Tulloona

Item details


Name of item:	Tulloona
Other name/s:	Northcott House, St Peter's Anglican Church
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -28.8153513747 Long: 153.3186796830
Primary address:	562 Ballina Road, Goonellabah, NSW 2480
Local govt. area:	Lismore
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Ngulingah

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	A		DP	358562

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
562 Ballina Road	Goonellabah	Lismore			Primary Address
106 BALLINA Road (BRUXNER H'WAY)	Lismore	Lismore	Lismore	Rous	Alternate Address
Bruxner Highway	Lismore	Lismore	Lismore	Rous	Alternate Address
106 Ballina Road	Lismore	Lismore	Lismore	Rous	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Mrs Sue Dakin	Private

Statement of significance:


	A rare surviving house from the late Victorian period. One of the oldest known residences in the Lismore urban area. Tulloona is a fine example of a two storey weatherboard house. It displays a high degree of integrity, and features design elements that exemplify opulent Victorian taste. Associated with a well-known local family. Originally built on a large rural holding at Goonellabah, then a separate village. Considerable social and historical interest for its many owners and uses over the years. (Perumal Murphy Wu 1995)
	Date significance updated: 04 Feb 00
	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


Builder/Maker:	Mr Brown
Construction years:	1895-1896
Physical description:	Site and landscape: Farm originally comprising several hundred acres, with dairy and piggery on the northern end of the property overlooking Bexhill. Tulloona house is sited towards the centre of a 3788m2 block adjacent to the junction of Ballina Road, Rous Road and the Bruxner Highway. Significant plantings along the front boundary and within the articulation zone obscure views to Tullonna House from the street. Large trees, planted along the eastern boundary punctuate views from the residence to No. 564 and 566 Ballina Road. The land contains a circular drive and garden to the front, an early school house to the rear and a scattering of subtropical trees. Garden: An 'English Park' setting with the house on 4 acres set at the highest point of the farm with wonderful views in all directions. The house and high tank stand was a well known landmark and was a tourist attraction and could be seen from Casino and Dunoon. The walls could also be seen from Bangalow and Byron Bay lighthouse with binoculars. In the rear yard small garden beds are clustered around the School House, pool, and Residence. House: An impressive large scale house displaying all the exuberance of a high Victorian residence befitting that of a successful country gentleman. The house is a two-storey verandahed structure of local timber with weatherboard sheeting. The plan is basically a square with projecting bays to the main rooms. These bay windows contain rather distinctive shaped fenestration recalling the English Gothic-Revival. The galvanised steel verandah roofs have a distinctive ogee shape and the wide verandahs possess deep pointed timber valence boards with cast iron columns, panels and frieze which impart an air of lightness contrasting with the solid massing of the bays. The house interior is lined with horizontal beaded timber boards throughout which were originally stained. The major rooms are grand in scale (up to 10m by 9m) with the generous ceiling height of 4.8m throughout. All these rooms contain rich Victorian marble mantelpieces to the fireplaces with pattern inlays to sides and hearth. The central staircase is of impressive proportions with cedar balustrade and panelling surrounds reflecting a taste for 'Old English' detailing (National Trust of Australia (NSW), 1978). Outbuildings and structures: Schoolroom: A schoolroom was built behind (north of) the house. Generating Plant: An acetylene and generating plant supplied the lighting for the house and buildings. Water Tank, Windmill and Well: A two thousand gallon tank was erected between house and schoolroom, and water pumped to the tank by a windmill, erected beside a twenty eight feet deep, eighteen feet in diameter well. The water was piped to every part of the property, including pipes for hundreds of yards to the house, dairy and piggery on the farm on the northern end of the property overlooking Bexhill. Stables: Stables for 4 horses were built at the back of the 4 acre property, together with the Carriage House: Carriage house for 2 buggies, a sulky and a 'sociable', which held 9 people. Tank Stand:
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good. (date?) 2019: These are structural issues and the decking on the ground floor will become dangerous and at risk of complete failure if the decking boards which have failed are not removed and replaced (grant application, 3/2019).
	Date condition updated:27 May 98
Modifications and dates:	1872 Thomas McGregor erected a hut and set about preparing the site for a residence. 1879-95 William and Jessie Northcott purchased a farm of several hundred acres at Goonellabah Farm originally comprising several hundred acres, with dairy and piggery on the northern end of the property overlooking Bexhill. 1895-6 Tulloona House built in 1895 for the Northcotts. William set out to establish an 'English Park' setting, siting Tulloona on 4 acres at the highest point with wonderful views in all directions. date? subdivided - now (2008) comprises Tulloona house towards the centre of a 3788m2 block


Current use:	Residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, Residence

History

Historical notes:

Thomas McGregor was the owner of the land in 1872. He erected a hut and set about preparing the site for a residence.

William and Jessie Northcott arrived in Lismore in 1879 and bought businesses and had a saddlery business in the already developed town. The expanding Northcott family lived above their 'Trading Palace' in Molesworth Street, Lismore. He later purchased a farm of several hundred acres at Goonellabah. Tulloona House was built in 1895 for the Northcott family. William Northcott set out to establish an 'English Park' setting and sited Tulloona on 4 acres at the highest point with wonderful views in all directions. The builder was Mr Brown, father of the late George Brown of Brown & Jolly.

A schoolroom was built behind the house. All the buildings were painted white. An acetylene and generating plant supplied the lighting for the house and buildings.

A two thousand gallon tank was erected between the house and the schoolroom, and the water was pumped to the tank by a windmill, erected beside a twenty eight feet deep, eighteen feet in diameter well. The water was piped to every part of the property, including pipes for hundreds of yards to the house, dairy and piggery on the farm on the northern end of the property overlooking Bexhill.

Stables for 4 horses was built at the back of the 4 acre property, together with the carriage house for 2 buggies, a sulky and a 'sociable', which held 9 people (3 in the front and 6 in the back with seats facing each other). The sulky was for the use of the staff on their days off. William Northcott drove to Lismore each ay in the smaller buggy, which he called the phaeton. On Sundays he drove his family to Church in the 'sociable' with 2 matching grey horses. This outfit was always made available when anyone of note came to Lismore, and the 2 horses, Beauchamp and Carrington, showed their paces on these important occasions. On their outings to Ballina, a 3rd horse Prince was harnessed with them. All members of the family were competent both as drivers and riders.

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...(Aitken, 2002, 619-20).

In 1910 the family purchased their first car, a model T Ford. They all learned to drive except William who loved to drive his horses, and after his first attempt was content to be a passenger.

The house and high tank stand was a well known landmark and was a tourist attraction and could be seen from Casino and Dunoon. The walls could also be seen from Bangalow and Byron Bay lighthouse with binoculars.

Three maids were employed in the house and always wore uniforms, caps and aprons. Two men were employed outside. (Northcott, Grey, McLennan)

In 1915 the family moved to Sydney and sold Tulloona to Dr Cahill.

In 1961 the Anglican Church bought the property. In 1978 the Anglican Church advertised for demolition tenders for the house to sell as building materials. That same year an Interim Conservation Order was placed on Tullona to prevent demolition.

In 1980 Tulloona was purchased by the Mr Randall. He applied successfully to the Heritage Assistance Program for funding to conserve Tulloona. Conservation and restoration work was undertaken in the following years.

In 1981 a Permanent Conservation Order was placed on Tulloona.

The Heritage Council awarded $2,500 to the owners to contribute to a CMP which was produced in August 2005.

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.	Gardens-
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	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Private farming-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Ancillary structures - sheds, crop storage-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Rural Estates-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Ancillary structures - wells, cisterns-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Ancillary structures - windmills-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Agriculture-Activities relating to the cultivation and rearing of plant and animal species, usually for commercial purposes, can include aquaculture	Windmills to pump water for farm use-
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	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 and parklands of distinctive styles-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	Agisting and fattening stock for slaughter-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	Dairying-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	Pig farming-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	Livestock structures-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Horse transport related infrastructure - stables, watering troughs-
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.	Residential-
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.	Housing for merchants and dealers-
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	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 era residence-
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	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 rural 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	Rural 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	Country Villa-
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	living in the country-
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	Gardens - public (parks, reserves)-
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 private towns-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working independently on the land-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Private education-
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 William and Jessie Northcott, saddler / merchant family-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with William Northcott, saddler, merchant-

Recommended management:


	The Heritage Council awarded $2,500 to the owners towards a CMP which was produced in August 2005

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	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 Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register	00051	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00051	06 Nov 81	170	5708
State Environmental Planning Policy		23 Dec 94
Local Environmental Plan		19 Mar 93
National Trust of Australia register		03 Jul 78
Register of the National Estate		14 May 91

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	A Northcott, Grey, M McLennan		Historical Records
Written	Ainsworth Heritage	2009	Tulloona - Addendum to Statement of Heritage Impact - Replacement Roof
Written	Aitken, Richard	2002	Villa Garden (entry)	View detail
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Tulloona	View detail
Written	G & L Randall	1995	Historical Records
Written	Kenneth Young	2005	Conservation Management Plan for Tulloona House
Written	National Trust of Australia (NSW)	1978	Classification Card - Tulloona House
Written	Perumal Murphy Wu	1995	Lismore Heritage Study
Written	S & M Dakin, dated 23 October 2013	2013	Statement of Heritage Impact - Construction of Two Carports for Car Accommodation
Written	unpub., Michael Dakin	2018	Progress Report - 7/12/2018 - Tulloona House (SHR: 00051), 562 Ballina Road, Goonellabah - NSW Heritage Grants: Major Works (WRK2017018) - 2017-18 to 2018-19

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:	5045319
File number:	S90/06219 & HC 32050

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