Hughes was a lawyer They recall the scrub that covered the landscape (solicitor) and property behind Martens’ home. In 1867 he wrote that owner. He journeyed „this place is much altered since we first took up to England in 1870 for our residence here… the original forest is fast education at receding and small steamers cross [the harbour] Stoneyhurst, Jesuit every quarter of an hour‟. College in Lancashire and matriculated with The Martens had moved to the property with his Honours at London wife Jane Brackenbury Carter who had inherited University in 1876. the property from her parents. They in turn had Upon his return to bought it from the Berry’s in 1835. They lived Sydney he was there with their children until his death in 1878. articled to H.M Makinson of Ellis & Makinson in North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 7

1878; admitted as a solicitor in 1884 and and the designer of the Victoria Barracks in practised in partnership with his brother from Paddington. 1887. He also owned considerable city property. Colonel George He was a shareholder in W.H Soul Pattinson & Barney was a Co. and in the Commercial Banking Company of Member of the Sydney; Director of Australian Hotel Company NSW Legislative Ltd.; Chairman of Directors of Bannockburn Council 17 July Estate Ltd.; Trustee of St Mary’s Cathedral; 1843-29 February Treasurer of St Vincents Hospital 1885-1912; 1856. He was Trustee of Public Library 1898-1912; President commissioned as of Prisoners Aid Association 1901-1905. a second lieutenant in the Apart from his legal career, he was an Alderman Royal Engineers in of the Sydney City Council for Fitzroy Ward from July 1808 and 1 December 1891-30 November 1894 and was a served in the Member of the Disposal of Refuse Committee Peninsular War (1891-1894); the Electric Lighting Committee and in the West Indies, where he took part in the (1892-1894); and the Height of Buildings capture of Guadaloupe in 1815. He was a civil Committee (1894). engineer in Jamaica for several years. He was promoted second captain in 1813 and captain in Hughes was a Member of the NSW Legislative 1825. Barney arrived in Sydney with his wife and Council, (13 August 1895-13 August 1895); three children in December 1825 with a Minister of Justice (3 July 1899-13 September detachment of the Royal Engineers. 1899); Vice President of Executive Council and Representative of Government (22 November Barney bought the property five years later and 1898-3 September 1899); Vice President of in the 1840s he leased the house back to Executive Council and Representative of Alexander and Elizabeth Berry while they were Government (29 August 1904-20 October 1910). waiting for their new mansion, Crows Nest He was created Knight Commander of the Order House, to be completed. Elizabeth died here in of St. Gregory by Pope Leo XIII in 1894 1845.

Proceed up Edward St to a small laneway. Turn down the lane which will take you into Priory Rd

The Priory, No. 5 Priory Rd Originally a single storey villa this substantial sandstone house and the large gardens that once surrounded it were one the earliest excisions on the Berry Estate. The land was leased around 1835 by Lt Col George Barney, first commander of the Royal Engineers in NSW The Priory nestled amongst picturesque gardens, 1871. (Couresy State Library of NSW)

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Part of the St Leonards Anglican gentry, Barney’s son married the daughter of William Branwhite Clarke. He leased The Priory for a period to another notable Anglican and Member of Parliament, Francis Lord. Barney died on 16 April1862 and was buried in the St Thomas’ Cemetery (now St Thomas’ Rest Park, 200 West St, Crows Nest). After Barney’s death it was sold to the Fisher family. Thomasina lived there until her death in 1914

At this time the attics were converted to a full Branthwaite, home of „Wunny‟ (son of William floor in 1914. The estate was subdivided into 40 Branwhite Clarke) and Granny Clarke, 1880s. lots between 1915 and 1929 and many of those (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF 2327) cottages and flats still survive around ‘The Priory’. Harriott St is named after a woman who married into Clarke’s family. The Branthwaite The building was subsequently converted to flats Estate was completely subdivided by the 1930s. and in the 1970s local historian and heritage Hovenden Hely died at Branthwaite in 1872, late campaigner David Earle lived here and formed of Wyoming and eldest son of the late Frederick the Priory Conservation Co-operative Society Augustus Hely. Hely died at the comparatively which promoted a unique combination of urban early age of 49 years. and heritage planning through co-operative housing. Return back up Bay Rd and turn left into Pacific Highway. Proceed to Proceed up Priory Rd and turn left traffic lights into Bay Rd. Cross over and stop before Harriott St North Sydney Demonstration School Around the grounds of the North Sydney Branthwaite Demonstration School is the large stone and iron The land extending from here back up the hill to fence of Crows Nest House. Alexander Berry McHatton Street was the site of the Rev. William completed the house in 1850 – the residential Branwhite Clarke’s estate and home, centre of his still vast estate – it enjoyed Branthwaite. Clarke was the first rector of St extensive views of the harbour and took the Thomas’ Church and a renowned geologist. name of its more modest predecessor Crows Alexander Berry was a great benefactor of Nest Cottage located further up the hill. The Clarke’s church and a personal friend who fence was erected by Sir John Hay in 1890 after enjoyed discussing matters of science, he inherited the property in the 1880s. The philosophy and religion. He gave Clarke five wrought iron gates feature a nest of crows. acres of land on his estate shortly before Clarke retired in 1870. The house was demolished in the early 1930s and the North Sydney Demonstration School opened here in 1934.

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Alexander Berry was a Berry was a member of the Philosophical medical practitioner Society in 1821 and commissioned as a Justice (surgeon) and of the Peace in 1822. He was also a councillor businessman. He was on the Australian Philosophical Society, educated at Cupar established in 1850. Berry was a Member of the Grammar School and NSW Legislative Council 12 April 1828-5 studied medicine at the January 1843, Member of the NSW Legislative St Andrews University Council 17 July 1843-29 February 1856, and Edinburgh Member of the NSW Legislative Council 22 May University. After 1856-10 May 1861. qualifying in medicine, he joined ships trading with India and China as a Berry died at Crows Nest House on 17 surgeon's mate but soon decided to pursue the September 1873 was buried below the pyramid commercial side of shipping. In 1806 chartered monument in St. Thomas’ Cemetery (now St and later bought a ship in partnership with Thomas’ Rest Park) with his wife Elizabeth and Francis Short, speculating in goods. From 1808 brother-in law Edward Wollstonecraft. he made several voyages to New South Wales with cargos of goods and travelled to South Cross over traffic lights and proceed America returning to London in 1812, after losing along McLaren St his ship. Stormanston, No, 27 McLaren St In 1819 he returned to Sydney establishing a Occupies the site of an earlier house known as mercantile business in partnership with Edward Montrose (and even earlier as Church Hill Wollstonecraft. In 1822, Berry and Cottage). Church Hill Cottage (so named Wollstonecraft applied for a grant of 10,000 because of its proximity to St Thomas’ Church) acres on the Shoalhaven River in New South was built in the 1850s by Sir William Westbrooke Wales. In 1823 they exported coal to Rio de Burton. After he left Australia in disgust in 1861, Janiero. They closed their mercantile business in the house was purchased by merchant Robert 1828. In 1830 a grant of land of 10, 000 acres Napier and it was renamed Montrose Cottage. applied for on the Shoalhaven in 1822 was Subsequently John Whitton, Engineer-in-Chief of approved. Between 1830 and 1840 Berry NSW Railways purchased the property in 1875 purchased an additional 22,000 acres which and he and his wife lived here until his death in produced maize, tobacco, wheat, barley, 1898. The house was tenanted out until 1907, potatoes, pigs and cattle. Wollstonecraft died in when his widow sold the property and it was 1832, and from 1836, Berry rarely visited the subdivided and the house demolished. There Shoalhaven estate, leaving its management to are two plaques affixed to the fence recording his brother David. In the 1850's Berry began to the life of artist Adelaide Ironside and John let farms on the estate on clearing leases. By Whitton, Engineer in Chief of NSW Railways, 1863 the estate comprised 40,000 acres. His who once resided here. interests included aboriginal culture and geology. Stormanston House was built in 1907. It was acquired by the Sisters of Mercy and has been North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 10

used for student accommodation and also as a in Madras in 1844. He returned to Sydney in convent. The house was refurbished in 2001. 1857.

He was member of the NSW Legislative Council (11 August 1857-10 May 1861) and President of the Legislative Council (9 February 1858-10 May 1861). Burton resigned from the Legislative Council after the 'swamping' in 1861 and left New South Wales in disgust.

Another well-known tenant of Montrose was pastoralist Sir Terence Aubrey Murray. He was John Whitton employed a gardener to maintain educated at the the extensive and beautiful landscaped grounds school of Reverend of Montrose, 1890s. (North Sydney Heritage William White, Centre, PF 764) Church of England

clergyman, in Sir William Ireland. He arrived in Westbrooke Burton New South Wales with his father in April 1827 was a lawyer and took up land grant at Lake George 1829. He (barrister). He was inherited an adjoining grant on his father's death educated at Daventry in 1835. He purchased other adjoining land and Grammar School. He called the consolidated property Winderradeen, was a retired Judge building a fine homestead there. With T. Walker when he was he bought Yarralumla near Queanbeyan in appointed to the 1836, where he lived until 1855 when he moved Legislative Council. His early career was in the to Winderradeen. He also took up land at Royal Navy, which he entered as a midshipman Jingellec, Upper Murray and in 1846 he in 1807. He sailed to Lisbon, Cadiz, the announced that he had given up squatting in Canaries, the Mediterranean, West Indies, China unsettled districts, but continued to lease large and the East. Called to the Bar at the Inner areas of Crown land in settled districts (42,680 Temple in 1824, he was recorder at Daventry acres in 1857). Murray settled Yarralumla and and President of the Local Court of Quarter part of Winderradeen on his wife and lost most Sessions 1826-1827 and Conveyancer and a of the property to her family by her will when she special pleader. He became a second puisine died in 1858. He was almost bankrupted in judge at the Cape of Good Hope in 1828 and a 1865. judge to the New South Wales Supreme Court in

1832. He took leave to travel to Great Britain in He was Executive Commissioner for New South 1839-1841. He returned to New South Wales in Wales at the Paris Exhibition 1866-1867 and 1842 and became a judge of the Supreme Court active as the President of the Society for North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 11

Abolition of Capital Punishment. He advocated Monte Sant’ Angelo, Miller St importation of coolie labour from India in 1841. In the centre of the grounds of Monte Sant’ Sir Terence Murray was probably the only Angelo Convent is the original building, Ma-Sa- member of Parliament to oppose democracy but Lou, the 1855 home of Hon. Francis Lord, supported John Robertson's Land Acts 1861. He M.L.C. (son of wealthy emancipist Simeon Lord). was also the Uncle of F.J. Gibbes, Member of Francis named it after his daughters Mary, the Legislative Assembly. Sarah and Louisa.

He was elected as a Member of the old Legislative Council from 1843-1856, where he fought ardently against capital punishment. From 1856 he was the Member for the Southern Boroughs in the Legislative Assembly until he successfully contested the seat of Argyle in 1859. Throughout 1856 Murray held the positions of Chairman of Committees, Secretary for Lands and Works and Auditor-General. He was also the Secretary for Lands and Works 1857-1858. Murray was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 1860-1862 when he was MaSaLou (1890s) is used as the appointed to the reconstituted Legislative administration/offices for Monte Sant‟ Angelo. Council. Upon entering the upper house he was (North Sydney Heritage Centre, PF 763) immediately appointed President of the Legislative Council, holding that office until 1873. In 1873, the Sisters of Mercy started a school in In October 1862, when Murray ruled that the a nearby cottage. Outgrowing this, Ma-Sa-Lou Council should not attempt to amend money bills was purchased by the Sisters of Mercy in 1878 he was in fact attempting to persuade the and the girls' college opened in 1879. The Hall Legislative Council to adopt the traditions of the was built in 1906 and a magnificent Chapel in English House of Lords. However, his decision 1915, designed by architect Joseph Sheerin met with great opposition and the Council (noted for his St. Patrick's College, Manly). continued to amend money bills. He died on 22 June 1873 at Darlinghurst in New South Wales. Ma-Sa-Lou was the former home of After the loss of his property to his wife’s family pastoralist Francis Lord and in an attempt to economise, they came to (1812-1897). He opened live here for three years. “As the North Shore a store at Bathurst and was not easily accessible. Murray saw less of in 1839 and described his friends…this was a real sacrifice for him, but himself as a merchant. it made it easier to manage on a stringent He later became a budget”. (Murray of Yarrolumla) pastoralist at Cumnock, having land in both settled and unsettled Proceed to Miller St and turn right, districts. Lord signed a petition to import coolies follow brick fence to main gates in 1842. He was a Member of the NSW North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 12

Legislative Council (June 1843-June 1848), was a licensee of the Curriers' Arms Inn at Member of the NSW Legislative Council (May Sydney. Later he was a contractor for supply of 1856-May 1861) and Member of the NSW blue metal to Sydney Municipal Council and Legislative Council (October 1864-January taking a telegraph line to Albury. He retired from 1893). business before entering the Legislative Assembly and lived at Ryde, and later at St Return back uphill in Miller St and Leonards. He was a member of first cricket cross over at McLaren St traffic lights eleven to play Victoria. He worked for the Municipality of St Leonards and for the North The Lodge, corner Miller and McLaren Sts Shore generally. Tunks was the first Mayor of St The home of Francis Lord (see above) from Leonards, NSW (1867-1883) and was re-elected 1878 to 1892 when the property was sold to a 15 times and was elected member of the NSW John Carter who leased it out immediately to Legislative Assembly for the seat of St Leonards banker W C B Tiley. Lord died at Rydal in 1897. (1864-1874). The house was demolished in the mid-1960s to make way for the then 2UE radio broadcasting Tunks is also considered to be the father of station. This two storey offices was subsequently public parks in North Sydney. Ald. Tunks' sold to developers in 1989, and with adjoining personal interest in St. Leonards Park was site Nos. 37-39 McLaren St was redeveloped legendary. He is said to have walked there with the present apartment building. nearly every day supervise the positioning of the paths and the planting of trees and shrubs, Proceed downhill in McLaren St and many which came from his own garden. A public cross over at end to Walker St subscription memorial fund was established after his death. As testament to his public works the No. 189 Walker St Tunks Memorial Fountain was erected in St. This is the site of Fereneeze the grand Leonards Park in 1885. Tunks Park and Tunks Victorian gothic home of William Tunks, (1816- Street commemorate his name. 1883), alderman and parliamentarian, was He died here at Fereneeze in 1883 and was born at the Nepean buried in Gore Hill Cemetery, Artarmon. The River, NSW son of John house was owned by the Tunks family until the Tunks and his wife early 1920s. It was eventually sold to property Esther, nee Arndell. He developers in 1960 and demolished for the worked first as a present block of flats. Architect George Matcham carpenter and joiner but Pitt was tenant here briefly around 1911-13. had retired from business before entering Proceed up the hill in Walker St and parliament. turn right into Ridge St

Tunks was a retired contractor of independent No. 73 Ridge St means. Apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner to This house was built on lot 28 of Lords Paddock James Bynes at Parramatta, and in 1838 Estate by North Sydney grocer John W Challand described himself as a carpenter. By 1851 he in 1899. Edward Mann Clark (1854-1933) lived North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 13

in this house from 1908-1913 and at various moved to Newington College in 1888 and let the North Sydney addresses before and after this house to various tenants, including John Mitchell time. He was a timber merchant. He was Purves. The house remained in the Kelynack educated at Oldfield's Commercial Academy in family until 1900 when it is sold to Edwin Batt, Hobart until the age of 12 and when his father who renamed it St. Malo. Gertrude Walker, a died he moved to Sydney. He became manager nurse, leased the property after Purves and of a brick company when he was elected to the started a private hospital here. Eventually the Legislative Assembly. Initially employed with N house was acquired as part of the St. Ives Dawson, watchmaker, he then worked for timber Church of England Hospital, in conjunction with merchants, Miller and Harrison, then Goodlet adjoining properties, Nos. 93 and 95A Ridge St. and Smith, and by 1882 was a member of Clark and Priestman, timber merchants. Clark was John Mitchell Purves also commissioned as a Justice of the Peace, (1847-1915) was a member of the Ku-ring-gai Chase Trust and founder of the real assisted in establishing the Taronga Zoological estate business, Batt, Park. Rodd & Purves. He served as Member of Clark stood as a Labor member in 1891; free the Legislative trade in 1894; Liberal Reform in 1901 and Assembly (1880-1887), Independent in 1907. He was a member of the and Member for the Single Tax League and Member of the NSW Clarence (1880-1887). Legislative Assembly (17 June 1891-14 He also served as September 1910), Member for St Leonards Mayor of North Sydney 1897-1898, was esquire (1891-June 1894), Member for Willoughby bedell of the and a founder (November 1894-July 1895), Member for St of the Sydney Lancers. He lived at St Malo from Leonards (July 1895-July 1898, July 1898-June 1894-1902, dying at Woollahra in 1915. 1901, July 1901-July 1904 and September 1907- September 1910). Cross over to St Leonards Park and visit the Tunks Fountain a short Apart from his state political life, he was also distance along the main pathway heavily involved in local government politics in from the North Sydney War Memorial North Sydney, serving as an Alderman for East St Leonards from 1884-1890 and was its Mayor. Continue along path toward cricket He served as an Alderman for North Sydney nets and turn left, walk to Miller St. from 1890-1928 and served two terms as Mayor Cross over traffic lights. Walk along of North Sydney, 1892-1893 and 1918-1919. Carlow St to end and turn right into West St. Cross over pedestrian Proceed to end of Ridge St crossing and walk along and turn left into Hayberry St St Malo, No. 97 Ridge St St. Malo was erected in 1883 by the Reverend St. Leonards Lodge is located on what Doctor Kelynack and it was then named became lots 11-14 in Section 2. It is presumed Lamorna. Dr Kelynack, a Methodist clergyman, that the house was demolished by 1887 when North Sydney History Walk : A Premier Place to Live Page 14

Alfred Walker built the present houses known as on the heights of St, Leonards, and laid out as Nos. 61-67 Hayberry St. ornamental grounds, garden, orchard, vineyard and grass paddock, together with the well-known William Lithgow retired from the office of Auditor- villa St. Leonards Cottage”. General in 1852 and moved across the Harbour to St. Leonards Lodge. He died in 1864 and is buried in St. Thomas’ Cemetery (now Rest Park). Nos. 61-67 Hayberry St occupies the site of the former St. Leonards Lodge after which the land subdivision is named and encompasses West, Emmett, David, Hayberry and Falcon Streets. The exact date of construction of house is not known, but was most certainly built by William Lithgow in the early 1850s as his private residence. Lithgow was born in Scotland in 1784 and was educated at Edinburgh University, Conrad Martens sketch of William Lithgow‟s St graduating as a licentiate of the Church of Leonards Lodge, 1844-1860. (Courtesy State Scotland. Arriving in the Colony in 1820, Library of NSW) Lithgow's first position was as Assistant Commissary-General. He was to hold a variety Sydney merchant Henry Herron Beauchamp of other administrative positions in the Colony (partner/brother-in-law of Frederick Lassetter, including Auditor-General for the Colony’s who founded the Sydney retail and wholesale accounts under Governor Brisbane and private empire Lassetter and Company) purchased St secretary to Governor Darling. Lithgow was Leonards Lodge at the sale in 1864 from William appointed as a member of the Legislative Lithgow’s estate, although he never lived here. Council under Governor Darling and served as the government nominee to the 1843 Parliament, retiring from Parliament in 1856 with the introduction of Responsible Government.

“On Saturday last, Mr William Lithgow, formerly Auditor-general of this Colony) died at his residence St Leonard‟s Lodge, North Shore, in his eightieth year of his age. The deceased, who was much respected, accumulated a considerable amount of property during his long and honorable career, and has left some considerable bequests to public charities and other colonial institutions”. His entire estate was auctioned including: “Lot 3 - St Leonards cottage and grounds-the residence of the late proprietor. Holtermann family at St Leonards Lodge, 1860s. All that highly improved parcel of land containing (Courtesy State Library of NSW) 18 acres3 roods 13 perches, beautifully situated

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He subsequently sold the house and grounds to Bernard Otto Holtermann in 1872. The Holtermann family lived here until they built the grand mansion (The Towers) which became S.C.E.G.S. Shore School.

Bernard Holtermann died on the 29 April 1885 and is buried in the St. Thomas’ Cemetery (now St Thomas’ Rest Park, 200 West St, Crows Nest) and the last portion of the estate comprising St Leonards Lodge and grounds was auctioned in December that year. Several streets in the vicinity of St Leonards Lodge are named after Bernard Holtermann and his family.

Our A Premier Place to Live walking tour ends here at Hayberry St. You can continue this walk along West St to St. Thomas’ Rest Park and thence to Tarella (No. 3 Amherst St), home of Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott.

These walking tour notes were compiled by the Historical Services team in History Week 2006 from resources held in the North Sydney Heritage Centre, Stanton Library. Ph: 99368400