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SHR Criteria a)
[Historical significance] | It is a personal and individual interpretation of the architectural styles of the early 1900's by George Hoskins and builder/designer William Richards. Suggested early precedents include 1869 Emery Childs' Riverside (1600 acres) and residential suburbs in Chicago Illinois by Frederick Law Olmstead & Calvent Vaux, with informally curved roads, tree lined streets and links to open spaces. Concepts of physical and social qualities. Olmstead referred to 'Happy tranquility'.
The Hoskins Estate was much more modest than Riverside but similarities are clear. Other possible influences could have been the first Garden Suburbs in England at Bedford Park 1876 and in Bournemouth. Elbenezeer Howard published a book "Garden Cities for tomorrow" in 1897 promoting integration of recreational and residential areas. Hoskins inclusion of a recreational area may be an idea taken from the Haberfield Estate development of R.Stanton with its provision of recreational facilities including lawns and a community meeting pavilion.
There was no regulation regarding sub-divisions in New South Wales until 1906. Although William Richards had migrated from England the designs in the Appian Way are said to be based mainly on local Australian Architecture. |
SHR Criteria b)
[Associative significance] | It is associated with George Hoskins who was instrumental in developing the steel industry in New South Wales. |
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic significance] | The area is a rare Federation Queen Anne (sometimes referred to as Edwardian Bungalow) precinct of architectural and constructional excellence. It represents an almost intact, complete Federation streetscape (though not strictly in Federation style) and is a unique part of the development of Sydney with exceptionally generous landscaped settings of high quality. The ideas that influenced Richards' design of Hoskins Estate Houses were those of the Federation Queen Anne Style popular from the early 1890's to the start of World War One.
The essential character of the houses of the estate are related to intersecting gabled roofs, verandahs integrated with the house under the same roofline and turned timber verandah posts. Generally the houses are of complex, asymmetrical form, being dominated by extensive verandahs and prominent, irregular rooflines. The verandahs often have a corner emphasis and as the houses are placed on wide allotments, they tend to feature carefully designed and executed side elevations as well as street facades.
The trees and shrubs used in the gardens have changed over the years, but original planting were probably a combination of Australian natives and exotic species. The recreation area was essentially mown and rolled grass courts, but some shrubs were planted around the pavilion. The pavilion itself is of timber and iron roof construction and includes dressing rooms and an open verandah with a bench for participants and spectators to rest or shelter. |
SHR Criteria d)
[Social significance] | It was the product of the vision and desire of George Hoskins to create an ideal suburban environment. The Conservation Area is rare because of its unuque form, which is centered on a social ideal celebrated in the form of the central recreational area and facility. The estate and its houses provide an insight into both the period of its development and the people who lived in it.
The streetscape was designed 'to suggest and imply leisure contemplativenes and happy tranquility', a character of informal village greens, commons and playgrounds. In the 19th century, leased accommodation was usually at the low end of the market with small houses or terraces. Leasing houses on the Appian Way was unusual, as the houses were large in size and number. Hoskins also, unusually, maintained a continuous involvement in the estate. A recreation reserve was created in the middle of the Appian Way, with subdivison. It was originally a croquet green, lawn bowling green and lawn tennis court, to provide opportunuties for recreation of all ages. In 1909 the area became 3 tennis courts. A registered company was formed in 1913- the Appian Way Recreation Club Limited- with the shares subscribed for by residents of the estate with George Hoskins, a resident, the major shareholder and controller. The Recreation Club leased the area to the Appian Way Tennis Club. In 1929, the Hoskins' Estate Company decided to sell the recreation area. However, a local resident formed a new company and residents suscribed to shares, although today not all shareholders are residents. |
SHR Criteria e)
[Research potential] | The area comprises a very unusual and discrete form of garden suburb incorporating the ideas of the builder and owner, in particular the idea of leasing the houses to maintain control over the area. It is rare because no two allotments are same shape or size, with complex free standing designs quite different from the average urban street. |
SHR Criteria f)
[Rarity] | Appian Way is a rare example of its type that remains as possibly the finest Federation housing precinct in Sydney. |
SHR Criteria g)
[Representativeness] | It is a represantative of an innovative approach to residential development that contains outstanding examples of Edwardian and Federation architecture in a garden setting. |
| 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. |