| Historical notes: | TRADITIONAL LAND OWNERS PRIOR TO EUROPEAN OCCUPATION
It needs to be noted that even though the Aboriginal history of the area is recounted here at the beginning of this historical summary, Aborigines have a shared history of the place––even after dispossession––with non-Aboriginal people to the present time.
Prior to invasion, the Aboriginal people who occupied the coastal region between Port Jackson and Botany Bay were the Eora people.
Of more importance to Aborigines were smaller grouping units that anthropologists now refer to as ‘clans’ or ‘bands’. A clan was a group of people who descended from a common ancestor and owned a definite area of land and its sacred sites.
Names such as ‘Cadigal’ originally referred to languages spoken in a particular area, rather than tribal names. The Cadigal territory stretched along the south side of Port Jackson (from South Head to about Petersham).
1853–1863: EARLY SURVEYS AND LEASING ARRANGEMENTS
1853 A trigonometric survey of Port Jackson by T. L. Mitchell clearly shows the landform of the area but no structures on this site. Rose Bay Lodge and Point Piper (Henrietta Villa) are both shown.(ML,M4 811.15 /1853 / 1, 11 July 1855).
Following the death of Daniel Cooper (the elder) in 1853, the trustees of his estate leased for 99 years Lots 10 and 13 of Point Piper Estate (the present site of Redleaf is Lot 13) to John Dillon, solicitor. A covenant on the lease states that within the first five years the lessee will lay out and expend £2,000 in erecting a first-class building. Eight days later, Dillon reassigned his lease to Alfred Cheeke, district court judge.
1860 By September 1860, Cheeke had not fulfilled the requirements of the lease and was given a further three years to erect a building. In 1861, he reassigned his lease back to Dillon who on 26 August 1862 leased Lot 13 to William Benjamin Walker. A note added to the lease on 7 November 1863 states that Walker has expended £2,000 erecting a first-class building.
1862 In October 1862, the architect George Allen Mansfield placed a tender notice in the Sydney Morning Herald for the construction of a ‘villa residence at Double Bay’.
1863–1872: CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE AND OWNERSHIP BY WILLIAM WALKER
According to a letter from William Walker ‘in the possession of Major Darley’, Walker was living at ‘Seaford’ in July 1868 [sic] awaiting the completion of his house ‘Redleaf’. This would appear to be an error and should read 1863 as elsewhere she refers to the Walkers moving to their new house in November 1863. (This would accord with the endorsement on the lease). It is not clear from Griffiths’ reference whether she has inserted the name ‘Redleaf’ (to identify the house) or whether William Walker used the name in his letter to refer to his new house. In other sources, the name ‘Redleaf’ first appears in 1871 (e.g. Sands Directory for 1871). Directories. Information from Sands Directories is very unreliable as to William Walker’s place of residence in the 1860s, as follows:
• 1863 Wm Walker Seaforth House, Rush. Bay
• 1864 Wm Walker Seaford Double Bay
• 1865 Wm Walker Seaford Double Bay
• 1866 Hon Wm Walker JP Hon MLC Double Bay Woollahra
• 1867 Hon Wm Walker Seaford Rose Bay
This type of discrepancy is not uncommon in the street directories. There are no further entries for William Walker in Sands Directories after this date.
According to Griffiths, Seaford House was built in 1856 by the Hon. S. P. Gordon, MLC, and the name later changed to ‘Glenyarrah’. After 1913, it was changed again to ‘Gladswood’. The house was immediately to the west of the land on which Redleaf was constructed, and so would have been very convenient to see progress on the new house.
William Benjamin Walker was the second son of William Walker (1787–1854), merchant and his wife, Elizabeth Kirby. William Walker senior was associated with merchants such as Edward Riley (business partner of Riley’s and executor of the Riley estate), Robert Campbell, etc. and a founder of William Walker & Co. with his brother James and two nephews, Thomas Walker and Archibald Walker.
William Walker was appointed a member of the Legislative Council in June 1863 and resigned on 25 April 1867. His wife, Corientia, was a member of the family of Thomas Alexander Browne (‘Rolf Boldrewood’, author of Robbery Under Arms). According to a Browne family chronicle, William Walker and his wife lived in Sydney for several years ‘where William Walker built the handsome mansion known as Redleaf in a fashionable suburb’ but later on moved to London. The firm of William Walker & Co. maintained a yacht and Walker was commodore of the Sydney Yacht Club.
1860s: How Seven Shillings Beach got its name
Account as told to Miss Dora Busby by her grandmother:
"Aboriginal owner of the fishing rights was Gurrah (sometimes called Murri) whose lubra Emma was the sister of Sophie who lived near the spring at Vaucluse. When Mr Walker built ‘Redleaf’, Gurrah lived just outside the fence in a ti-tree lean-to. The Walkers suffered a great deal of trouble from him and members of his tribe who lived in the camp where ‘Rona’ now stands (eggs and fowls stolen). Mrs Walker tried to buy Gurrah’s rights off the beach at the front of the house to get rid of him by offering blankets, clothes and flour. Gurrah would only sell for ‘seven shillun’. Mrs Walker was afraid he would spend it on rum, and so, tried to persuade him to take blankets and flour. The bargaining went on for some weeks.
Finally Mrs Walker was obliged to give Gurrah the seven shillings which he placed carefully in an old cracked rum bottle, along with a blue bead necklace and a pink shell which one of the Piper family gave him. For years afterwards, they would come to show Mrs Walker their treasures. Gurrah and Emma joined her sister at ‘Sophie’s camp’ near Vaucluse and when Emma died, he buried her in Double Bay near the corner of Bay Street and Cross Street."
Nesta Griffiths recorded that the house was occupied towards the end of the 1860s by Mr and Mrs H. C. Dangar while they were making alterations to Grantham at Potts Point. Sands Directories record Henry Cary Dangar’s address at this period as The Retreat Rose Bay (1868 and 1869), as Double Bay Woollahra (1870) and Redleaf New South Head Road, Woollahra (1871). The 1871 Sands Directory entry is the first known use of the name ‘Redleaf’.
1872 In October 1872, W. B. Walker, then in England, assigned the leasehold of Redleaf to the Hon. Wm Busby for £7,000. In May 1873, the property was mortgaged to W. B. Walker by Busby for £4,000. The mortgage was paid off in October 1878.
1872–1891: THE HOUSE DURING ITS OWNERSHIP BY THE BUSBY FAMILY
Leasehold owned by Wm Busby and his beneficiaries (Busby died in 1887). The occupants of the house during its ownership by the Busby family were:
• 1872-1873 John Brewster
• 1874-1883 William Busby
• 1884-1885 William Kilgour (Busby overseas)
• 1885-1887 William Busby (death of William Busby, 23 June 1887)
• 1888-1889 Mrs Busby
• 1889-1891 Frederic Lassetter
The house and grounds
In her two books Point Piper Past & Present (1947) and Some houses and people of New South Wales (1949), Nesta Griffiths provided some details of Redleaf and its grounds during the ownership of William Busby as follows:
Hon William Busby bought Redleaf partly because he and his family had outgrown Edgecliffe House, and also because his neighbours used to drown unwanted cats and dogs in his well. According to Griffiths, the bas-relief panels in the hall were brought out from Italy by the Hon. Wm Busby. Further, she noted that there were two natural wells that supplied water for the garden. The watercolour of the property in Some houses and people of New South Wales (Figure 2.117) is one of the two known views of the house by Thomas Woore, Mrs Busby’s father.
The text states that this illustration shows the lawn where a fountain once stood in the centre but that this was later removed as there was no water. It was at this location that the house St Brigid’s was later built. Griffiths noted that under the tall tree in the foreground was the aborigine camp, which later became the site of Mr Hubert Fairfax's garden.
1870s illustrations of the house
An engraving published in the Illustrated Sydney News on 23 December 1871 ML shows a view from Darling Point to the forested Point Piper with the mansions ‘Redleaf’ and ‘Glenyarrah’ (now known as ‘Gladswood’) dominating the ridge between the two parts of Double Bay.
Apart from dense, mature vegetation (likely remnant eucalypt forest) to the south-west and some large trees (including a eucalypt and a Norfolk Island pine) to the north-east of Redleaf, the immediate area around the building is clear. A jetty and possible boathouse structure appear at the water’s edge of the property.
c.1875 Panorama from the harbour (Figure 2.116)
Photographed by Charles Bayliss about 1875 and featuring a Double Bay yacht regatta, the view is remarkable by including a broad sweep across the elevated land enclosing the bay. Prominent on their cleared benches are various mansions: Gladswood, Redleaf, Elaine (partly obscured), Fairwater, St Mervyn’s, Buckhurst (under construction?), with Cranbrook and its gate lodge and stables, and Rona in conspicuous isolation at top of the ridge.
Consistent with the Woore watercolours (discussed below), the Bayliss view shows a particularly extensive use of dark-foliaged coniferous trees throughout the allotments for almost all of these houses. With the exception of Gladswood and Rona, it appears that the Italianate estate design approach espoused by, for example, John Claudius Loudon and Sir Charles Barry had taken hold in Double Bay.
Redleaf is shown with its front verandah completely submerged in a rampant climber; the upper terrace balustrading is punctuated by Florentine tazzas; there is a steep, grassed bank to the front with very few plants; visible is a little of the lower dry stone wall; some large eucalypts and otherwise ‘overgrown’ near the beach; a jetty and boathouses; various small to medium-sized plants to the immediate west, south-west and east of the house including numerous conifers; a possible garden structure near the upper east terrace; a well- developed pine (young kauri pine?) on the lower slope with Elaine beyond; and, interestingly, a spectacular clump of giant bamboo (probably Bambusa balcooa) at the sea wall in front of Gladswood.
Watercolours by Thomas Woore
Two sepia and blue watercolours (1877) by Thomas Woore, each depicting the same view although with some differences in the details, clearly indicate that the stone walled terraces formed an important part of the immediate curtilage for the mansion. They differentiated the more formal areas adjacent the house from the less formal lower parts of the site culminating with the beach. Both paintings show a well-defined path running just below the bowed dry stone walls, along with two broader paths traversing the northern slopes.
By the 1870s, a considerable number of plantings are shown for both the Redleaf site and on the adjoining grounds of Elaine and, possibly, Fairwater. Some of these plants accord with the positions of existing large mature trees. For example, the very large Moreton Bay fig to the north-east of the building corresponds with a dense, dark-foliaged plant just above one of the retaining walls in the paintings and which could, by this stage, reasonably represent about 10 years’ growth for a fig tree.
Likewise, piers and lines of coping for sets of steps (also indicated on the 1895 Water Board survey) are shown cutting through the terraces with a visual termination at a coniferous plant further to the east. Graphic reconstruction of the position of these steps and their alignment to the southern window of the dining room and corresponding window of the room above suggests that the existing large Bunya pine within the grounds of Elaine may be the same plant forming the focus of the axis along the steps. Both paintings show the western end of this same axis framed by two young trees or large shrubs.
The watercolours reveal a strong taste for conifer species with remnant mature eucalypts. The eucalypts retained for compositional purposes are consistent with the general Italianate design for the mansion and grounds. The gently sloping grassed areas (presumably lawn) of the upper terraces appear relatively clear of shrubberies. One painting shows the front verandah enclosed by a rampant climber while the other painting shows the verandah columns clearly.
Other distinctive features of the paintings are the delightful Chinoiserie garden pavilion in the vicinity of the boundary with Elaine –– though probably in the grounds of Elaine; a long jetty projecting into the harbour; a boathouse and bathing house at the beach to the western side of the property; and extensive views to the west revealing notable landmark structures along Darling Point such as the spire of St Mark’s, Mortimer Lewis’s bow-fronted villa Mount Adelaide for Henry Mort, Eastbourne below it and Etham to the extreme right.
One of the watercolours is reproduced in Griffiths (1949) where the text mentions that the painting shows the lawn––later part of the St Brigid’s land––within which a fountain once stood. The fountain may have been located along the eastern axis referred to above
.
1870s Photographs
Other 1870s photographs of Double Bay reproduced in Russell (1980) and Buckland (1988) also show Redleaf. They include an 1875 view from Edgecliff across the Double Bay settlement, supposedly by Bernard Otto Holtermann; an 1875 view from the beach at Double Bay looking east to Gladswood and Redleaf; an early 1870s view from Edgecliff; a hazy view from over the Greenoakes garden across Double Bay establishing that a direct visual connection once existed between the two estates; and an interesting c.1870 view from Darling Point across the bay to a sequence of mansions: Gladswood, Redleaf, Elaine and Cranbrook.
In all of these photos, the Italianate Redleaf and Gothic Gladswood are clearly shown to dominate the distinctive ridge dividing the two parts of Double Bay.
Redleaf in the 1880s
1884 The first known detailed survey of property is that drawn in May 1884 (Sydney Water Field Book 694, pp. 79-81). Some minor changes dated September 1893 and December 1894 have been added to this Field Book. Other surveys were carried out in March 1888 (Field Book 1364) and August–October 1893 (Field Book 2411) to update the 1884 survey, but the Redleaf property was not included amongst these additions and alterations. It would seem that the only changes to the property in the period 1884–1895 were minor and so were added to the 1884 Field Book. The Detail Survey Woollahra Sheet 46, dated 1895, is based on the 1884 survey.
The 1884 Field Book shows the stone wall around the main terrace with two flights of steps, at the north-east and north-west corners, together with other sets of steps leading down to the water. To the north of the stables is a stone wall with a fence on top screening the area around the outbuildings from the garden immediately to the east of the main house. Running from the east end of the stables yard wall, across the south end of the tennis lawn and to the boundary of the adjacent property [Elaine] is ‘high palisading’.
The lower terrace to the east of the house is identified as a tennis lawn, bounded on the west by a retaining wall with two flights of steps down to the lawn. On the north and east sides of the tennis lawn is a retaining wall with ‘wire and trellis’ on top.
The Higinbotham & Robinson map of the Municipality of Woollahra, dated 1889, probably derives from the 1884 survey.
It is likely that this wall alignment denoted an important division in the use of the grounds as the area south of the line contained the stables and probably other service functions such as a kitchen garden, picking garden, some fruit trees and fowl yard (where there is a smaller fenced area in the extreme south- east corner).
1885 References to painters and paperhangers inducing a great state of confusion at Redleaf in a letter from William Busby to T. Busby, dated 31 August 1885, indicate that work was being carried out in the house on Busby’s return from overseas.
1887 William Busby died in 1887. His wife continued to live at Redleaf but by 1889 had vacated the house. It was then occupied by the well-known Sydney merchant and retailer Frederic Lassetter.
1895 Water Board survey
This survey shows the main entry gates and associated walling and / or fencing; the double flight of steps down the eastern terraces (as observed by Woore in his 1877 watercolours); a WC to the east of the stables; the flight of curving steps off the upper terrace to the north-west as well as the seven further flights (most being curved) leading down to the jetty and sheds; the sequence of steps within a curvilinear path linking the upper terrace with the lower dry stone wall; and near the north-east corner of the site, and three flights of steps to the north-east.
The survey indicates that all flights of steps nearest the house focus views to the house. There is a sense of intentional design about the way people were meant to approach the house from the grounds. Note also the broadly symmetrical layout of the front retaining walls. Of course as a Water Board survey, it indicates the alignments of water services and the positions of access pits.
1891–1912: OWNERSHIP BY THE LASSETTER FAMILY
In November 1891, Frederic Lassetter purchased the leasehold of Redleaf for
£9,000. Lassetter was ‘at present in England’ when the sale was finalised. He had been living in the house since 1889. In 1905, Lassetter purchased the freehold of the property from the trustees of the Cooper estate for £2,100.
Frederic Lassetter and his wife lived at Redleaf, with various of their adult children, until Frederic’s death at home on 5 September 1911. He was survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters.
From the late 1890s, two of Frederic’s sons and their families lived on the Redleaf property. Colonel Harry Beauchamp Lassettter and his family lived with his parents at Redleaf while Arthur lived at St Brigid’s with his family. Harry was educated in England and pursued a military career, returning to Australia in 1888. In 1897, he led a detachment to England for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee where he headed the colonial escort in the procession. He later served in the Boer War. From 1891, Harry was associated with the family firm, which Arthur also joined in 1896.
St Brigid’s
In 1897 a new residence, St Brigid’s, was built at the south-east corner of the property right against the eastern boundary. The numerals ‘9’ and ‘7’ on the two chimney stacks presumably date the house. The grounds were not formally divided between the two residences at this time as they were all under one ownership.
Photographs of the gardens around St Brigid’s, taken in the mid-1910s, indicate richly-planted grounds with Kentia Palms lining the western façade and well- established trees suggesting both these and the palms were planted soon after St Brigid’s was completed.
c.1910 Photograph of the vista from the harbour
This photograph is titled ‘Mr Lassetter’s home in Sydney’. It shows Redleaf with its front verandah still hidden behind the masses of climber; the upper- level balustrading and Florentine tazzas possibly with plants; the lower dry stone wall with the steep bank above largely grassed and a few trees, either growing just above or below the wall, projecting in front of it though without blocking upper level views from the house.
Of these trees, one would appear to be the chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) now growing close to the dry stone wall.
The weatherboard boathouse group features ornamental bargeboards and simple timber finials with the larger building (parallel to the beach) closely resembling the one shown in one of the Woore paintings.
A simple timber post and wire (?) fence is shown defining the back edge of the beach with a boarded retaining structure below it. The more coarsely grassed slope between the beach and the dry stone wall appears to have been cleared of some of the vegetation apparent in the mid-1870s view described previously though still showing numerous smaller plants. Various paths can be seen traversing the slopes from one side of the photo to the other.
A particularly notable feature of this photo is the well-developed area of ornamental plantings to the north-west of the site. The system of curved flights of steps linking a zig-zag pathway is richly embellished with generous layers of flowering plants. Further detailed analysis of the photo in this area is difficult as the quality of the image deteriorates towards the right side. Large coniferous plant profiles, along with the lighter heads of remnant eucalypts, emerge over the horizon. Some of these conifers seem to accord with the locations of existing mature araucaria trees.
1912–1913: SUBDIVISION AND SALE OF REDLEAF AND ST BRIGID’S
In 1912, following the death of Frederic Lassetter, the Redleaf property was subdivided. The two houses, Redleaf and St Brigid’s were sold separately in 1912 and 1913. This was the first subdivision of the property since it was leased in 1855.
Lot 1, the larger lot including Redleaf, comprised over 2 acres and was sold to T. S. Dixson for £11,000 in April 1912. Lot 2 with St Brigid’s, on an area of just under an acre was sold for £6,250 in March 1913 to C. J. Moulder. Included with the St Brigid’s property was the garage (former stables) of Redleaf. From the New South Head Road frontage, the new boundary ran along the west side of the garage and then followed the existing stone wall and fence on the north, to the retaining wall along the west side of the tennis lawn. From the north end of this wall, the boundary then ran north-east and north down to the beach. The angles in the new boundary line occurred on the lines of two paths, suggesting that here too the division of the property was related to existing landscape features. From 1912 until 1951, Redleaf and St Brigid’s were under separate ownership (for this period, the historical information below has been separated for the two properties).
1912–1940: REDLEAF
From 1912-1939, Redleaf had two owners, Thomas Storie Dixson and his widow (1912-1918) and William Hooke Mackay, a grazier and his beneficiaries (1918- 1940). The known occupants of Redleaf during this period were:
• 1912-1914 Thomas Storie Dixson
• 1915-1916 C. A. Luxton Loney
• 1917-1918 Sir William Cooper
• 1919-1939 William Hooke Mackay
1912–1918: Ownership of Redleaf by T. S. Dixson
On 18 April 1912, Redleaf was sold to Thomas Storie Dixson, a merchant for £11,000.
1913 When the property was subdivided, the garage (former stables) was included with St Brigid’s, and so in 1913 T. S. Dixson made an application to Council to build a garage at Redleaf. This was approved (cost £90) on condition that the roof was constructed of tiles or slate. The new garage of brick was built on the west side of the original stables.
Thomas Storie Dixson was married in 1910. He and his family went on a visit to England shortly before the outbreak of World War I, and the house was then apparently let. Dixson then joined the Army while overseas and was killed in action on 8 December 1916. Redleaf, together with its furniture and effects were bequeathed to his wife Ruby Agnes Dixson. The house continued to be let until it was sold to William Hooke Mackay in March 1918.
1918–1940: Ownership of Redleaf by W. H. Mackay and his family
Redleaf was owned by W. H. Mackay from 1918 until his death at home on 19 December 1939. The property was then transferred to John Julius Augustus Mackay of Scone and Francis Keith Mackay of Sydney, both of whom were graziers.
In 1992, a typescript record was made of recollections by W. C. Wentworth of Redleaf when his grandmother (a sister of Lady Cooper) lived there.
The area surrounding the house was largely scrub, however the terraced grounds were ... grassed and bounded by curved balustrades of the type which appear on the upstairs balcony today.
Apart from confirming the ‘hierarchy of vegetation’ on the site, Mr Wentworth also noted that the bathing area was fully enclosed including a roof.
1919 Photographic vistas Photographs of Redleaf show terrace and entry court.
The view shown in Plate IX confirms the importance of the planned effect upon arrival at the house with a Bunya Pine (now missing) to the west of the house, and off the main driveway terrace, adding to the wall of vegetation enclosing the drive and accentuating the direct and dramatic vista over the front terrace balustrade to the harbour beyond. Apart from a flagpole beyond the steps and balustrade to the north-west of the house nothing obstructs the view to the Harbour. The dense climber is shown over the front verandah.
Plate XXIV provides a view to the east from the closely mown upper terrace across to Elaine. The existing large Bunya and Cook Island pines within the grounds of Elaine are shown, as is the (now dead) large hoop pine (extreme right side) near the east terrace of Redleaf as well as the very large Moreton Bay fig above the corner of the dry stone wall.
At some early stage in the White family ownership––probably early 1920s––the character of the area to the immediate north of St Brigid’s changed. The upper bank was removed and the late 1890s brick walls replaced by stone. The lower brick wall was possibly only covered by the displaced fill.
c.1925 Photograph of Mrs E. Smith (as a child) at Redleaf
Similar to the 1919 photos, this image is one of several family portraits from the upper terrace. The present photo shows the dense climber (more than one species?) covering the front verandah and modest bedding areas in front of the cast iron columns; the large hoop pine on the east terrace lawn; and the return piers, with planted tazzas, of the upper balustrade indicating the start of the winding steps down to the dry stone wall.
This is the only known photograph of the iron verandah columns. Shutters appear to be painted in two tones. Garden beds are visible.
1931 Watercolour of Redleaf by Matthew James MacNally
Matthew James MacNally’s 1931 watercolour of the western facade of ‘Redleaf’ reveals a number of interesting details about the status of the grounds. Painted in the afternoon, the watercolour clearly makes good use of the dramatic shadows, projected across the formal entry drive, of the evidently large trees to the west of the house.
The enclosure to the service courtyard appears to be of timber palings. Framing the entry to the service court are two tall, columnar conifers with colourful bedding plants below and a Kentia (?) Palm. The front verandah columns appear to be clad with a climber while some vegetation (possibly the top of the existing hoop pine) is evident beyond the upper terrace balustrading. The upper terrace is itself unadorned with plants, probably a simple lawn.
The painting makes it clear that views out to the harbour were regarded as extremely important as the area to the north-west of the house is without tree shadows suggesting few tall plants while a broad vista across to Point Piper is evident.
1940–1951: OWNERSHIP OF REDLEAF BY WOOLLAHRA COUNCIL, REDLEAF POOL AND THE RESUMPTION OF ST BRIGID’S
Woollahra Council and Seven Shillings Beach
Woollahra Council’s initial intention in securing Redleaf and in the gradual resumption of St Brigid’s was not to provide alternative Council chambers, but to protect the foreshores of Seven Shillings Beach from inappropriate development and to enable the area to be used for public bathing. The eventual result was the purchase of Redleaf in 1940, followed by the resumption, in three parts, of the grounds of St Brigid’s and eventually of the residence itself, between 1943 and 1951.
By the 1930s, Seven Shillings Beach, of which the Redleaf property was a part, had became a popular bathing place. The Council made enquiries as to the ownership of the foreshore, but was advised by the Sydney Harbour Trust that the boundaries of the private properties along the beach extended to high water mark. There was, therefore, no foreshore reserve on which municipal bathing facilities might be built. Most of the bathers (as many as 2,000 people at the weekends) accessed the beach through private property.
The question of providing public access to the beach and of protecting the foreshore from future private development that might compromise this access remained on the Council agenda. In November-December 1939, the Council resolved to seek a loan to • acquire land (Redleaf), 536-542 New South Head Road
• construct swimming facilities including a sharkproof enclosure, dressing sheds, lavatories and reserve improvements.
The Council Engineer was instructed to prepare plans for the proposed development at Seven Shillings Beach and the Hon. Vernon Treat MLA, the local member, undertook to place the scheme before government.
In February 1940, a public inquiry under the Local Government Act was held concerning Woollahra Council’s proposal to raise a loan to purchase Redleaf and to build sharkproof net and bathing facilities on Seven Shillings Beach, including 124 cubicles. Objections by a number of property owners were withdrawn on Council agreeing to two proposals:
• that Council should erect a fence on north-east boundary of Redleaf, extending into the water at low tide, to prevent access, as far as possible, to adjacent properties;
• that Council would protect property owners against inconvenience caused by parking of cars in New South Head Road.
It was reported that Council intended to preserve foreshores of the beach, to preserve the property as a beauty spot and not to make any drastic alteration in the layout.
In July, it was reported to Council that as the sale of the property was being completed, a quantity of filling was deposited along the lower level of the property by the adjoining builder. This had been authorised by the trustees of estate before negotiations for the purchase had been completed.
In October 1940, Redleaf was sold to Woollahra Council by John Julius Augustus Mackay and Francis Keith Mackay.
1940-1946: The use of Redleaf house and grounds
In October, two applications had been received by Council for the use of the house as a place of high-class entertainment. A committee was appointed to report on the future of Redleaf, including the question as to whether the cost of (fairly extensive) repairs would be met by Council or by the prospective lessee. The bathing area and adjacent land ‘had been isolated from the top of the property’ on which the building stood.
Redleaf leased to Caroline Eliza Hall of Double Bay for five years from 1 January 1941 for rent of £250 per annum for the business of ‘Home Entertaining’. All of premises were leased, with exception of the southern wing to which Council retained the right of access. Lessee to carry out alterations, additions and renovations necessary for business at own cost.
Mrs Hall and her husband, together with Mrs L. Minnett, had previously leased Elizabeth Bay House, which they ran as a venue for fashionable receptions from 1935 until 1940 when the house was sold.
1940 Alterations to Redleaf by Stuart Bros (see Figure 2.128). These were the first major works to the building since its construction. The wall and fireplace between the drawing and dining rooms were removed, all french doors removed and the verandah infilled around the perimeter. The cast iron verandah columns were also removed. A painting now hanging in the first floor of Redleaf shows the building after these alterations.
1941 The following quote comes from a transcript of the Rural Bank’s radio session,
These Old Homes, broadcast on 2UW Sunday, 5 January 1941:
House built around an inner courtyard. Down harbour side of the main wing runs a magnificent L-shaped ballroom with covering verandahs. Other side of wide hall is a drawing room which comes to a stop on the great main staircase well. Set in the wall three lovely plaques – bas reliefs from the Continent. Along the whole harbour aspect of the home runs a graceful colonnade of stone where Florentine urns indicate the stone steps leading down the Seven Shillings Beach. Recently when old floor boards were removed floors found to be spiked with handmade nails. Occupied by John Brewster stock & station agent and then by Hon William Busby. October last year [1940] Woollahra council bought the property as part of the improvements to Seven Shillings Beach. Mrs A Hall has leased the home and greater part of the grounds and is repairing the ravages of time.
Jan to Nov 1941
Redleaf was leased by Mrs Hall. The premises were in a very bad state of repair and a sum in excess of £2,500 was spent on making the premises secure from the weather, doing necessary repairs and making initial alterations throughout. Redleaf was to become an exclusive guest house and used for exclusive entertainments for socials, weddings etc. Later Mrs Hall decided to discontinue the business ‘on account of labour difficulties’ and held a sale of furnishings etc. She then negotiated the lease of the premises for military purposes. Redleaf was proposed as accommodation for women attached to RAAF and the premises were inspected. The proposal was not approved in view of Minister for Air’s decision for no further commitment to accommodation for members of the WAAAF at this stage.
Dec 1941
Auction sale by Mrs Hall. Redleaf: the ‘whole of the fine old furniture, appointments and effects’ was put up for sale by James R. Lawson, including furniture ‘for Entrance Hall, Dining Room, Sitting Room, Drawing Room and Twelve Bedrooms’.
The RAAF took possession of Redleaf on 20 February 1942 as WAAAF accommodation. The premises were vacated on 18 July 1946.
1940-1944: The construction of the Redleaf Pool and associated facilities
As arrangements for the purchase of Redleaf were under way, the Council also began work on the proposal to construct a bathing enclosure at Seven Shillings Beach.
In July and August 1940, plans for a sharkproof enclosure at Seven Shillings Beach were submitted to the Maritime Services Board and approved.
Sep 1940
Tenders for construction of bathing enclosure at Seven Shillings Beach referred to special committee.
1941 Sharkproof bathing enclosure built - contractor F. Jenkins
A series of 1940s photographs record the construction of the Redleaf pool enclosure in the harbour. Evident in the photos are young Pinus sp. and both young and mature Woody Pears.
29 Nov 1941
Redleaf Pool opened by the Premier the Hon. W. McKell. Opening followed by a carnival arranged by the Woollahra Amateur Swimming Club. Further works included construction of additional concrete paths, dwarf retaining wall and turfing portion of the area
1943-1951: Resumption of St Brigid’s and Redleaf Pool
From 1943 to 1951, St Brigid’s was progressively resumed by Woollahra Council as part of its interest in preserving the foreshore associated with Redleaf and enhancing the amenities of the newly built Redleaf Pool. The need to provide premises for various community groups was also a consideration.
In 1943, the first resumption took place, an area of 22 & 1 / 4p of the St Brigid’s land on high water mark (Lot 1 in DP 348325).
In 1944, this area was used to provide a children’s pool next to the main swimming enclosure and additional dressing and locker accommodation.
A proposal for establishment of civic centre at Redleaf was referred to the war effort committee of Woollahra Council. Possible that centre will be Woollahra’s war memorial.
1945 Council decision for a second resumption of part of the St Brigid’s property, on the western side including the garage, 101 ft x 70 ft with rear line of 81 ft (immediately adjoining Redleaf). Every attempt has been made to carry out Council's wishes, and resumption was proposed. It was also suggested that additional portion of property or even the whole of the park area might be resumed to adjoin future Community Centre site.
May 1946
Woollahra Council took steps towards resumption of part of St Brigid’s property and decided to send deposit towards cost of proposed resumption to Local Government Department.
1946 Objection to resumption of part of St Brigid’s by Mrs L. E. White, owner.
Resumption of part of St Brigid’s (garage) by Woollahra Council effective from 1 November 1946 - area designated ‘for public recreation’ but resumption primarily to square off Redleaf property.
Former owner Mrs Hunter White requested full occupation of St Brigid’s garage building for as long as possible since the Council had no immediate need of the building. Mrs White was to have full occupation until resumption was completed and compensation monies paid with further occupation to be negotiated. It was recommended that application by Sydney Arts & Crafts Society for greater use of the building be removed from Works Committee agenda and the application referred back, for present, to the former owner.
It would appear that part of the St Brigid’s garage (presumably the ground floor) had ceased to be used as a billiard room in the 1940s. In 1943, an application was made by the White family for the garage to be used for residential purposes, but this was refused by Council. By the later 1940s, part of the building was used as a studio or craft room by Constance White. It may also have functioned as an art gallery. An art teacher, Dora Sweetapple, is said to have run a private art gallery in St Brigid’s. Her sister was Lady Marian Hall-Best an interior decorator.
Jan 1947
The Mayor suggested that Redleaf could be taken over as Council headquarters.
Aug 1947
The first Council meeting was held at Redleaf on 11 August 1947
1948 The report by Engineer on proposal to construct handball court at pool determined that the area was not big enough for conventional sizes of court but that it would be possible to build a court of similar size to that at Bondi Surf Club.
Mar 1950
Council decided to purchase the remaining portion of St Brigid’s, including the house.
Apr 1950
Council’s architect was asked to prepare sketch plans for a new town hall and civic centre on the Redleaf / St Brigid’s site.
1951 Resumption of the rest of St Brigid’s, including the house, by Woollahra Council.
1913–1951: ST BRIGID’S
17 Mar 1913
Transfer of St Brigid’s to Cecil Joseph Moulder, motor importer, for £6,250.
Although the Redleaf property was subdivided in March 1912 and Redleaf sold to T. S. Dixson the following month, it was not until a year later in March 1913 that St Brigid’s was purchased by Cecil Moulder. It is possible that some of the Lassetter family continued to live in the house in 1912-1913 until it was sold.
From 1913 until 1951 the house had only two owners, C. J. Moulder and Leila Ethel White, the wife of Henry Hunter White.
1913–1920: Ownership of St Brigid’s by Cecil Joseph Moulder
The occupants of the house at this period were William and Jessie Moulder and their three adult children, Cecil Joseph, Edwin Franklin and Ruth Lilian. The Moulders were early settlers in the Orange district, but by the time the family moved to St Brigid’s, William and Jessie had retired from the land. Cecil and Frank were in partnership in the firm of Moulder Brothers Motors in Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
William Moulder died at St Brigid’s in December 1913. In 1915, all of the adult children left home. Cecil joined the Light Horse and served at Gallipoli. Ruth married a British naval officer, Albert Marden, and travelled with him to England and Frank went to England to work for Vickers at their ammunition factory, later serving in the Royal Flying Corps. Their mother died at St Brigid’s in June 1916.
Ruth and Albert Marden returned to St Brigid’s in 1918 to complete the business of winding up the Moulder family estate. The house was sold to Mrs Hunter White in 1920.
c.1913 –1915
Photographs of St Brigid’s taken during its ownership by the Moulder family show various details of the garden including:
• tennis court and steps on south side of tennis lawn,
• the palms along west side of house,
• the family gardener and various plantings,
• parts of the area to the east of tennis court including a path and lattice bush house,
• a stand of [?] bamboo (possibly along the boundary with Elaine),
• two brick terrace walls with a sloping grass bank between them, on the north side of house.
The original configuration of the north end of the house is also shown with its open verandahs.
Photographs taken during the period of occupancy of the Moulder family provide a valuable record of the grounds surrounding St Brigid’s up to the next change of ownership in 1920. A sequence of photographs––presumably taken on the same day––show the tennis court in use and the double flight of steps (now removed) across the eastern banks from Redleaf as well as the flight of steps with piers and urns linking the former Redleaf service terrace with the tennis terrace. It is likely that this latter flight was built at the time St Brigid’s was built as a means of linking the gardens of St Brigid’s. The double flight to the eastern bank may have survived up to the White or even Woollahra Council period. Apart from an impressive lattice structure to the north-west of St Brigid’s and a high tennis fence along the eastern side of the tennis court (which appears to be the same as that mentioned on the 1884 surveyor’s filed book [Sydney Water Field Book 694]), the area to the south of the tennis terrace is richly and densely planted out.
Plantings evident are the existing Kentia Palms to the west of St Brigid’s; a large tree (peppercorn tree?) to the north-west corner of the house though shown in later 1910s photographs as dramatically cut back before removal; two trees above the tennis terrace to the west of the steps with piers. The larger tree appears to be a camphor laurel while the other (to the east) appears to be a jacaranda. Taller shrubs help screen the former service terrace, now planted out with various annuals and perennial plants. The foliage of a gymea lily (Doryanthes excelsa) is visible within the mixed shrubbery.
1920–1951: Ownership of St Brigid’s by Henry Hunter White and family
In the first decade of its ownership by Henry Hunter White, considerable alterations and additions were made to St Brigid’s. In 1920, there were additions to the house and to the garage.
Jan– Apr 1920
Additions to the house (cost £2,600) by John Reid & Son Architects. Builders Williamson & McIntyre.
Correspondence concerning the proposed alterations and additions to the house indicates that these included:
• a new front verandah and balcony and new openings for doors and windows,
• additions to the south side of the house on the ground floor to provide a maid’s room and maid’s sitting room,
• a bathroom on the east side of the house,
• external stairs (proposed to be of timber) from the balcony on the west side.
The major part of these works was an extension to the north side of the house for the new verandah and balcony, on a different plan from the original. This would have necessitated the excavation of the brick edged bank along the north side of the house, seen in the photographs of c.1913–1915. The base of the verandah extension was faced with stone and had a new flight of steps down to the garden. On the ground floor, the original verandah supports were re-used.
The Council’s initial objection to these plans concerned the lighting and ventilation of the maid’s rooms and the need for the external stairs to be constructed of ‘brick, stone, concrete or other approved fireproof material’.
One of the causes for concern on the part of the owner and his architect, as outlined to Woollahra Council in February 1920, was ‘that no proper retaining wall exists to keep your footpath and road from falling on to the residence’. Unlike the area immediately to the west of the house that had a proper wall, there was only an embankment between St Brigid’s and the New South Head Road. This made it difficult for the architect to provide the required lighting and ventilation to the proposed new rooms on the ground floor. The problem was resolved by constructing an area at the rear of maid’s room and bathroom with windows into both rooms from it and cutting a skylight about 5ft square through the arched ceiling of the maid’s room. The arches over the rear rooms were retained because of the poor retaining wall.
May 1920
In May 1920, a building application was made to convert the old Redleaf stables into a billiard room and motor garage with a gable extension at the first floor level with direct access from the New South Head Road. Vehicle access to the ground floor had been precluded with the subdivision of the property in 1912.
The plan was by John Reid & Son Architects at an estimated cost of £1,000. The ground floor comprised an office, box room, billiard room and anteroom, with a dressing room, shower and toilet on the east side of the building. The first floor (at street level) included the garage, three workshops and a store.
1925 In 1925, further but less extensive alterations and additions by L. Thomas were approved (cost £288).
1924– 1925
The house was leased for about eighteen months c.1924–1925 when the Whites were travelling in Europe. Accounts of the house indicate that the verandahs were still open at this date.
In 1928, unspecified alterations and additions were made by the builders, Goldsborough.
1943 The only other recorded changes to the building were by the firm that had undertaken the major work in the 1920s, J. Reid & Sons. These alterations and additions were made in 1943.
1943–1951
From 1943 to 1951, St Brigid’s was progressively resumed by Woollahra Council as part of its interest in preserving the foreshore associated with Redleaf and enhancing the amenities of the newly built Redleaf Pool. The resumptions were in:
• 1943 a portion of land on high water mark (used to provide access for a children’s pool),
• 1946 the garage - required to ‘square off Redleaf’,
• 1951 the residue of the estate including the house (St Brigid’s).
1951–PRESENT: MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP OF REDLEAF AND ST BRIGID’S
By 1951, the whole of the original Redleaf property, comprising Redleaf and St Brigid’s, had been amalgamated once more in the ownership of Woollahra Council. Miss Constance White vacated St Brigid’s early in 1952 and the Council then had to decide what they wanted to do with the house.
Jan 1952
Preliminary plan of St Brigid’s - ground floor plan dated 16 January 1952 (Sheet 1 of 2).
Traced G. A. W. Flooring finishes indicated. (House as vacated in 1952).
1952 Following an inspection of St Brigid’s, the Mayor advised Council that the house could not be used for municipal purposes. The Engineer was instructed to submit a scheme to enclose some of the land at the lower end of the garden in the Redleaf Pool area, to increase the space available to pool customers. Estimates were also to be obtained for the cost of new wire fencing, remaking the tennis court and improving the whole garden space with a view to opening it up as a formal government park.
Mar 1952
Council advertised for tenders for tenancy of St Brigid’s, either the whole of the premises or individual floors.
July 1952
By July, it had been resolved that the Woollahra Arts Centre would occupy the building. Plans for suggested allocation of space and alterations to building for Woollahra Arts Centre, dated 10 July 1952 by J. L. S. M. included rooms for design school, pottery handicrafts, studio, gallery, meeting room, children’s library, office, store and caretaker’s quarters.
The Engineer reported that it had been possible to redesign the grounds as a formal garden and to incorporate a portion of the area with Redleaf Pool. Funds voted for cyclone fence on new boundary between the Redleaf and St Brigid’s properties and Redleaf Pool. It was also agreed to engage an expert gardener to prepare a scheme for the layout of the St Brigid’s garden.
In October, a plan and preliminary report on re-planning the garden was submitted by Mr A. E. Wilson, landscape gardener. This provided for the construction of a concrete ramp giving access from the New South Head Road, new flagging or gravel at the bottom of the ramp, the removal of existing rockery areas and new plantings. It was decided to adopt the plan in principle, to retain the area below the tennis court in the garden and to defer consideration of the implementation of the plan.
Dec 1952
Open air theatre for children, under the direction of Woollahra Playhouse, operated every Saturday in the garden at St Brigid’s.
Council received a petition from members of the Arts Centre and residents of Woollahra expressing their concern about proposed alterations to the garden. The petitioners noted that:
It is the only garden in Sydney, which, with the little terraces and different levels resembles an old Italian garden and its chief beauty is naturalness. No alteration could improve on the charm to which more than 50 years has contributed and, if left in its present lay-out, it would be the only municipal garden in Sydney with an appearance of naturalness. The tennis court could be left as a lawn for the public to sit on and the smaller lawns and little plots of grass above would also serve the same purpose. It is a beautiful example of informal design and would be a valuable object lesson, for Sydney suburban gardens are almost entirely without character.
Council agreed that the plans of the proposed development would be exhibited.
1953
Engineer asked for clarification from Council of certain uses of the gardens and other details relating to plan. The Engineer was advised that:
• St Brigid’s garden is to be used in the future by the Playhouse as an open-air theatre,
• estimates to be prepared for construction of timber ramp, instead of concrete,
• plan and estimates to be prepared for women’s toilet block to accommodate visitors to the gardens and the adjoining the RSL Double Bay Branch [in former stables / garage],
• any re-modelling of the garden to be on the existing basis at a minimum of expense.
Funds voted for new toilet block and timber ramp. Area between ramp and ground to be covered with trellis for climbing roses, so that ramp will conform with the garden without spoiling the aesthetic appearance. Chain wire fence on New South Head Road alignment to be made uniform by replacing timber rails with pipe. Gate to be provided so that gardens can be locked. Pipe rail and chain wire fence to be erected between the garden and the toilet to connect with existing fencing and to provide gate for public to get access to the toilet.
Letter from residents suggesting that as far as possible the grounds of St Brigid’s, the design school and Arts Centre be retained. Grounds cared for by the late Mrs Hunter White and her daughter for many years, both experienced gardeners. Grounds have an individuality and charm of their own. Engineer stated that no alteration intended except provision of toilet facilities and entrance ramp and fencing.
1954
Head gardener and staff complimented on work done to date. An additional £1,020 voted.
Royal Commission on Espionage [the Petrov inquiry] vacated the premises of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court in Phillip House, Phillip Street (required by the court) and moved into St Brigid’s. Used as their working headquarters by the judges Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Ligertwood, the secretary Mr K H. Herde and the staff of the Commission for the rest of the Inquiry. Court hearings heard at Darlinghurst.
Reference to proposed structural alterations to St Brigid’s. Council commended for building a park and play area in the grounds that adjoin St Brigid’s, which will be of great benefit to parents on its completion.
1950s By the late 1940s and 1950, Redleaf Pool was enormously popular attracting as many as 4,500 on a Sunday. Its users included those living in Kings Cross and any ‘New Australians’ who, some suggested, had taken over the pool. The scant attire of some of the men, the ‘flexo boys’ was the subject of considerable comment.
Aug 1955
Council decided to establish a municipal library in the garage (former Redleaf stables) next to Council chambers. Library officially opened by the Mayor J. E. Calwell on 10 December 1955.
1955 Competition for local schools to suggest name for gardens. Suggestions included Panorama Park, Elizabeth Park and St Brigid’s Gardens. Motion that gardens be named Blackburn Gardens moved by Alderman Lusher and passed by Council. Blackburn Cove was the original name for the east part of Double Bay and Captain Blackburn was the Master of HMS Supply of the First Fleet, the first ship to enter Port Jackson.
3 Sep 1955
Blackburn Gardens officially opened by the Hon. Vernon Treatt, QC, MLA, Member for Woollahra. The Head Gardener was Mr Cox, Assistant Head Gardener Mr Cox and Gardener Mr H. Pasfield.
1955- 1956
Plans prepared by architects D. Forsyth Evans for major redevelopment on St Brigid’s site, demolishing most of the building and erecting a new community centre and theatre. The proposal was eventually dropped.
Suggestion that St Brigid’s might be converted into municipal theatre and community centre. The supporters for this proposal included the British Drama League.
Sep 1956
Decision to accept tender for construction of a community hall on the site of St Brigid’s rescinded by Council. Motion to make St Brigid’s available for hire was carried.
Oct 1956
St Brigid’s, to be let for functions other than dances.
1956 Plan of Blackburn Gardens designed by F. Walker in December 1953 and plotted by E. A. C. Harper on 27 December 1956.
Feb 1957
Early in 1957, Council considered four proposals for St Brigid’s: to use the building for the library; to demolish it; to let it for three years; or to sell it. There was originally no agreement on any of the proposals.
It was later agreed to move the library to St Brigid’s. It opened officially on 28 October 1957.
Late 1950s
A folio-size photograph from the 1950s records a view of St Brigid’s from the bank to the north-west of the tennis terrace (Figure 2.149). Evident are the centrally located flights of 1920s stone steps to the house, the earlier steps with rendered piers; plantings to the lower edges of the tennis terrace; various old Kentia Palms; stone walling across the front of St Brigid’s and stone balustrading to the verandah. Older plantings include clumps of Giant Reed, a Firewheel Tree, Cypress and, in adjoining Elaine, a Cook Island pine. All of these remain. Small golden cypresses in the photograph have since been removed though trees now evident on site––but not in this photograph––include the silky oak to the south of the line of palms, a Fiddlewood and Atlantic Cedar at the boundary of Elaine. The tennis court fencing and all other garden structures have gone though a sundial with coursed stone pedestal has been added to the tennis terrace
Late 1950s–1960s
In the 1950s and 1960s, Blackburn Gardens won awards in the Sydney Morning Herald Gardens Competition, coming third in 1958 and first in 1959 in the Public Parks Class 1 (1-2 acres). (Council holds the trophy for this award. The plaques for awards in 1963-1968 are on display in the garden on the timber supports of the walkway down from New South Head Road.)
1961 Plan of proposed alterations to Redleaf (Figure 2.152)
This plan indicates proposed single-storey additions to Redleaf by C. Monkhouse for additional office accommodation to the north and a formalised car park for the terrace to the east.
While the proposed alterations only directly affected about half of this pathway, presumably the whole of this 1860s feature was removed when the early 1960s work proceeded. As well as showing the (now removed) hoop pine (the base of which was encased in a stone and concrete bank supporting the car park bench) to the east of the car park, the plan indicates a jacaranda, camphor laurel, flame tree and firewheel tree along with two other trees, apparently intended to be kept, but which have been subsequently removed. One of these two missing trees was removed, probably in 1980, when the vehicular access to the pool buildings was added off the car park.
The plan also shows the long east-west service wall alignment and different ground slopes either side.
1965 Proposed alterations to the library by Lipson Kaad & Fotheringham.
1965-1968
Additions to Redleaf by Lipson & Kaad. Rear balcony with balustrade constructed off the Council chambers. This involved the removal of the timber verandah roof structure over this area.
In 1967, the garden staff were Head Gardener Mr Tinnion and staff Messrs Key and Lamb. Proposals for Blackburn Gardens, Council Chambers and environs by Neville Gruzman for Trees & Gardens Committee.
1969 Alterations, additions to Redleaf and mechanical ventilation by Peddle Thorp & Walker. These included the present infill to the central courtyard.
1974 Major upgrading of the former stables, used by Town Planning Department, by Allen Jack + Cottier Architects:
• major portion of northern timber roof structure replaced and new slates provided,
• old roller shutter on street frontage garage door replaced with aluminium framed, glazed entry screen and area immediately inside converted into enquiry area,
• small toilet and kitchen area on upper floor,
• small window on upper floor (facing north) blocked,
• small shed added on east between the two earlier toilet blocks
1978 Additions
1979 The retaining wall to the drive strengthened and a ramp extension to the west car park constructed.
1979– 1980
Work on pool and Blackburn Gardens:
• construction of access road from New South Head Road through car park to eastern end of upper concourse level with handball court as turning circle for road,
• demolition of part of old changing room complex and entrance turnstile building,
• renovation of pool boardwalk and fencing,
• major renovation of dressing rooms and kiosk.
1980 Plan of site alterations to Redleaf grounds
This plan shows the access road mentioned along with the proposed pool building facilities, the large kauri pine and fig tree at the north-east boundary, two trees to the north of Redleaf and immediately to the south of the pool building (presumably camphor laurels as tree stumps remain here) and some inexplicable paths with steps duplicating others nearby.
The plan is identified with the architectural firm of Lipson Kaad Fotheringham & Partners and bears the approval date of 25 March 1980.
1980 New building to the Redleaf Pool.
1984 Removal of pontoons from pool.
1986 Proposals to remove walkways from the pool. SMH, 15 November 1986, p. 43
1986–1987
Public controversy concerning the restoration of Redleaf Pool.
Option endorsed by Council on 26 May 1986:
• replacement of pool enclosure along existing boundary with similar structure i.e. steel sharkproofing with walkway,
• restoration of toddlers’ pool,
• replacement of pontoons.
1987 Suggestions that access to pool be provided through Blackburn Gardens. Petition signed by over 3,000 people to Council to retain pool in present form.
Nov 1987 Full restoration for pool.
1988 Pool officially opened on 1 October after refurbishment
1995 Change of use of the PABX room and library store area to data processing.
1997 Heritage listing of tidal pools by National Trust, including Redleaf Pool.
1999-2000
Major works on Council chambers and offices in Redleaf and to the site.
Conservation and refurbishment work to Redleaf with construction of substantial new office accommodation beneath a landscaped terrace. The architects were Allen Jack + Cottier (new work) in collaboration with Design 5 - Architects (conservation work) and Tom Sitta (landscape). |