The Ridge (under to consideration to amend listing)

Item details


Name of item:	The Ridge (under to consideration to amend listing)
Other name/s:	Hillcrest Hospital, Hillcrest Home, Maryville Mothers' Hospital, Burwood Estate
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Villa
Location:	Lat: -32.9494062045 Long: 151.7503775090
Primary address:	21 Hillcrest Road, Merewether, NSW 2291
Parish:	Newcastle
County:	Northumberland
Local govt. area:	Newcastle
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Awabakal

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	5		DP	260947

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
21 Hillcrest Road	Merewether	Newcastle	Newcastle	Northumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	26 Mar 99

Statement of significance:


	The Ridge is State significant for its historical and associative values. Its historical and associative significance partially derives from its origin as the family home and remaining portion of the former estate of Edward Merewether, after which the surrounding suburb of Merewether is named, and his wife Augusta, who was the daughter of James Mitchell, one of Newcastle’s earliest private coal mining entrepreneurs. Edward, as general superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, built the house as one of the first grand mansions on Mitchell’s former Burwood Estate and as his Newcastle home while he managed the company’s coal mines and agricultural lands. The subdivision of the Burwood Estate by the Merewether family in the early 20th century set the foundations for the development of the suburb of the same name, with the listing being the only remaining portion of the estate. The Ridge meets the State threshold for historical and associative significance for its role as a former Salvation Army maternity hospital and adoption centre from 1924 to 1977. Its establishment followed the introduction of adoption laws in NSW in 1923 and many of the hundreds of babies born there were adopted out from the hospital. Its role in the forced adoption of young and unmarried mothers’ babies has been subject to inquiry in a series of Parliamentary inquests that highlighted the traumatic and long-term impacts of this practice.
	Date significance updated: 24 Nov 25
	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


Construction years:	1861-1861
Physical description:	The Ridge is an item that includes a Victorian Gothic-style building and surrounding land, with views to the surrounding landscape, located at 21 Hillcrest Road, Merewether and comprising Lot 5 DP 260947. The built components comprise a main dwelling, a timber outbuilding and brick garage. The main dwelling is a two-storey rendered brick and sandstone Victorian Gothic-style residence with prominent, high double-fronted gables, steep-pitched multi-gabled roof, mouldings around upper-floor windows and covered verandah wrapping around the western and northern elevations. Later external and internal renovations are highly sympathetic and considered contributory to the overall significance. The interior combines original elements with sympathetic alterations to its components and layout. The outbuilding is a single-storey, timber-framed cottage on raised brick footings with a later verandah addition. The brick garage is of later construction. The setting comprises terrain sloping to the north-northwest and non-significant elements (mature trees, other plantings, landscaping, paths, cubby house and fencing) covering the full extent of Lot 5 DP 260947. While partially visible from the surrounding suburbs, extensive subdivision and adjacent residential construction has degraded the landmark qualities of the main dwelling. Once significant views to the dwelling from the surrounding areas are now partially obstructed.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The main dwelling is in excellent condition externally and internally. The outbuildings and setting of the item are in fair condition.
	Date condition updated:18 Nov 25
Modifications and dates:	c.1861 - Main two-storey rendered brick and sandstone dwelling built with covered verandah, comprising a ground-floor drawing room, dining room, breakfast and storerooms, entry vestibule and staircase to the upper floor, and first-floor bedrooms and bathrooms. Stables and outbuildings built to the rear. 1911 - Subdivision of estate; 46 lots put up for sale (Keating 2016). Pre-1924 - The entrance gate was moved back towards the hills, to the junction of Patrick and Ridge Streets, then to Curry Street, progressively shortening the driveway (Healy 1951). Address changed to 22 Curry Street (Salvation Army 2003), likely as a result of subdivision and new road construction. c.1924-25 - Main dwelling converted for use as a hospital; back room converted to operating theatre, stables turned into laundry and storeroom (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 1951); timber outbuilding built, possibly later, for hospital-related purposes (Evans 2018; Carr 2024). Pre-1944 - Timber outbuilding constructed (based on review of historical aerial photographs). By 1944, The Ridge's setting had been reduced by Curry Street to the north and Pell Street to the east (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). 1949 - Address changed from 22 Curry Street to 40 Curry Street, likely due to further subdivision of surrounding land (Salvation Army 2003; Parry and O'Neill 2025). 1954 - New maternity ward built; extensions made for nurses' accommodation (Dunn 2019). By 1954, residential dwellings along the southern side of Curry Street and western side of Pell Street had reduced The Ridge's setting (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). c.1954-66 - Construction of Hillcrest Road likely resulted in changes to the garden design and levels (Evans 2018). Residential dwellings along Hillcrest Road further reduced The Ridge's setting (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). c.1966-74 - Subdivision of land The construction of Rowan Crescent and Rowan Lane and residential subdivision further diminished the setting. Large tree (Ficus macrophylla?) to the immediate west of the main dwelling removed (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). Post-1976 - Approximately one-third of the house semi-demolished, including removal of cupola (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). c.1976-84 - Curry Street driveway access removed. New large dwellings to north, northwest and west further reduce setting (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). c.1976-87 - Main dwelling restored to residential property; some interior additions associated with use as a hospital removed; small two-storey addition on southern side built to accommodate plumbing. c.1984-87 - Main dwelling re-roofed; sympathetic two-storey garage and loft building constructed near the centre of the southern boundary (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). c.1980s - Cubby house moved to site from owners' previous residence. c.1987-93 - Below ground swimming pool added to immediate west of main dwelling; new boundary plantings (Spatial Services NSW n.d.). 2011 - Solar panels added to west-facing verandah roof of main dwelling. c.2020 - Solar panels added to roof of timber outbuilding.


Current use:	residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, estate, town lot, residence, maternity hospital, aged care and convalescent facility

History

Historical notes:

STATEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Ridge and the suburb of Merewether stand on Awabakal Country (AIATSIS 1996). Prior to the arrival of Europeans in Newcastle in the late 1790s and the establishment of the convict station in 1804, Merewether included important hunting grounds for the Awabakal, with early colonial reports describing open country that the Europeans referred to as pasture. Convict artist Joseph Lycett painted a series of scenes of Aboriginal people in Newcastle in the period 1817-19. They are spearfishing, diving for crayfish, cooking fish and feasting on whale on the shore of what is likely to be the coast of Merewether and Bar Beach. These paintings show not only the traditional life of the Awabakal but also that these practices continued after the arrival of convicts and soldiers in 1804 (Dunn 2019).

Although their identities are unconfirmed, it is likely that Aboriginal mothers and children were present at The Ridge during its time as a maternity hospital and adoption centre (Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 1952). The impacts of the removal of Aboriginal children from their families are recognised in the 1997 Bringing Them Home report and continue to have lasting multi-generational effects on Aboriginal people.

EARLY EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT OF NEWCASTLE

European interest in Newcastle began with its coal deposits. Convicts were first sent there in 1801 to work the seams, though that early outpost was soon abandoned. It was revived in 1804 as a place of secondary punishment for offenders from New South Wales and Tasmania, and it remained a penal station until 1822. Once the settlement was closed, the district was opened to agriculture, and a modest township started to take shape. Free settlers gradually moved into the surrounding hinterland, and by the late 1840s new coal mines were being established around the town. Through the rest of the nineteenth century, Newcastle grew at a steady pace, evolving into an important industrial and trading port for the region's mines and inland districts (GML Heritage 2025).

BURWOOD ESTATE

In 1835, Sydney Hospital physician and industrialist James Mitchell purchased a large area of land which became known as the Burwood Estate. Mitchell's property bordered the Australian Agricultural Company's land and challenged this company's monopoly of the Newcastle coal industry (Turner 1982). Through the 1840s and 1850s, Mitchell and his tenants exploited a series of small coal mines across the estate and operated a nearby coal-fired copper smelter.

THE RIDGE

In 1860, Mitchell's daughter, Augusta Maria Mitchell, married Edward Christopher Merewether, a former aide-de-camp to Governors Gipps and Fitzroy and Sir Maurice O'Connell. Edward arrived in Newcastle as the general superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company (Smith 2006). His competing interests in the Burwood Estate, led him to recuse himself of his responsibilities in the Australian Agricultural Company. Augusta and Edward had their family home built on Burwood Estate in 1861, calling it The Ridge. At the time, the estate was largely undeveloped and the new house, which took its name from the site's topography, was a prominent landmark in the area. Visitors approached the house via a long driveway where present-day Mitchell Street lies (Dunn 2019).

In 1876, Merewether and family moved to Sydney, leaving the management of Burwood Estate to his nephew Robert Scott Jnr. Merewether continued to visit Newcastle on business, staying at The Ridge when he did.

In 1885, Burwood Estate was incorporated as a municipality named Merewether after Edward Merewether. The Merewethers leased land to the Anglican church and financed the construction of nearby St Augustine's Church of England and gave funds to a variety of schools and schools of arts (Smith 2006; Sydney Morning Herald 1889). The Merewethers' legacy extends to many local street names, named after family members Ella, Dora, Frederick, Helen, Rowan, Janet, James, Margaret and Robert (Keating 2016).

From 1910, the family began to sell off Burwood Estate. In 1911, they sold the first 46 subdivided lots, ushering in the area's transition from industry and mining to a residential suburb.

MATERNITY HOSPITAL

In April 1925, the Salvation Army purchased The Ridge along with two acres of the old Burwood Estate. The organisation converted the house into Maryville Mothers' Hospital, which opened in July 1925 and replaced the maternity hospital it had established in Newcastle the year before. The hospital was one of only two maternity hospitals operated by the Salvation Army in New South Wales, although the organisation had managed several in other areas of Australia since the 1890s. The hospital's practice of arranging adoptions responded to the passing of the first adoption laws in NSW in 1923 under the Child Welfare Act.

In 1933, the hospital was renamed Hillcrest Hospital, which it continued to be known as until its closure in 1977. For at least some of its history, Hillcrest Hospital comprised 16 and 23 beds respectively for married and unmarried mothers (Newcastle Morning Herald 1952). Married women enjoyed views of the coast and luminous quarters, while those giving birth out of wedlock were confined to less luxurious rooms (Healy 1951). Because of social stigma, young single mothers were sent to the hospital from as far as Perth and sometimes several months prior to the birth of their child (NSW Legislative Council 2000; Parry and O'Neill 2025).

While the Maryville Mothers' Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital treated both married and unmarried mothers, the disapproval of the latter by the Salvation Army and broader society, as evident in records from the time (Patricia 1939), resulted in coercive and traumatic forced adoption practices. The number of adoptions through the hospital saw it mentioned in at least one government inquiry into forced adoption (NSW Legislative Council 2000), which culminated in a Commonwealth Senate inquiry in 2012 that found forced adoption or removal policies "that were unethical, dishonest and in many cases illegal" (Commonwealth Senate 2012; Attorney-General's Department n.d.). The hospital appears in a number of online forums and searches connected with people searching for information about families and adoptions from the hospital (Find & Connect).

During the mid-1960s, the hospital began to change its operations, first phasing out private care and eventually ceasing its maternity role altogether. With the closure of the maternity wards, the hospital was converted into a convalescent home for disability and aged care. A growing repair bill for the ageing building and increasing competition for care from other hospitals and private facilities caused the hospital's closure in 1977.

A RETURN TO RESIDENTIAL FUNCTIONS

In 1979, the hospital was sold to local developer Alan Strachan. By this time, the building was in poor repair and in need of major work. Strachan subdivided the land into nine blocks for residential development to finance renovations that never eventuated. By mid-1981, vandalism, neglect and rising property prices had left the original house vulnerable to demolition. The Heritage Council of NSW responded by placing an Interim Conservation Order. In December 1982, the house was sold to owner-occupiers who undertook to restore the residence. A Permanent Conservation Order came into effect in 1984.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Operating private and religious hospitals-
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 the prosperous - mansions in town and country-
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	Sub-division of large estates-
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	Illustrates early ownership and occupancy of land within the Hunter Region-
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 - Victorian (mid)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gardening-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Edward C. Merewether, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Exec.Council Clerk, Gen.Sec.AA Company-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Dr James Mitchell, doctor-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Ridge holds State-significant historical values on account of its relationship to the development of the suburb of Merewether and the economic evolution of Newcastle more broadly. It is important as one of the earliest and oldest remaining houses in the suburb of Merewether, predating the subdivision and development of Burwood Estate. The house, built in the Victorian Gothic style by industrialist and superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company, Edward Merewether, after whom the suburb is named, was a prominent landmark in the Newcastle area from its construction in 1861 until extensive subdivision around it in the 1980s. Further historical significance stems from the site's association with adoption policy and practice in NSW. Under the Salvation Army, the house was converted in 1924 for use as a maternity hospital, known initially as Maryville Mothers' Hospital and, from 1933, as Hillcrest Hospital, until 1977. During its operation, many of the hundreds of babies born there were adopted out from the hospital. Its reinvention as an adoption centre marks the introduction of the Child Welfare Act 1923 in NSW. Its role in the forced adoption of young and unmarried mothers' babies has been the subject of a series of Parliamentary inquests that highlighted the traumatic and long-term impacts of this practice. The historical significance of The Ridge is vested in the main dwelling and the adjoining land which comprises the only remaining portion of the Burwood Estate and retains partial views from the dwelling to the surrounding landscape.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The Ridge is State significant for its strong associations with Edward Merewether, who as general superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company had the house built for his family in 1861. Associations extend to James Mitchell, Merewether's father-in-law, whose founding of Burwood Estate in 1835 helped shape Newcastle physically, politically and economically, not least by challenging the Australian Agricultural Company's monopoly. The Ridge also has strong associations with the Salvation Army and for survivors of forced adoption and their advocacy groups. The Salvation Army bought the house and surrounding property in 1924 and subsequently ran a maternity hospital and adoption centre from the site until 1977, first called Maryville Mothers' Hospital and then Hillcrest Hospital. The practice of forced adoption of young and single mothers' babies, has created a strong link with those affected directly and subsequent generations. The associative significance of The Ridge is vested in the main dwelling.
Integrity/Intactness:	Good
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	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		00313	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00313	15 Jun 84	93	3128
Local Environmental Plan	Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012	I304	15 Jun 12	64

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Curtilage Assessment & Statement of Heritage Impact: The Ridge, 21 Hillcrest Road, Merewether	2018		Elizabeth Evans	orrn	Yes
Heritage Assessment of the Significance of the Cottage Outbuilding, letter to Kim Hughes, 2 April 2024 (	2024		John Carr	orrn	No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Attorney-General’s Department		National Apology for Forced Adoptions	View detail
Written	C.E. Smith	2006	'Edward Christopher Merewether (1820-1893)', Australian Dictionary of Biography	View detail
Written	Commonwealth Senate	2012	Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices	View detail
Written	Find & Connect		History & information about Australian orphanages, Children's Homes & other institutions	View detail
Electronic	Forced Adoptions History Project		Forced Adoptions History Project	View detail
Electronic	GML Heritage	2025	Newcastle City-wide Thematic History, Draft Report, 9 September 2025	View detail
Written	Ian Healy	1951	'Humanity and the unmarried mother', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 7 April	View detail
Written	J.W. Turner	1982	Coal mining in Newcastle 1801-1900	View detail
Written	Julie Keating	2016	Merewether & The Junction: Nineteenth century industrial towns	View detail
Electronic	Naomi Parry and Kate O'Neill	2025	Hillcrest Hospital (updated 27 August 2025)	View detail
Written	Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate	1952	'Mothers back to Hillcrest', 17 November	View detail
Written	NSW Legislative Council	2000	Releasing the Past: Adoption Practices 1950-1998, Final Report	View detail
Written	Patricia	1939	'Refugees at "Hillcrest"', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 1 July	View detail
Written	Salvation Army	2003	Submission No. 46 to the Senate Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territorial Headquarters (VIC), Appendix B, Eastern Territory Social Centres, A list of openings, closings and function	View detail
Map	Spatial Services NSW		Historical Imagery	View detail
Written	Sydney Morning Herald	1889	'Opening of St Augustine's Church, Merewether', 7 May	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:	5045490
File number:	EF11/07743

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