Milthorpe

Item details


Name of item:	Milthorpe
Other name/s:	Atherslei
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Villa
Location:	Lat: -33.8367029382 Long: 151.1601486520
Primary address:	12 Crescent Street, Hunters Hill, NSW 2110
Parish:	Hunters Hill
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Hunters Hill
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1		DP	600500

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
12 Crescent Street	Hunters Hill	Hunters Hill	Hunters Hill	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	25 Mar 99

Statement of significance:


	Milthorpe is a good example of the substantial villas built on large sites which were a feature of the historical development of Hunters Hill in the nineteenth century. In particular, it is one of the few large estates of this period in Hunters Hill which has retained its historic setting on the foreshores of the Lane Cove River. The house is of architectural interest because of the quality of its features and its adaption from a mid-Victorian to a Federation style. (Central File 1995)
	Date significance updated: 01 Oct 97
	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:	Richard Sim
Construction years:	1872-1872
Physical description:	Site, setting and garden: Milthorpe is sited on a terrace well back from the river in the traditional nineteenth century Hunters Hill manner (Pike 1992: 2-3) - its house is set within extensive landscaped grounds on the Lane Cove River...overlooking the sloping lawn and gardens to the flat reclaimed area and the Lane Cove River beyond (Jonathon Falk 1986: 2 ) House: It is a substantial stone residence (Jonathon Falk 1986: 2 ) It has a slate roof and faces north-east, Outbuildings: Milthorpe has appurtenant garage and workshop areas to its rear boundary. Boat Shed, Cabana, Swimming Pool and Tennis Court: The flat, reclaimed portion of the land is further developed with a large L-shaped boat shed and cabana adjacent to the waters edge, an inground swimming pool and a synthetic surface tennis court. A gazebo is located within the landscaped area to the north of the main dwelling. (O'Dowd 1988: 1) The river edge is marked by a stone retaining wall.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical Condition is very good.
	Date condition updated:03 Jan 13
Modifications and dates:	1900 - Remodelling - gives Milthorpe a Federation style appearance. 1976 - Subdivision of land. (Jonathon Falk 1986: 2&7) c.1972 - Sandstone extensions 1985 - Internal maintenance and remedial work.(O'Dowd 1988:3) Post 1985 - Various renovations, alterations and additions - gates, cabana replaced with sandstone caretakers cottage. Fenestraton and joinery replaced over time due to white ants and general deterioration. (O'Dowd 1988:7)


Current use:	Residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, timber-getting, residence

History

Historical notes:

The site of Milthorpe was originally granted to a Mr Morgan and bought by Foss as part of his estate in 1862. Lots 6-10 were purchased in one parcel running in a rectangular block from the Lane Cove River to Passy Avenue from Alexandra Street and a line drawn from Abrose Street to Rooke Street. (Pike 1992: 2) Milthorpe was originally set in a larger estate but has been reduced by previous excisions of the property, the most major recent subdivision taking place in 1976 when a number of new lots were created in Rooke Street. At this time Milthorpe had an area of 12 240 square metres. (Branch Manager 1986: 5)

Milthorpe is thought to have been built in 1872 by Richard Sim as a fourteen room stone house. The building was given a Federation style appearance after remodelling around 1900. (Jonathon Falk 1986: 2)

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).

The river edge is marked by a stone retaining wall. The land behind this wall was reclaimed early in the twentieth century. Stone baths with access to the river were sited until 1924 where the central BBQ shelter now stands. A sandstone wall with columns ran from the baths across the reclaimed land. Part of this stone wall remains at the waters edge. Behind the reclaimed land the site climbed through a series of informal retaining walls to two terraces of sloping lawn. (Pike 1992: 2-3)

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.	Other open space-
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.	Cultural - Coasts and coastal features supporting human activities-
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.	Modification of terrain-
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-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Migration-Activities and processes associated with the resettling of people from one place to another (international, interstate, intrastate) and the impacts of such movements	Free Immigrants in the 19th century-
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	Clearing land for farming-
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	Gardens and landscapes reminiscent of an 'old country'-
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 passive recreation-
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 used for self reliant recreation-
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	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Forestry-Activities associated with identifying and managing land covered in trees for commercial purposes.	Coastal timbergetting-
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.	(none)-
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.	Gentlemens Villas-
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-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Milthorpe is one of the few remaining privately owned nineteenth century villa estates left in Sydney Harbour which has retained much of its original land and its physical links with the water. Its siting and setting demonstrates the distinctive characteristics of the nineteenth century Hunters Hill marine villa development. (Pike 1992: 5)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Milthorpe is of aesthetic significance for the way it is sited to address the water, with a backdrop of large, dense trees and for the way it can be viewed from a public wharf, public ferry route and from the Lane Cove River. (Pike 1992: 5) Its wide, reclaimed foreshore area properly belongs to and enhances the house and characterises the late 19th and early 20th century scale and use of foreshore villa gardens, compensating for subdivision developments which crowd its other boundaries. (Hunters Hill Trust 1986)
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.

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	Heritage Act	Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing material; (2) Garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning, weed control, the repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates and garden walls, tree surgery, but not extensive lopping; (3) The alteration to the interior of any building on the site.	Jun 10 1986
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act	Garden and Building Maintenance Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing material; (2) Garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning, weed control, the repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates, garden walls and tree surgery but not extensive lopping; (3) the alteration of any part of the interior of the building.	Jun 17 1988
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act	Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing materials; (2) Garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning, weed control, the repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates and garden walls, and tree surgery, but not extensive lopping; (3) The alteration of any part of the interior of the buildings; (4) the demolition of the following structures: the cabana / boatshed and swimming pool; the southern garage; the western garage; the workshop / garage; the weatherboard shed; and the structure adjoining the tennis court.	Jun 16 1989
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	00688	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00688	16 Jun 89	75
Local Environmental Plan	00014	13 Sep 91	127	7986

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Aitken, Richard	2002	'Villa Garden' (entry)	View detail
Written	Sherry, Beverley	2011	'John Hunter', entry (Valentia Street Wharf footpath plaque)

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:	5045474
File number:	S90/01928 & KHC 860165

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.