Sydney Heritage Buildings
The Historic Houses Trust is one of the largest state museums in Australia, managing sites of importance relating to the history and development of New South Wales. A large number of these buildings are in the Sydney area, and are open to visitors wishing to learn about the culture and people who had a place in the city's history.
The elegant Elizabeth Bay House was long regarded as the 'finest house in the colony', and stands today as a testament to the design of the architect, John Verge. Originally complemented by an extensive 54 acre garden, the house is faithfully furnished to the period of the First World War and is a magnificent example of colonial architecture.
The Elizabeth Farm Homestead, built to overlook a 1,000 acre agricultural estate, boasts wide shady verandahs and shuttered doors, typical of the Indian Bungalows that pre-empted the traditional Australian Homestead style. Elizabeth Farm is unique in that all documents, furniture and items may be touched, used and experienced, in order to allow visitors a true insight into life on the farm.
The majestic Government House, overlooking Sydney Harbour, contains an exquisite collection of 19th and 20th century furnishings, reflecting the individual tastes of successive Governors. The impressive Gothic Revival style building features a beautifully appointed drawing room, regal dining room and sophisticated ballroom and is surrounded by a beautiful historical garden.
A popular landmark, the Hyde Park Barracks, has had a colourful history. Built by convict labour, it has provided lodgings for convicts, acted as an Immigration depot for single female immigrants, provided sanctuary as an asylum, and was eventually used as Law Court Offices. The building now houses exhibitions displaying excavated artefacts and other items pertaining to the daily life of the original inhabitants, the convicts.
The imposing structure of the Justice & Police Museum reinforces the building's theme of crime and punishment with massive blocks of sandstone, spiked gates and dim winding steps. See an array of chilling weapons, a gallery of eerie mug shots and relics from the bushranger days, through to notorious cases such as the Pyjama Girl and the Graeme Thorne kidnapping.
Originally constructed as the Southern Wing of the Sydney Hospital, in exchange for an exclusive rum import license, The Mint was the first to be established outside England, following the discovery of gold in 1854. Admire the quality of the locally quarried sandstone and prefabricated iron products especially imported from England.
The Rose Seidler House is perhaps the finest example of modernist housing in Australia. Fully restored to its original 1950s glory, the glass walls and expansive decking allow unrestricted views of the surrounding bushland of Ku-ring-gai National Park. The house incorporates a fine selection of labour-saving devices that were new to Australia at the time, and is decorated in the original furnishings, boasting a minimalist colour scheme and a focus on open planning.
One of Australia's most culturally important properties, Rouse Hill Estate has been in use for six generations of the one family. Featuring a fascinating range of furnishings, artefacts, buildings and gardens, the estate harbours a unique history spanning more than 185 years.
The Susannah Place Museum encompasses a terrace of four houses, and incorporates a recreated 1915 corner store, selling authentic goods and wares of this era. The houses have been home to more than a hundred different families, and the houses speak of these people and their lives, with paint finishes and floor coverings illustrating the changing face of inner city life.
One of the last remaining 19th century harbourside houses, Vaucluse House is a gothic-style mansion featuring the main house, kitchen wing, stables and outbuildings, and is still surrounded by 10 hectares of formal gardens. Explore the lavish entertaining rooms and admire original Wentworth pieces and a range of furnishings and collections dating from the early 19th century.
| Website: | Historical Houses Trust |
