Hy Brasil

Item details


Name of item:	Hy Brasil
Other name/s:	The Gem, Hi Brasil
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -33.6340915551 Long: 151.3165394070
Primary address:	62 Chisholm Road, Clareville, NSW 2107
Parish:	Narrabeen
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Northern Beaches
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1	DP	1104192
LOT	2	DP	1104192
LOT	10	DP	25969
LOT	10A	DP	25969
LOT	12	DP	25969
LOT	14	DP	25969
LOT	6	DP	25969
LOT	1	DP	34633
LOT	2	DP	34633

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
62 Chisholm Road	Clareville	Northern Beaches	Narrabeen	Cumberland	Primary Address
62 Chisholm Avenue	Clareville	Northern Beaches	Narrabeen	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	16 Mar 99

Statement of significance:


	Hy Brasil is of State significance as one of three 'organic' houses designed by Alexander Stewart Jolly in Avalon. Hy Brasil with its simple construction of stone and timber and set in its native bushland setting represents Jolly's architecture and phillosophy regarding the built form and its relationship to the natural Australian landscape. (Heritage Office)
	Date significance updated: 29 Oct 07
	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:	Alexander Stewart Jolly
Construction years:	1936-1936
Physical description:	Hy-Brasil originally comprised a main living space with verandahs to the west and east facades and bedroom and kitchen to the south facade. Constructed of local rock faced sandstone. The house has been planned around a large central stone fieplace and the use of natural materials of stone and timber represents a distinct 'organic' design philosophy. Particular interest exists with the fireplace structure as the mantel consists of a three metre long stone slab. The house has a contemporary style in its design influenced by Californian Bungalow and Organic architectural movements with the use of large picture windows, exposed internal stained timber rafters and beams coupled with a low pitched horizontal roof. Hy-Brasil which derives its name from the mythical Isle location of the Garden of Eden, has magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean to the east and Pittwater to the west. Pedestrian access to the house via a narrow winding pathway up a steep slope through large sandstone boulders. Native trees have been retained around the house and supplemented by plantings of ornamental exotics, notably sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), pampas grass (Cortaderia sp.), fruit salad plant (Monstera deliciosa), tree ferns (Cyathea sp.), giant bird-of-paradise flower (Strelitzia nicolai) and azaleas (Rhododendron indicum cv.s). Cover use has been made of the local sandstone which has been cut to provide steps, garden seats, retaining walls, pools and a barbeque. The area to the west of the house contains terraced lawns leading down to a sandstone cliff which forms a well-defined boundary to the property. Below the cliff, natural bushalnd extends down to the properties below. The overall impression of Hy-Brasil's setting is one of blending of the house into natural bushland. (Heritage Council Branch Managers Report No.300/80 24 October 1980) (plant names added by Stuart Read, 20/8/08).


Current use:	House
Former use:	Weekend retreat

History

Historical notes:

The land on which Hy-Brasil is located was originally part of 1200 acres of land granted to John Joseph Therry on 31 August 1833. It was subdivided as part of the Pittwater Estate, a subdivision for villa sites. The first owners of the land (Lot 8A of the Pittwater estate subdivision - main part of the site where Hy-Brasil stands now) were Joseph Dalton and Daniel Claney who transferred the land to George Holland in December 1882. Holland held the possession of the land until July 1927 when he sold it to Redway Thomas Pawley and Arthur George Potter. The ownership of the land passed on to Albert Travers Black after just two months and a year later Kathleen Wilhelmina Jolly wife of the Alexander Stewart Jolly purchased it from Albert Travers Black in 1923. She became the registered proprietor of the land on 4 March 1931

Mrs Jolly transferred the land, which was still undeveloped together with its surrounding neighbouring allotments, to the Australian Land Development & Investment Company limited on 15 April of the same year. Eventually the land was purchased by Arthur Wilson on 24 June 1935 and shortly after he commissed Alexander S. Jolly to design a weekend retreat on the property and called it 'The Gem'.

'The Gem', a stone and timber cabin now known as Hy-Brasil was built in 1936. Another change in ownership occurred in February 1949 and Rachel Jane Donaldson became the registered proprieor of the property. She held the ownership of the house until when it was bought by Ted Herman in 1958. The name Hy Brasil, which means Irish folk law for Island containing Garden of Eden was given at this stage. (CityPlan Heritage January 2006)

Hy Brasil was nominated for a Permanent Conservation Order in 1980 by the Herman family. The Order was placed on 31 July 1981 and was transferred to the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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	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-
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	Urban landscapes inspiring creative responses-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	(none)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Alexander Stuart Jolly, architect-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Hy Brasil is of State significance as an excellent example of twentieth century 'organic' architecture and is one of three listed works by Alexander Stewart Jolly. The unique bushland setting of the building, large itie and stone terracing form an integral part of the design philosophy. This distinctive style influenced the later 'Sydney School' architectural movement of the mid sixties. (Heritage Council Branch Managers Report No.300/80 24 October 1980)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The ridge-top siting of Hy Brasil is prominent from the surrounding area and takes advantage of superb panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Pittwater. Native bushland has been retained and enhanced by the well chosen exotic ornamental planting to provide a setting which complements the natural qualities of the house. (Heritage Council Branch Managers Report No.300/80 24 October 1980)
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.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977 Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977. I, the Hon James Griffin MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective at the time of publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette: 1. revoke the order made on 9 November 2020 and published in the Government Gazette Number 318 of 13 November 2020; and 2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule. The Hon James Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Signed this 2nd day of June 2022. To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below.	Jun 17 2022

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 Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register	00079	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00079	31 Jul 81	108
Local Environmental Plan	1993	04 Feb 94	031	0534

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	CityPlan Heritage	2006	Heritage Impact Statement
Written	Heritage Council Branch Managers Report No.300/80 24 October 1980	1980

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:	5045021
File number:	S90/03213 & HC 32386

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.