HERITHERITHERITAGEAGEAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE No. 6 Heritage celebrated at Lilianfels “Katoomba will in the future be historic from having as a resident one eminent Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Darley and his family at Lilianfels. Sir Frederick has spared no pains in laying the foundation of a fine garden and is said to have trenched a large portion of his property in order to grow fruit successfully.” Illustrated Sydney News 1890 From the period in which this article Lucy Forest Brown, from colony. Sir Frederick was knighted excerpt was published in the Melbourne, a daughter of Captain in 1887 and served five times as the Sydney News 1890 to the current Sylvester Brown (master mariner) Lieutenant Governor of NSW. The day, Lilianfels has enjoyed a and his wife Eliza Angell nee longest and most important being prestigious and historically Alexander. from January 24, 1900 to May 27, important past that today, thankfully, 1902, spanning the creation of the is not lost but protected and The novelist, T A Brown(e) who was Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. moreover, truly celebrated. The to become a well known author in original owner, Sir Frederick Darley, Australia writing the bush ranging In August 1888, Sir Frederick Darley it is believed would be more than classic “Robbery Under Arms” as purchased more than 11 acres of gratified to learn. Rolf Boldrewood, was the eldest land adjacent to Echo Point in brother of Lucy. It was while Katoomba and enlisted Varney Sir Frederick Matthew Darley was travelling with her brother to Parkes, the architect son of close born on September 18, 1830 in England that she originally met Sir friend, Sir Henry Parkes to design Dublin, Ireland. The first child of Frederick. Lilianfels as a summer home. Henry Darley of Wingfield, Bray County Wicklow and his wife Maria Darley and his wife came to Pictured above Sir Frederick and Lady Louise nee West. Australia in 1862, on the advice of Darley, family and friends with NSW Sir Alfred Stephen (the Chief Justice State Governor Duff and Lady Duff on At Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on of NSW) who convinced him that he the verandah of Lilianfels in 1893. December 13, 1860, Darley married would further his career in the Continued on page 2 HERITAGE 1 November - December 2009 Lilianfels of yesteryear restored The Darleys had seven children, six daughters and two sons and it was Lilian, who died at age 22 suffering tuberculosis, for whom the Katoomba property was named: the ending ‘fels’ is German meaning, ‘rocky ground’. During the years in which Sir Frederick and Lady Darley resided near Echo Point, nearly every noted visitor to Australia accepted their hospitality and enjoyed the magnificent outlook. Royalty, vice-royalty and princes of statesmanship, jurisprudence, science and art came in turn to view Dine indoors or on Darley’s balcony. Darley’s Restaurant, boasts richly the mountains from the magnificent appointed fittings, stained glass windows, open fireplaces and magnificent vantage point of Lilianfels. views Before his death, Sir Frederick sold prominent in the activities of the Lilianfels quickly became a popular Lilianfels in October 1908 to George Presbyterian Church and the Red Blue Mountains retreat with many Begg Vickery on a walk out, walk in Cross in Katoomba. They opened guests returning year after year for basis. Vickery was a partner in E. the grounds to the public for fetes their annual holiday. Vickery & Sons, merchants and and charitable fundraising. colliery proprietors who owned Baker sold Lilianfels in 1952 to warehouses in Sydney, the Coal Between 1915 and 1920, the Wladislaw Ujma, a Polish water Cliff and Mount Keira coal mines Kemps subdivided and sold about 2 construction engineer who near Wollongong. acres of the land parcel, and in continued to lease Lilianfels as a November 1920 sold the remaining guest house. Like the Darleys, the Vickerys property to the Hon James Joynton maintained Lilianfels as a summer Smith Trust. After his death in 1964, the property residence. Joyce Vickery, one of was passed to his wife, Zofia who, George’s daughters, became a well Again, the land was subdivided into unfortunately, had little funds for known and distinguished botanist separate lots, sold by auction on upkeep and both the house and attached to the Herbarium of the January 26, 1921. Lilianfels was grounds fell into a state of disrepair. Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. retained on approximately 2 acres of land. ‘.....Gwen Silvey, Lilianfels was sold by George Vickery in March 1912 to Mr Albert A A Sydney manufacturer, Samuel the then research Kemp of Sydney. This was to be the George Baker, bought Lilianfels in first time that Lilianfels was used as 1923 and between this time to officer of Blue a permanent residence, Mr Kemp around 1952, he leased the and his wife Eliza Jane were property to various people as a Mountains istorical guest house. Society saw the plight of Zofia.....’ Thankfully, Mrs Gwen Silvey, OAM the then research officer of the Blue Mountains Historical Society, saw the plight of Zofia and rallied for the Heritage Section of the Department of Environment and Planning to place a conservation order on the house and grounds under the Heritage Act (Gazetted July 27, 1984), along with a classification by the National Trust. A grant was made for the restoration of the roof and other Darley’s house balcony circa 1893 stabilising repairs. Continue page 3 HERITAGE 2 November - December 2009 Lilianfels today -- a heritage indulgence Lilianfels was purchased in December 1987 by an Australian company, Derani Pty Ltd, which immediately addressed the security of the house and the restoration of the grounds by hiring caretaker and qualified horticulturist, Colin Slade. Under his care and expertise, the gardens were restored and with new owners Nara, purchasing Lilianfels in 1992, the plans for a country-style guest house on the adjoining property, was quickly undertaken. The new complex’s architect, Ron Edgar took many features of the old Lilianfels House and incorporated it into the new Country House with and outdoor swimming pools, tennis both the ceiling structure of many court and a spa and health club MINISTERS’ COUNCIL rooms and the roof line echoing the featuring a herbal bath, which is the CUTS shape and form of the original original deep sided bath taken from summer home. Lilianfels House during the COLLECTION restoration with the words FUNDING Orient-Express purchased Lilianfels ‘Macfarlane Patent, Glasgow’ The Cultural Ministers Council has in 2000 and the company, along engraved on the side. decided funding of the Collections with the hotel manager, Grant Council of Australia will cease in Raubenheimer, are committed to From December 1, Lilianfels will June 2010. the protection and celebration of host a weekly ‘historical high tea’ Lilianfels’ heritage while promoting which will offer guests the chance to Established by the Cultural the property as a premier luxury join a guided tour to learn about the Ministers Council in 2004, the property within the World Heritage property’s history following the old Collections Council has worked to listed Blue Mountains area. historic Garden Amble route. The bring the collections sector - tour ends with an indulgent high tea archives, galleries, libraries and Today, the Country House consists in the lounge of the Country House. museums - together. of: 81 guest rooms and 4 suites with a 19th century-styled décor, reading For more information about Last month it released plans to room, billiards room, lobby lounge Lilianfels or the new Historical High develop and promote a new model overlooking the Jamison Valley, Teas, please visit for sustainable scientific and Darley’s restaurant located within www.lilianfels.com.au cultural collections in Australia. the original summer home, indoor The Collections Council’s chair, HERITAGE is grateful to Grant Noel Turnbull, said that abolishing Raubenheimer, Hotel Manager at the CCA would not help solve Lilianfels who with Ms Kim Salt, significant fundamental problems Orient Express’ Marketing facing the collections sector. Communications Manager (Australia) has provided us with The Collections Council’s material and images for this operations over four and half years article. Mr Raubenheimer has with its four person staff have been been in the hospitality industry for supported by the Cultural Ministers’ 25 years and is a great believer in Council and the Australian the importance of the preservation Government with grants of past eras, as well as protecting totalling$2.1 million. our own current story for our children’s children to admire and Mr Turnbull said: “Australia’s Arts enjoy as much as we do and have Ministers say they won’t spend done. $500,000 on keeping the Collections Council going, yet our At Lilianfels, Grant has a equivalent organisation in Norway, a philosophy of delivering guests Grant Raubenheimer country smaller in area and with a truly unique experience and technology and attentive staff make population than Australia, has 70 the hotel’s heritage coupled with this possible. Lilianfels is a founding employees and an annual budget of the convenience of modern member of BMACHO. 23.5 million Euros.” HERITAGE 3 November - December 2009 corporate groups this conservation From the president’s pen...... would have been of a lesser quality. HERITAGE Some fund raising and donations is tax deductable but this is not sufficient to encourage large scale PHILANTHROPY support from developers and the entrepreneurs. The heritage sector is constantly of 38 priceless properties across In other parts of the world, notably on the alert for threats to NSW including three in the Blue Britain and USA there is a Australia’s built heritage and Mountains has no ongoing different approach to heritage hopefully, the “midnight bulldozing government funding relying mainly funding.