Residence

Item details


Name of item:	Residence
Other name/s:	AKA 8 Magic Grove
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -33.8356687280 Long: 151.2398208810
Primary address:	28 Mistral Avenue, Mosman, NSW 2088
Parish:	Willoughby
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Mosman
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1		DP	556986
LOT	4		DP	611597

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
28 Mistral Avenue	Mosman	Mosman	Willoughby	Cumberland	Primary Address
26-28 Mistral Avenue	Mosman	Mosman	Willoughby	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private

Statement of significance:


	28 Mistral Avenue has historic and aesthetic significance as a rare Sydney example of a residence designed by the noted architect E. Jeaffreson Jackson around the turn of the century (1900) in the shingle (Federation Arts & Crafts) style displaying a North American influence. The house is essentially intact and retains most of its original external detailing and materials including its timber shingles, casement windows and terracotta tiles. The house is complemented by its tennis court and street tree planting of brush box (Lophostemon confertus) trees. (Branch Head's report no. 203/79, 18/9/1979, modified by Read, S., 25/5/2007). Jeaffreson Jackson was an influential and innovative architect in the area of residential designs with examples of his work appearing in Arts and Architecture and other leading magazines of the day. There are 9 known residential examples of his designs surviving in Sydney, of which 3 are located in Mosman. The small number and quality of his designs warrant recognition and protection under the Heritage Act (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981). The property has historic associations as the home for 36 years of a former president of the Legislative Council of NSW and managing editor of the Land newspaper, Sir Harry Budd, and his family until his death (1978)(Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 1981, modified by Read, S., 25/5/2007). The grass lawn tennis court forms an essential part of the curtilage of the building and has been designed to relate to it as the garden front. This site is considered to form the minimum comfortable curtilage for the house (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981). No. 28 Mistral Avenue is sited opposite that of another house designed by the same architect producing an important group relationship. Both houses are essentially intact and located on corner sites, this combined with their two storey height, similar style, distinctive designs and landscaped setting of extensive lawns produces an interesting townscape element (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981). A large residence set in extensive grounds that, by virtue of the composition of its three major unified wings, avoids overly dominating its setting (LEP, 2001).
	Date significance updated: 23 May 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:	E. Jeaffreson Jackson
Physical description:	Site: (The house) It is set above street level with a stone retaining wall at the street frontage. (LEP, 2001). The house still enjoys a large site, though it is placed to the rear of its allotment and a tennis court dominates the front garden. (Moore, 1988). The grass lawn tennis court forms an essential part of the curtilage of the building and has been designed to relate to it as the garden front. Subdivision of all the original garden has occurred and this lawn tennis court area, which exists under separate title represents the last potential building site. However this site is considered to form the minimum comfortable curtilage for the house. The retention of this site as a grassed tennis court is realistic both in physical and economic terms as the shortage of suburban courts has ensured that houses with one command a premium price, particularly in Mosman (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981). House: Inter War Arts & Crafts. Large, two-storey rambling Inter-War Arts & Crafts house. The ground floor is in face brick, the upper level in timber shingles and the roof of terracotta. Features include bay windows, hoods and small pane windows. A tennis court on the street frontage is visually intrusive (LEP, 2001).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The house is essentially intact and retains most of its original external detailing and materials including its timber shingles, casement windows and terracotta tiles. It is complemented by its grass tennis court (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981).
	Date condition updated:25 May 07
Modifications and dates:	The original property included no. 26 Mistral Avenue, an adjoining vacant block of landscaped garden which existed under a separate title. This block has been sold and a house is being built on it. (Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 1981). The grass lawn tennis court forms an essential part of the curtilage of the building and has been designed to relate to it as the garden front. Subdivision of all the original garden has occurred and this lawn tennis court area, which exists under separate title represents the last potential building site. However this site is considered to form the minimum comfortable curtilage for the house (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981). Lady Budd said that the house had been altered before her family lived there and that she and her husband had made several extensive renovations. "We bought the house from people named Jesson, who had let it for many years," Lady Budd said. "The Jessons put in the tennis court." The Budds had the house re-roofed when the tiles started to deteriorate "about 20 years ago" and had installed fireplaces in 2 of the upstairs bedrooms. A china cabinet downstairs hid another fireplace. A long living room downstairs, originally two rooms separated by sliding doors, was altered and dark wooden panelling, typical of pre-war interior design, was removed. The Budds also made extensive alterations to the kitchen, converting two pantries into a scullery and laundry.(Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 1981). 1988+: Addition of a garage & parent`s bedroom Swimming pool installed, c2000. Minor alterations (LEP, 2001).


Current use:	residence
Former use:	residence

History

Historical notes:

The original Mistral Avenue property included no. 26, an adjoining vacant block of landscaped garden which existed under a separate title. This block has been sold and a house is being built on it. (Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 1981).

The residence was designed by the noted architect E. Jeaffreson Jackson around the turn of the century (1900) in the shingle style displaying a North American influence. The house is essentially intact and retains most of its original external detailing and materials including its timber shingles, casement windows and terracotta tiles. The house is complemented by its tennis court and street tree planting of brush box (Lophostemon confertus) trees. (Branch Head's report no. 203/79, 18/9/1979).

The house was the home for 36 years of a former president of the Legislative Council of NSW and managing editor of the Land newspaper, Sir Harry Budd, and his family until his death 3 years ago (1978). Describing the house as a "nice, cosy family house but with no history and little architectural merit", Lady Budd said yesterday that the house had been altered before her family lived there and that she and her husband had made several extensive renovations. "We bought the house from people named Jesson, who had let it for many years," Lady Budd said. "The Jessons put in the tennis court." The Budds had the house re-roofed when the tiles started to deteriorate "about 20 years ago" and had installed fireplaces in 2 of the upstairs bedrooms. A china cabinet downstairs hid another fireplace. A long living room downstairs, originally two rooms separated by sliding doors, was altered and dark wooden panelling, typical of pre-war interior design, was removed. The Budds also made extensive alterations to the kitchen, converting two pantries into a scullery and laundry.(Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 1981).

A 1979 Heritage Branch report dealt with the then current sale of 26-28 Mistral Avenue to a development company whose plans involved a part subdivision of its grounds for a new house and renovation of the existing house. The house forms part of a classified area by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) - the Magic Grove Group, consisting of two houses. Both houses in the group were designed by E. Jeaffreson Jackson and are stylistically related to each other.

The grass lawn tennis court forms a part of the curtilage of the building and has been designed to relate to it as the garden front. An order would ensure that any subdivision of the third lot would retain its trees and that any new house would be appropriately sited and designed to blend with the existing. (Branch Head's report no. 203/79, 18/9/1979).

In response to the proposed subdivision and sale of 26-28 Mistral Avenue, the site was made the subject of an interim conservation order on 14/12/1979. The site of the side garden has now been sold and the erection of a house approved under section 60 of the Heritage Act. This proposed house has been designed in sympathy in terms of siting and design to the existing Federation house.

This residence, together with the landscaped front area containing the grass tennis court, was sold separately at auction, subsequent to the order being gazetted.

Jeaffreson Jackson was an influential and innovative architect in the area of residential designs with examples of his work appearing in Arts and Architecture and other leading magazines of the day. There are 9 known residential examples of Jeaffreson Jackson's designs surviving in Sydney, of which 3 are located in Mosman. The small number and quality of his designs warrant recognition and protection under the Heritage Act (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981).
The other two Jeaffresson Jackson houses in Mosman are Tregoyd, the home of Sir Tristan and Lady Antico on the Balmoral slopes and 17 Calypso Avenue, opposite 28 Mistral Avenue (Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 1982).

No. 28 Mistral Avenue is sited opposite that of another house designed by the same architect producing an important group relationship.

Both houses are essentially intact and located on corner sites, this combined with their two storey height, similar style, distinctive designs and landscaped setting of extensive lawns produces an interesting townscape element.

The grass lawn tennis court forms an essential part of the curtilage of the building and has been designed to relate to it as the garden front. Subdivision of all the original garden has occurred and this lawn tennis court area, which exists under separate title represents the last potential building site. However this site is considered to form the minimum comfortable curtilage for the house. The retention of this site as a grassed tennis court is realistic both in physical and economic terms as the shortage of suburban courts has ensured that houses with one command a premium price, particularly in Mosman (Branch Manager's report no.376/81, 6/10/1981).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Housing public servants and officials-
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	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing suburbia-
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-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with E. Jeaffresson Jackson, architect-

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
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		00210	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00210	19 Feb 82	28	0716
Local Environmental Plan			23 Feb 01	41
National Trust of Australia register	Part of Magic Grove Group	8217

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Mosman Heritage Study	1996	297	Godden Mackay Logan P/L	GA/CK	No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Felicity Richards, in the Mosman & Lower North Shore Daily, 25/3/1982	1982	Order on Mosman Home - designed by US Architect
Written	M.Shearman, Manager, Heritage Branch	1981	Branch Manager's report no.376/81, of 6/10/1981
Written	Moore, Robert A., Architects & Conservation Consultants	1988	(letter dated 23/8/1988) Re: 28 Mistral Avenue, Mosman
Written	N.Bignold, Acting Head, Branch Head, Heritage Branch	1979	Branch Head's report no. 203/79, of 18/9/1979

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

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045051
File number:	S90/01980 & HC 32340

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