Woodstock [Item 39]

Item details


Name of item:	Woodstock [Item 39]
Other name/s:	Broughton Migrant Hostel
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Community Facilities
Category:	Mansion
Primary address:	22 Church Street, Burwood, NSW 2134
Parish:	Concord
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Burwood

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
22 Church Street	Burwood	Burwood	Concord	Cumberland	Primary Address
18-30 Church Street	Burwood	Burwood	Concord	Cumberland	Duplicate Address

Statement of significance:


	Woodstock is an interesting example of an early Victorian villa with late Victorian and Federation period alterations. Its adaptive re-use for institutional and community uses in the latter half of the twentieth century adds to its interest. The original external form of Woodstock is a representative example of a gentleman’s villa associated with the wealthy middle class into the Burwood Area (c. 1850-70). The house and grounds are aesthetically significant, particularly views of the place from Church Street and from the west. It is associated with numerous individuals of historic note, including E. T. Penfold, Sir Arthur Renwick, Joseph Mullins and Edward Scholes. Through its later adaption for use as an Australian Women’s Army Service depot and the Broughton Migrant Hostel, the place is associated with (and may be held in some esteem by) groups and individuals who lived or worked during and after World War Two.
	Date significance updated: 13 May 14
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Builder/Maker:	E. T. Penfold
Construction years:	1870-1870
Physical description:	“Woodstock” is a two storey Victorian villa with late Victorian and Federation period alterations with single storey attached components to the rear southern side. The roof is terracotta tiled hipped roof and decorative rendered chimneys. The façades are constructed of rendered brickwork with stone quoining and feature open gable ends and a projecting bay, a verandah with timber posts and partly filled in with windows supporting a separate lower metal roof. The projecting bay is decorated with classical moulding detailing. Windows are double hung timber framed with arched top panes with simple sills. Some of the doors are original timber and glass French doors with highlights over. The area to the north of 'Woodstock' is characterised by a paved quadrangle encircled by grassed areas, mounding and perimeter landscaping. The part of the site which is to the north-west and west of 'Woodstock' has a children’s play area, grassed areas and perimeter landscaping. There is a driveway and large paved area at the front with a fountain, large grass areas and a child care centre at the rear of the property. A low brick with metal gate at the corner runs along the front street boundaries Modifications From its construction in 1866 Woodstock has gone through a series of modifications dating from the 1880’s, 1913, 1942, 1970’s and 2013.

History

Historical notes:

The first land grants in the Burwood district included those to Thomas Rowley in 1799 and William Faithful in 1808. In 1812, Rowley’s ‘Burwood Farm’ was bought by Alexander Riley, who built the first house in the district, ‘Burwood Villa’ in 1814.

Early activity in the area included farming activities, collection of timber and the development of service industries along Parramatta and Liverpool Roads. A railway was constructed in 1855 to link Sydney and Parramatta, with Burwood being one of the six stops. It became a passenger service for the wealthy city businessmen who lived in villa estates. A village subdivision was laid out around the railway line in 1854 and the area remained relatively open.

“Woodstock” was constructed in c.1866-1873 for E. T. Penfold, one of Australia’s largest tobacconist manufacturers and Magistrate for the colony in c.1868. The house was originally a simple rectangular early Victorian house with a cast iron filigree front (north) verandah and front door in the centre of the north elevation.

Additions were made in the early c.1880’s. Bays were added to the east and west elevations, and the verandah extended to meet the bays on each side. The two story western wing at the south-east corner of the house (still extant) was built about this time. Further additions occurred in c.1885 -1894 including a verandah to the western and a new southern wing was attached at right angles to the western wing. A circular carriage drive leading to the front entrance was also added.

In c.1898 E.T. Penfold sold Woodstock to noted Burwood barrister, Edward Scholes, who was later an alderman and mayor of Burwood Council. In c. 1907 Scholes sold the property to Sir Arthur Renwick, physician, philanthropist and politician. Upon Renwick’s death in c.1908, the property passed on to his wife, Elizabeth Renwick.

In c.1912 Lady Renwick sold the property to three unmarried sisters, Alice, Edith and Amy Keep. Soon after the purchase Woodstock the house was renamed “Broughton” recalling John Keep’s earlier residence in Petersham.

In c.1913, the Keep sisters commissioned extensive renovations which considerably changed the interior and exterior configuration of the house, resulting in a more Victorian Italianate external appearance. The alterations included the extension of the northern verandah to run along the front of the west bay, so the entrance was moved to its current location. There was also an extension to the southern wing. Internal alterations included a decorative entrance, staircase and hall, leadlight skylight, pressed metal ceilings and an Art Nouveau stained glass window.

After the death of her two sisters, Edith planned to subdivide the estate. The subdivision proposal would have required demolition of the house. Burwood Council considered purchasing the property for park purposes. After a dispute over the cost of the property Burwood Council acquired Broughton/Woodstock on 7th January c.1942 by resumption rather than purchase for the purpose of improvement to the area.

After the property was acquired by the council for park purposes it was immediately resumed by the Commonwealth Government in April c.1942 for Military purposes. The property became a depot for the Australian women’s Army Service and a substantial building programme began. In c.1942 the existing fibro and tile wing to the rear of Woodstock was built as part of the army occupation period.

At the end of the war Broughton/Woodstock was evacuated and was briefly used by the Methodist Ladies College and as accommodation for staff from the concord Repatriation Hospital. In c.1948 the Commonwealth Government announced their new plans for the site as a migrant hostel. Broughton Migrant Hostel (Woodstock) was to house 300 immigrants and a number of new buildings were constructed on the site. None of the buildings remain from this phase of construction, however the house was in use as part of the migrant Hostel and some fabric remains from his period.

In June c.1976, Burwood Council signed a 25 year lease from the Federal government for the use of the Broughton site (Woodstock) for local community needs and park services. The migrant hostel buildings were quickly demolished. Woodstock community Centre officially opened on 17th November c.1979. Some changes were made to the building for its new use. Council returned Woodstock back to its original name and many community functions are now undertaken on the site.

In c.2005 there was a proposal to remove the southern wing (1894), rear fibro addition 91942) and ramp and stair (1977) and replace with an entry foyer and kiosk addition. This was carried out in c.2013.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Gentlemens Villas-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Woodstock is of historic importance as a gentleman’s country villa associated with the initial phase of expansion of the wealthy middle class into the Burwood area (c. 1850-70).
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	It is associated with E. T. Penfold, one of Australia’s largest tobacconist manufacturers and a prominent Sydney citizen. It is indicative of the adaptive re-use of nineteenth century mansions in the Burwood Area for institutional and community uses throughout the twentieth century and is of particular historical significance for its association with post World \|War Two European immigration.. The long term use of its grounds for community uses is of historical and social importance.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Woodstock is an attractive building as seen from Church Street and from the surrounding grounds. Its original form and later additions can be seen in the round, particularly from the north and west, and the house’s original relationship to Church Street remains thanks to the retention of the site boundaries as they were in c. 1890’s. The interior has been greatly modified and mainly reflects the alterations made in c. 1890s- 1910s. However it retains some original features and spaces, hence it is a good example of a c. 1860’s house modified in the early 20th century.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The place is associated with (and may be held in some esteem by) groups and individuals who lived or worked during and after World War Two.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The building is a good representative example of the conversion of a 19th century house to a 20th century institutional uses.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

[a] Architectural detailing and decorative elements of the building should be conserved. [b]The form, scale and character of the building, together with its curtilage and streetscape presentation should be maintained. [c] No new openings i.e. windows and doors should be made to the front façade of the building. [d] Any future additions should be generally confined to the rear of the building and should be subordinate to the principal building form. [e] Architectural details and decorative elements which have been damaged or lost should be repaired and/or reinstated (based on sound evidence/research).

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Woodstock	0019	21 Jul 89	84	4570
Local Environmental Plan	Burwood Local Environmental Plan 2012	I39	09 Nov 12
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Burwood Heritage study	1986	3.16	Fox & Associates Architects/Planners Sydney		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Burwood Municipal Council	1975	Town Planners Report
Written	Eric Dunlop	1974	'Harvest of the Years'- The Story of Burwood
Written	National Trust of Australia register		Heritage listing form
Written	The Register of the National Estate		Heritage listing-Computer printout

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1250253

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