Cranbrook Group

Item details


Name of item:	Cranbrook Group
Other name/s:	Fowlers House
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Villa
Location:	Lat: -33.8879040612 Long: 151.1748179720
Primary address:	10, 14 Australia Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050
Local govt. area:	Inner West
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	4		DP	175973
LOT	4		DP	175973

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
10, 14 Australia Street	Camperdown	Inner West			Primary Address
14 Australia Street	Camperdown	Inner West	Petersham	Cumberland	Alternate Address
10 Australia Street	Camperdown	Inner West	Petersham	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private

Statement of significance:


	The Cranbrook Group is of State historic significance as part of the last portion of the once-extensive Fowler estate, which at one time covered most of Camperdown. It is associated with Enoch Fowler and was the home of Robert Fowler, owner of Fowler Pottery and Lord Mayor of Sydney and Camperdown. The Fowler family were early pioneers of the pottery industry in NSW producing pipes, tiles, chimney pots and items for residential and industrial use. The group is of aesthetic significance as they retain most of their original Italianate features.
	Date significance updated: 25 Aug 20
	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:	Not known
Builder/Maker:	Not known
Construction years:	1879-1881
Physical description:	No. 10 - A terrace style two bedroom house featuring round-headed door and window with arched mouldings on the lower floor and another panelled door and cats iron fence with French doors on the upper floor. Roof is iron tiled. Much of the detail of the terrace matches the grander house Cranbrook at No. 14. No. 14 (Cranbrook) - A large two-storey Italianate villa of five bedrooms with boxroom and rear courtyards. Retains cast iron fence and verandahs, dentillated trim to the verandah, large stuccoed chimneys and exterior steps with marble had-rails and sandstone balusters. Interior features marble fireplaces and etched and coloured glass, elaborately carved staircase.


Current use:	Residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm, residence

History

Historical notes:

The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters (Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani).

With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney (Heiss, Sydney City Council).

Cranbrook:
Enoch Fowler (1807-79) and his wife Jane appear to have arrived in Sydney from Tyrone, Ireland, in 1836 and in 1837 established a small pottery on Parramatta Street, now Broadway. In 1840 Robert Fowler was born, the eldest son of Enoch and Jane. Robert was educated at near-by Christ Church School.

In 1848 the pottery moved to Glebe, being first located in Queen Street and then to Bay Street. By the late 1850s it had moved to a five acre (2 ha.) site at Camperdown.

In 1860 Enoch Fowler following encouragement by Arthur Holroyd purchased a machine for making four-inch drainpipes that was exhibited at the Parramatta Agricultural Society's show. The manufacture of drainpipes gradually became the mainstay of the works.

In 1865 the firm, still located at Camperdown, had 25 employees turning out half a mile (.8km) of pipes each week. The business expanded rapidly to meet increasing demand. As well as salt-glazed drainpipes and plain bricks the works produced fire bricks, chequered and border tiles, chimney pots and all types of pottery. Robert who had assisted he father, inherits the firm on his father's death in 1879.

In 1881 Robert Fowler who was living behind the brickpits in Ross Street, Camperdown, builds a grand house, Cranbrook at 14 Australia Street Camperdown. The two-storey villa included a bathroom (added in the 1890's), gardens, ferneries and an orchard (site now the Camperdown Oval/park).

Robert's brother John builds the house next door at No. 10. The house may have also served as a servants' or managers' house (occupied by manager Robert Tratham) connected by a common carriageway and courtyard to the main house at No. 14.

Robert Fowlers interests include history, political economy and natural philosophy. He was elected alderman for Cook municipality in 1869 and mayor in 1870; he helped to merge it with Camperdown and became mayor of the new borough in 1870-71. In 1872-84 he was an alderman for Denison ward of the Sydney City Council and was mayor in 1880. In the 1890s he represented Phillip ward. In 1872 he was appointed a justice of the peace and in February 1886 to the royal commission on intoxicating drink. In July 1894 as a free trade and selected local option league candidate he won Sydney-Phillip in the Legislative Assembly. Defeated next year, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. Though inactive as a politician he held enlightened views on many matters including female suffrage.

Fowler was chairman of his district Public School Board and fond of sport, supporting regattas and public school cadet matches. He was a commissioner for New South Wales at the Melbourne Exhibition of 1881 and the Amsterdam Exhibition. Industrious, modest and popular, he was an unostentatious philanthropist and a Freemason as well as a director of Sydney Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum and a governor of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for twenty-four years. He also subscribed to the Irish Relief fund.

On 12 June 1906 Robert Fowler dies of cerebral thrombosis after a long illness at his residence Cranbrook and is buried in Waverley Cemetery. His estate was sworn for probate at almost 42,000 pound. About the time of his death an expansion of the pottery was being planned and soon afterwards another plant was opened at Bankstown and an existing pottery at Longueville taken. By 1912 business had outgrown the facilities of the Camperdown works and they were transferred to a seventeen acre (6.8ha) site at Marrickville. Robert Fowler's Potteries became a public company in 1922.

After Roberts death his widow Susannah continues to live at Cranbrook.

In 1919 Cranbrook is sold to Charles Daintree. The potteries are moved to Marrickville and the site sold to Garrets Ltd as a garage and motor works. The garden of Cranbrook was purchased by the Department of Education and added to the school.

In 1924 a 20 foot strip of land is resumed from the house on which the ballroom and the orchard stood for the Electricity Meter Manufacturing Co Ltd.

In 1981 the two houses No. 10 and 14 are owned by the Brown family and are let to Ken Robson who sublets rooms. At this Time Marrickville Council applies to the Heritage Council for a s.130 order to prevent harm or demolition to the buildings. This is placed on 12 March 1982 and again on 10 August 1984.

Garry Nicholls is owner in 1982. In 1985 Mr Nicholls nominates the Cranbrook Group for a Permanganate Conservation Order with the intention of restore the properties. A Permanent Conservation Order was made over the property on 19 July 1985.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Introduce cultural planting-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	(none)-
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	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Technology-Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences	Technologies for sanitation-
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.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
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.	A Picturesque Residential Suburb-
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.	Adapted heritage building or structure-
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	19th century suburban developments-
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	Subdivision of urban 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	Terrace housing development-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Ald. Enoch Fowler, Lord Mayor of Sydney and of Camperdown-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Jane Fowler, gentlewoman-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Robert Fowler, brick and pipe manufacturer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	(none)-

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce 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	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	00418	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00418	19 Jul 85	105
Local Environmental Plan	00050	01 Sep 89	92	6445
Register of the National Estate		15 May 90	17	0020
Register of the National Estate		14 May 91

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Electronic			Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition - Robert Fowler	View detail

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:	5045210
File number:	S90/05368 & HC 32865, 9952

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.

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