Mount Wilga House

Item details


Name of item:	Mount Wilga House
Other name/s:	Mt Wilga
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Mansion
Location:	Lat: -33.6926182577 Long: 151.0935929760
Primary address:	2A Manor Road (Rosamond Street), Hornsby, NSW 2077
Parish:	South Colah
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Hornsby
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	100		DP	1166007
LOT	101		DP	1166007

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
2A Manor Road (Rosamond Street)	Hornsby	Hornsby	South Colah	Cumberland	Primary Address
Manor Road	Hornsby	Hornsby	South Colah	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private

Statement of significance:


	Outstanding late Federation Queen Anne Style mansion. Impressive multi-level roof with highly decorated gables. Unusual verandah detailing. Generally in good condition. Many interior features of note. Owned by Marcus Clark leading Sydney retailer of the time. (LEP). Grounds: Remnant garden layout surrounding notable mansion. Mature period trees dated from Federation period. Of regional significance (LEP).
	Date significance updated: 18 Sep 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


Designer/Maker:	H. Marcus Clark (attributed)
Construction years:	1913-1914
Physical description:	Site: Federation mansion and garden prominently sited in large grounds (LEP, 1994) on the apex of a long ridge with commanding views of the surrounding countryside, including across the valley to 'neighbouring' mansion Mount Errington. Garden: The original garden planned by Marcus Clark reflected an aesthetic of defining the property boundary and main access route as well as concealing the house from direct view and then revealing the house at journey's end. A formal area of the garden was laid out to the north of the house and open paddocks and orchard to the west of the house. To the south and south east was a service area. Despite subdivision and loss of land to the north and east, a generous area of garden surrounds the house to the east and south. This retains the core of the eastern garden, driveway and a good part of the former service area, including the tennis court, bowling green and site of the former chicken house. Subdivision and redevelopment of the hospital to the north and west has greatly altered much of the estate's land there and encroaches fairly close to the carriage loop and western boundary of Mt.Wilga. Period elements remaining on the site include border planting around the perimeter of the house. A grand drive sweeps south-west from Manor Road leading up to a fine circular carriage drive in front (north) of the house (formerly gravel, now bitumen) with central planting plot and dominant Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) to 14m high. (This possibly dates from c1920s as it is not evident in a 1917 photograph). The original long drive sandstone castellated gate arch structure no longer exists - it has been replaced with a modest brick pillar modern steel gates in the hospital era) but an eastern pedestrian entrance constructed of sandstone remains. This eastern entrance is covered by climbing fig (Ficus pumila var.pumila) and retains an intact wrought iron period gate. Mt Wilga's grounds include large sloping lawn areas to the house's east and south, a tennis court to its east, a bowling green to its south-east and some shrubbery (seemingly reduced in quantity). Large mature trees including Bunya Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii), Port Jackson or rusty fig (Ficus rubiginosa) and Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) to 20 metres (probably from c1910) camphor laurels (Cinnammomum camphora) and brush box (Lophostemon confertus) to a 16m evergreen /southern magnolia / bull bay (Magnolia grandiflora) and crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Along the southern boundary there is a row of turpentine trees (Syncarpia glomulifera) to 15m high which have grown since the 1950s and, further to the south-west adjoining the former service driveway to the former garage, a Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), book leaf cypress/arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) and brush box trees (now outside the boundary to the west near the former service drive). Also mature trees on site include two sweet gums (Liquidambar styraciflua), two frangipani (Plumeria rubra) flanking the front steps to the house, a rare jambos/ rose apple (Syzygium jambos) tree on the eastern boundary near the entrance drive, an ironbark tree west of the house (Eucalyptus sp., possibly E. crebra), a NZ flax bush south of the drawing room (Phormium tenax) and a large Chinese wisteria (W. sinensis) on the wire mesh fence of the tennis court. Younger tree plantings on the eastern lawn include tupelo or sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Camellia sasanqua, a mature Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and native cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi).(Stuart Read, 9/3/2012 visit). The garden also includes a wilga tree (Geijera parviflora) an arid zone evergreen native tree that Marcus Clark much-admired for its resilience (Tanner, 1985). This is now separated from the house by a mid-20th c. era hospital wing between them (Stuart Read, 7/3/2020 visit). Note: A weld-mesh boundary fence is modern (dating from the hospital era)(S.Read, pers.comm.) and inappropriate to the style of the grounds (LEP). Residence: Federation mansion with face brick walls, complex steep pitched terracotta tiled roof, tall roughcast chimneys, shingled and half-timbered gables, sandstone veranda piers with simple scalloped timber valences. Unusual cylindrical polished granite colonettes support the timber veranda posts. The residence is a single storey with a basement and three-storey tower at the roof apex. Original casement windows include projecting bays with leadlight and sculpted sandstone sills. Original doors and other joinery remains. Much of the original interior survives. The residence is prominently sited in large grounds with a number of large trees and a stone gateway (LEP).
	Date condition updated:18 Sep 14
Modifications and dates:	2007-8: 88 units with basement parking: repairs and maintenance work to preserve the fabric of the building, including the: - removal of glazing to the tower reinstate the lookout at the summit o the tower; - replication of stolen items from the house (using documentary evidence) will improve the presentation of the house and allow an understanding of its decoration. This replication will restore significance that has been lessened by the theft of joinery items and lighting fixtures. - reconstruction of the stone gate will ensure its survival, restore its significance, enable an understanding of is significance as part of Marcus Clark's pedestrian link to Hornsby across the gully, enhance its appearance and ensure public safety; - relaying original tiles on a new slab will prevent subsidence and protect the tiles from substrate collapse.; and - rebuilding the north-west corner of the front veranda will ensure the survival, while using the existing timber and stone elements (Branch report, 2008).


Current use:	office/admin to a private hospital, residence (proposed)
Former use:	residence, rehabilitation hospital, Buddhist cultural centre

History

Historical notes:

The North Shore railway line terminates at Hornsby, where it connects with the Northern Line going to Brooklyn, Gosford, Newcastle and eventually the North Coast and Brisbane. The Northern Line was extended from Strathfield to the Hawkesbury in 1886, passing through the present suburb of Hornsby. The station was over two miles from the village of Hornsby (modern day Normanhurst), so in 1895 the station was called Hornsby Junction to avoid confusion. In 1900 the word Junction was dropped and the area around the station became known as Hornsby; Old Hornsby was the name adopted for the present Normanhurst (Pollen & Healy, 1988, 125).

Mt Wilga Estate dates from an initial purchase in 1907 of 49 acres at Hornsby by Georgina Clark, wife of the successful Sydney Draper and Retailer, Henry Marcus Clark. Additional purchases of 26.75 acres and 45 acres were made between 1907 and 1908.

In 1908 Clark built a 520 foot long suspension bridge over the deep gully which lies between Mt Wilga and Hornsby Railway Station to facilitate the arrival of guests to the property from Sydney.

Prior to Mt. Wilga, Clark had resided in 'Sefton Hall' in Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill, which was named after a property in England.

Mt. Wilga was reputedly designed by the owner and planned along similar lines to his summer home 'Sefton Hall' at Mount Wilson in the Northern Blue Mountains. It was intended to be Marcus Clark's winter home. The original garden as planned by Clark reflected an aesthetic of defining the property boundary and main access route as well as concealing the house from direct view and then revealing the house at journey's end. A formal area of the garden was laid out to the north of the house and open paddocks and orchard to the west of the house. To the south and south east was a service area.

The term 'villa' was first used in England in the 17th century, partly from the Latin and Italian 'country house, farm', perhaps derived from the stem of vicus (village). The villa was a country mansion or residence, together with a farm, farm-buildings, or other house attached, built or occupied by a person of some position and wealth. It was taken to include a country seat or estate and later a residence in the country or in the neighbourhood of a town, usually standing in its own grounds. From this is was appropriated by the middleof the 18th century to mean a residence of a superior type, in the suburbs of a town or in a residential district, such as that occupied by a person of the middle class, and also a small, better-class dwelling house, usually detached or semi-detached. The term 'villa garden' was used in the context of Hobart and Sydney residences in the 1830s, and if near the coast or harbour, the appellation 'marine villa' was often applied. Australian origins probably date from the grant conditions applied to Sydney's Woolloomooloo Hill (1827, under Governor Darling), which obligated the construction of villas fulfilling certain conditions... 'with garden like domain, and external offices for stables and domestic economy' (John Buonarotti Papworth, 1825, quoted in James Broadbent's 1997 book, 'The Australian Colonial House'). Many gardens of 19th century villas followed Gardenesque conventions, with garden ornaments often complementing the architecture of the house. The term had acquired such widespread usage by the 1850s that when Jane Loudon issued a new editiion of her husband (John Claudius Loudon)'s 'Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion' (1838) she merely entitled the revised work 'The Villa Gardener' (1850). This coincided with a growing period of suburbanisation in Australia with consequent fostering of the nursery trade... By the 1880s, descriptions of Australian villas implied sufficient room for a lawn on two or three fronts of the residence... By the 1920s, a garden attached to a large suburban house was often described as a villa garden (Aitken, 2002, 619-20).

However, Clark died in 1913 during the construction of the large single storey Queen Anne style house. It was completed in 1914 by his widow, Georgina Clark. The Clark family resided at Mt Wilga until 1919. Henry's son, Les Clark built a very similar house 'Dulcidene Homestead' in Dubbo.

In 1926 Mrs Georgina M Clark sold the house and a portion of its land to Miss Jessie Hamilton Scott of Hornsby who subdivided the land creating Manor Road. In 1928 the subdivision of Mt Wilga into 67 residential allotments was initiated. The large allotment containing Mt Wilga house remained in private hands until its sale in 1952 to the Commonwealth of Australia for use as a rehabilitation hospital.

In 1948 the property was owned by a Dr Smallpage. The Mt Wilga Rehabilitation Hospital operated between1952 and 1987. During the 35 year period the estate and house were altered to accommodate the functions and facilities of a rehabilitation hospital. Several large buildings were constructed on site.

In 1985 Howard Tanner & Associates (HT&A) prepared'"Mt Wilga, Hornsby NSW: Conservation Management Plan for the Administration Building' for the Commonwealth Dept. of Housing & Construction.

In January, 1987, Howard Tanner wrote to the then Heritage & Conservation Branch advising of the impending sale of the property by the Commonwealth Government. In March, 1987, HT&A wrote to the Heritage & Conservation Branch making recommendations for a site curtilage based on historic and contemporary conditions.

Concern over the future of the site led to the placement of a Permanent Conservation Order (PCO) #535 over the house and some of the curtilage on 4 September,1987. This is understood to have taken place prior to the sale of the property.

In late 1987 (post PCO listing) Alpha Pacific purchased the site for use as a private rehabilitation hospital, and in July, 1988, sought to subdivide the site. The Heritage Council refused the application which sought to reduce the curtilage around Mt Wilga. A modified proposal to subdivide the site into two large allotments was subsequently approved by the Heritage Council. Consequently, Lot 2 DP 792198 was sold in 1990 to the Japan-based Buddhist sect, the Nichiren Shoshu Sokagakkai Australia and run as a Buddhist Cultural Centre (until 1999: Austral Archaeology, 2014, i). The northern Lot 1 DP 792198 continued to operate as a private hospital.

The original garden as planned by Marcus Clark reflected an aesthetic of defining the property boundary and main access route as well as concealing the house from direct view and then revealing the house at journey's end. The formal area of the garden which existed to the north of the house and open paddocks and orchard to the west of the house were lost during the development of the hospital. The extant grounds to the south and south east of the house were formerly the service area of the property. In their present state the grounds reflect the reduction of the gardens and expansion of open lawn areas, the gradual attrition and simplification of planting and the removal of the majority of the trees, associated with the institutional management of the site.

In August 1991 a Conservation Management Plan was prepared by Robertson & Hindmarsh Pty Ltd for Soka Gakkai International Australia, a Buddhist group who made a number of small modifications to the house and outbuildings. These included repainting the interior and exterior of the house, recarpeting, refurbishing a former minor building into a Womens' temple and various services were partially separated from the hospital to the north. Although the group planned further extensions to the temple facilities, they moved from the site in 1999 and these modifications were never initiated (Austral Archaeology, 2014, 12).

The site was sold to a consortium wanting to construct a SEPP5 aged care facility (Branch report, 2008).

From 1999 the stite has been vacant, or served once again as a private residence (Austral Archaeology, 2014, i).

In August 1999 Scott Robertson of Robertson & Hindmarsh Pty Ltd was engaged by Mirrabeema Project Management on behalf of the Mt Wilga Village Consortium to prepare 'Conservation Management Plan of Mt Wilga, 2a Manor Road, Hornsby'. At its meeting of 20 January, 2000, the Heritage Council provided its general terms of approval to an amended integrated development application.

On 9 June, 2000, delegated conditional approval was granted to the subsequent section 63 application. On 6 October, 2000, delegated conditional approval was granted to a further section 63 application under the Heritage Act.

Since 2006 one residential allotment facing Manor Road (known as Lot 2 in DP 1181742), outside the NSW State Heritage Register curtilage boundary, has been subdivided off the property. This lot was previously occupied by a cottage on the Mount Wilga estate, which was demolished c.2000 (NBRS & Partners, 2014, 15).

The site was sold in 2008 to Austcorp Project No. 1 Pty Ltd. (Heritage Branch Report, 2008). Between 1999 and 2010 a series of unsuccessful attempts by several owners were made to adapt the site for medium-high density retirement living. During this time, many buildings with little heritage significance were demolished and many conservation works to the house were completed (NBRS &Partners, 2014, 13).

Additions to the hospital were approved in 2011. The current owners bought the homestead site in 2011. A 4 lot subdivision (3 small lots on the southern boundary, one large lot for the house) was withdrawn and later a 2 lot subdivision was approved (for the current owners) in 2012.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Operating market and retail complexes-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes and gardens of domestic accommodation-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of institutions - productive and ornamental-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Significant tree(s) providing urban amenity-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Operating private and religious hospitals-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Converting Premises for Rest and Recreation purposes-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Operating convalescent and rehabilitation hospitals-
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.	Housing professional people-
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 Mansions-
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.	Housing the prosperous - mansions in town and country-
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.	Federation Style residential development-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Sub-division of large estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - 20th century interwar-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Federation Arts and Crafts-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - Federation period-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Interior design styles and periods - Edwardian-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Holidaying in hill stations and mountain retreats-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in suburbia-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Kitchens and servants-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in a new house-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gardening-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Playing tennis-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Henry Marcus Clark, draper and retailer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Georgina Clark, gentlewoman-

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act - Site Specific Exemptions	Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any item on the site meaning the continuous protective care of existing materials; (2) Routine garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning and weed control, the repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates and garden walls, new minor planting, tree surgery but not extensive lopping.	Sep 4 1987
CMP-Comment	Conservation Plan submitted for comment	Mount Wilga and Grounds - Conservation Management Plan prepared by Godden Mackay Logan		Aug 3 2016
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00535	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00535	04 Sep 87	140	5086
Local Environmental Plan	Hornsby LEP 2013: Mt.Wilga and Grounds
National Trust of Australia register	Mount Wilga
Royal Australian Institute of Architects register	Mount Wilga
Register of the National Estate	Mount Wilga
Register of the National Estate - Interim	Mount Wilga	16255

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Hornsby Shire Heritage Study	1993		Perumal Murphy Wu	VM	No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Aitken, Richard	2002	'Villa Garden' (entry)	View detail
Written	Austral Archaeology P/L	2014	Historical Archaeological Assessment, Statement of Heritage Impact and Research Design - Mount Wilga and Grounds, 2A Manor Road, Hornsby, NSW
Written	Godden Mackay Logan; in association with Robertson Hindmarsh Architects	2006	Mount Wilga and grounds 2a Manor Road, Hornsby : conservation management plan
Written	Godden Mackay Logan; in association with Robertson Hindmarsh Architects	2006	Mount Wilga and grounds, 2a Manor Road, Hornsby : Heritage Impact Statement	View detail
Written	Howard Tanner & Associates (HT&A)	1984	Mt Wilga, Hornsby NSW: Conservation Management Plan for the Administration Building
Written	Noel Bell Ridley Smith & Partners Architects	2014	Addendum to the 2006 Conservation Management Plan for Mount Wilga
Written	Noel Bell Ridley Smith and Partners	2014	Statement of Heritage Impact - Mt.Wilga, 2A Manor Road, Hornsby
Written	Pollen, Francis & Healy, Gerald	1988	"Hornsby" section, in The Book of Sydney Suburbs
Written	Robertson Hindmarsh Architects P/L	1999	Conservation Management Plan of Mt.Wilga, 2a Manor Road, Hornsby

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:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5044998
File number:	EF14/4751;S91/00356; HC 870251

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of Heritage NSW or respective copyright owners.