Stoneleigh

Item details


Name of item:	Stoneleigh
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Villa
Location:	Lat: -33.8775734331 Long: 151.2195357170
Primary address:	1 Darley Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Parish:	Alexandria
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	13		DP	611068

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
1 Darley Street	Darlinghurst	Sydney	Alexandria	Cumberland	Primary Address
1A Darley Street	Darlinghurst	Sydney	Alexandria	Cumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	30 Mar 99

Description


Construction years:	1860-1865
Physical description:	Grounds Listing includes front fence and grounds (LEP, 2012). Villa: Two storey Victorian Regency (Revival) style house, freestanding, with a hipped corrugated steel roof, a bank of 12 paned timber framed double hung windows to the first floor, and arched colonnade to the ground floor. Victorian cast iron palisade fence. The colonnade extends around one side of the building. The building is constructed of stone and rendered brick. The columns to the colonnade are octagonal with moulded caps. The building also features articulated quoins (LEP, 2012). Listing includes interior (LEP, 2012). Villa: an exceptionally fine example of a Victorian Regency villa. Two storey Georgian (Revival style) home Classic Palladian style, ground floor door arrangement slightly off centre and elaborate arcade on ground floor extending along front and one side. Constructed stone and stuccoed brick. Windows six pane sashes, upper windows have elaborately decorated lintels. Columns to arcade octagonal masonry with moulded caps. Articulated quoins and three centred arch work lined to represent ashlar. Corrugated iron hipped roof. Balanced chimneys (RNE).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Good. The roof (not original) was damaged in the 1999 Sydney hailstorm, and was replaced with the current sympathetic corrugated steel roofing (LEP, 2012)
	Date condition updated:11 Dec 19
Modifications and dates:	1999: roof (not original) damaged in 1999 hailstorm, was replaced with the current sympathetic corrugated steel roofing.


Current use:	Residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm, town lot, Residence, boadring house, Marist School storehouse, residence, Gallery/Garden Shop

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 (Heiss, see below).

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 (Source: Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani)
Darlinghurst:
With its elevated position over the city, the area has been called Woolloomooloo Heights, Eastern Hill and Henrietta Town. In the 1820s, Governor Ralph Darling renamed the suburb in honour of his wife, Eliza Darling (Crosson, 2013).

By 1800 several large windmills were situated on the heights of this area, using its stiff breezes to grind much-needed flour from grain. The area began its suburban life under the name 'Henrietta Town', being called after Mrs Macquarie, whose second name was Henrietta. At that time it was an Aboriginal reserve. Loyalties changed with Governors when Darling took office, changing its name to Darlinghurst in honour of his popular wife. 'Hurst' is an old English word for a wooded hill (Pollon, 1988, 77).

Darlinghurst was once quite a fashionable suburb and it housed some famous people. One of the grandest houses was the mansion Craigend, built by NSW Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell, in 1828-31. It stood on nearly 4 hectares now bordered by Kings Cross Road, Surrey Street and Victoria Road. Mitchell and family lived in this neoclassical mansion with the facade of a Greek temple for only five or six years. It then passed to several owners and was demolished in 1921, but Craigend Street is a permanent reminder. David Scott Mitchell (1836-1706), the wealthy bachelor who endowed the Mitchell Library with 70,000 pounds and his valuable book and document collection relating to Australia and the Pacific region, was a longer-term resident, moving from the family home in Cumberland Street in the Rocks in 1871. He then lived unostentatiously at 17 Darlinghurst Road until his death in 1907 (ibid, 1988, 77).

The gilt went off the suburb when Darlinghurst Gaol, designed by Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis was built in 1841. It was not its style, but the significance of its erection that was the reason for the decline in Darlinghurst's popularity. Governor Brisbane had reserved 3.5 acres on Sydney's outskirts for a new gaol to replace the earlier lock-up in George Street. In 1823 a stockade was erected. Convicts quarried the stone from nearby William Street and hauled it to the hill top, where other convict gangs shaped up the blocks by hand. The completed enclosure was known as Woolloomooloo Stockade. Construction commenced in 1836 and was complete by 1841. Prisoners from George Street prison were marched in chains to Darlinghurst to the jeers and catcalls of the watching crowd. The first public hanging took placed at the new gaol on 29/10/1841 when Robert Hands and George Stroud were hung. The last public hanging in Sydney was in 1907. The gaol was closed as a prison in 1914 and became a security house for German refugees during the First World War. In 1921 it changed character completely when it became the East Sydney Technical College (ibid, 1988, 78-79).

The suburb's main thoroughfare, William Street, was named after King William IV, who reigned from 1830 to 1837 and was often scathingly referred to as Sailor Bill, or even Silly Billy (Pollen & Murphy, 1988, 77-79).

Darlinghurst Court House and Residence was originally designed by the Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis. Building was commenced in 1835 and was not completed until 1844. Later Government Architect James Barnet designed major flanking court room pavilion additions 1884 - 88. This building was a milestone building, being specifically designed to suit its purpose and impart authority and the power of the law. The former Darlinghurst Gaol is sited adjoining this site.

Nineteenth century Sydneysiders who wanted a home with a view knew that Darlinghurst was the place to build. The highest point in inner Sydney is near the corner of Darley Street and Darley Place. By the middle of the century this had become a fashionable residential area. Mansions were built, particularly towards the harbour where there were water views. Onel a decade laterl was Stoneleigh.

Stoneleigh:
The house is thought to have been constructed c. 1860, probably for distinguished solicitor, William Barker (LEP, 2012; Tingle, 2010). Barker was born in Ireland in 1815 and arrived in Australia in 1830. By the time he was 38, he was important enough to be granted 28 parcels of land in Darlinghurst. Seven years later (1860) he had built Stoneleigh, on the highest point on the ridge. Barker once ran as candidate for the seat of East Sydney and lost, to Sir Henry Parkes. Barker was a partner in the firm, Norton, Son and Barker and was once offered District Court Judgeship, but declined as he preferred private practice. He died suddenly at his home in Bondi in 1879, aged 64 (Tingle, 2010).

Another commentator (Tingle, 25/9/2015) notes that the house was in the posession of Edward Brooking Cornish from c.1860 until his death - and that of his wife Margaret - in late 1866. It was listed for sale as part of their estate in December 1866 with the auction held 15/1/1867. Deward died on 27 October 1866 and Margaret on 21 November - both died at Stoneleigh, from Gulf Fever - contracted on a trip to Burketown (unidentified blog respondent, on Tingle, 25/9/2015).

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).

From 1870, Stoneleigh belonged to Richard Jones, founder of the 'Maitland Mercury' newspaper (still published by Fairfax) and a former chairman of the Commonwealth Bank. Jones died on 25 August, 1892 inside Stoneleigh (ibid, 2010).

A John Rae photo, taken c1879-82 from his adjacent home, 'Hilton', shows a timber shingle roof on Stoneleigh, and a series of diminishing height single-storey additions to its rear (west), perhaps kitchen and laundry. It also shows trees lining its northern rear fence, which is of timber palings. (https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=ADLIB110317749&context=L&vid=SLNSW&lang=en_US&search_scope=MOH&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,rae%20hilton%20darlinghurst).

In 1895 the home moved into the hands of another banker, Sir J. Russell French, General Manager of the Bank of New South Wales (LEP, 2012). He stayed here ten years (ibid, 2010). 'Mrs Russell French's Dance' was written up in 'The Australian' newspaper in 1901. It hosted 250 guests. Descriptions of a who's-who of society, their daughters and who wore what, the description noted a few details, such as that the conservatory was arrayed with palms and ferns, a frieze of arum lilies lined the ballroom (The Australian, 21/9/1901, c/o www.trove.nla.gov.au/newspapers/article/).

From 1907 the house became a boarding house, owned by Henry Tongue, and in 1912 it became part of the Marist Brothers School property (LEP, 2012), which occupied the adjacent (1911) building since the 1980s, now known as Alexandra Flats. When the Marist Brothers sold it in 1968, Stoneleigh again became a private residence (ibid, 2010).

A 1981 photograph (Tingle, 2011) shows Stoneleigh in disrepair, with no hedge, a street tree, and no rear extension. It had apparently been in disprepair for some time and had been used as a storehouse for the neighbouring Marist Brothers College. The roof was then badly damaged in a Sydney storm. Another photograph in 1985 shows it painted (painted pale pink) and with no street tree outside (open view to/from Darley Street), two Lord Howe Island palms (Howea fosteriana) in the front garden - clearly old - and a new young hedge just starting to reach palisade fence capitals height - perhaps of camellias (ibid, 2011: observations by Stuart Read, 13/5/2020).

Stoneleigh was bought by broadcaster and media commentator Phillip Adams in the mid-late 1980s. At that time it had a parquet floor downstairs and upstairs all the rooms were carpeted. It had been heavily renovated in the early 1980s (unidentified commentator, 3/4/2014 on Tingle, 2010 blogpost).

Stoneleigh was sold in 1990. It was gazetted on the NSW State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Stoneleigh was placed on the real estate market in 2010, at which time two businesses, Stoneleigh Gallery (wholesalers of deluxe silk flowers); and Liberon Waxes (who sell beeswax furniture polish) listed it as their address (Tingle, 2010).

A 2011 photograph show a tall Leighton's Green' cypress hedge blocking the street front and any view in of the ground floor, two deciduous street trees (likely Southen nettle tree, Celtis australis - as one survives across Darley Street today. Neither Lord Howe Island palm tree survives (Stuart Read, observation, 13/5/2020).

Broadcaster Phillip Adams owned Stoneleigh (twitter post, 31/3/2014) commenting that an episode of the TV series 'Rake' had been filmed there (Tingle, 2010/10/8 - comments).

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.	Changing the environment-
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-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Retailing-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Printing-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Banking-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Developing Commercial Enterprise-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Communicating by the printed word-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Communicating by the printed word-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication-Activities relating to the creation and conveyance of information	Communicating by newspapers-
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 parklands of distinctive styles-
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 urban amenity-
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-
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.	City Club accommodation-
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.	Housing townsfolk - urban 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.	Marine villa-
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.	Housing (inner city)-
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.	gentlemen's residences-
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.	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.	Architectural design-
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.	Victorian era residence-
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 professional people-
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.	Town Houses-
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	1820s-1850s land grants-
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	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
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	living in the city-
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	Early Sydney Street-
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	Rare Sydney Laneway-
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	A Picturesque Residential District-
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	Garden suburbs-
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	Suburban Consolidation-
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 suburbs-
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	Suburban Expansion-
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-
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	Beautifying towns and villages-
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	Urban landscapes inspiring creative responses-
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 towns in response to topography-
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	Residence-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Catholic school-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Educating people in suburban locations-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	College boarding house-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Private (religious) schooling-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Adapted villa/ cottage for a school-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Local government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administration of land-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
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 - Victorian period-
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 - 20th century post WW2-
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.	Designing in an exemplary architectural style-
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 Georgian Revival-
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.	Interior design styles and periods - Victorian-
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.	Adaptation of overseas design for local use-
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	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1900-1950-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1950-2000-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1850-1900-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ornamental Garden-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in suburbia-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living on the urban fringe-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Kitchens and servants-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in a new house-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in, adapting and renovating homes for changing conditions-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gardening-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Leisure-Includes tourism, resorts.
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with J. Russell French, Bank of NSW Manager-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Richard Jones, Chair, CBC Bank, founder of Maitland Mercury newspaper-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Henry Tongue, landowner-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with William Barker, landowner-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with the Marist Brothers-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Phillip Adams, broadcaster and writer-

Recommended management:

The building should be retained and conserved. A Heritage Assessment and Heritage Impact Statement, or a Conservation Management Plan, should be prepared for the building prior to any major works being undertaken. There shall be no vertical additions to the building and no alterations to the façade of the building other than to reinstate original features. The principal room layout and planning configuration as well as significant internal original features including ceilings, cornices, joinery, flooring and fireplaces should be retained and conserved. Any additions and alterations should be confined to the rear in areas of less significance, should not be visibly prominent and shall be in accordance with the relevant planning controls (LEP, 2012).

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		00187	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00187	11 Sep 81	137	4823
Local Environmental Plan	Sydney City Local Environmental Plan 2012	I272	14 Dec 12
Register of the National Estate		1978	21 Mar 78

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Stoneleigh	View detail
Written	Aitken, Richard	2002	Villa Garden (entry)	View detail
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Stoneleigh	View detail
Written	Heiss, Anita		Aboriginal People and Place	View detail
Written	Pollen, F. & Healy, G. (ed.s)	1988	'Darlinghust' in The Book of Sydney Suburbs
Written	Tingle, Violet	2011	Darlinghurst: Past and Present: Stoneleigh	View detail
Written	Tingle, Violet	2010	'Darlinghurst: Heritage Items: Stoneleigh'	View detail

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:	5045586
File number:	S90/05838 & HC 32474

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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