Vienna

Item details


Name of item:	Vienna
Other name/s:	Curan Curan, Carrum Carrum, Subiaco, Vienna Cottage
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	Cottage
Location:	Lat: -33.8345914817 Long: 151.1547400110
Primary address:	38-40 Alexandra 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	C		DP	77688
LOT	D		DP	77688

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
38-40 Alexandra Street	Hunters Hill	Hunters Hill	Hunters Hill	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
National Trust of Australia (NSW)	Community Group

Statement of significance:


	Vienna is an excellent example of a tradesman's cottage of the nineteenth century, complete with its detached kitchen block. It intactness makes it rare in Sydney. It is evidence of the period 1861 - 1890 when Hunter's Hill first developed as a suburb and it stands on the earliest successful small lot subdivision in the village. The subdivision was undertaken by Jules Joubert who with his brother Didier were together the first, and most prominent developers of Hunter's Hill. The cottage demonstrates the tradesman's way of life of the 19th century, and how the family adapted the cottage to accommodate changing needs and standards. (Clive Lucas, 1983)
	Date significance updated: 02 Jan 13
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Unkown
Builder/Maker:	Unkown
Construction years:	1871-1871
Physical description:	The stone cottages of Hunters Hill are the most common buildnig type and one of the suburb's outstanding features. They range in size and number of rooms, the most-common two forms being the two-roomed cottage (with two rooms under the main hipped or gabled roof and additional rooms under a rear verandah roof) and the four-roomed cottage. The front facades of cottages are all very similar with a central front door, a window on either side and a verandah or porch across the front (Lucas, 1983). Vienna is more substantial than many of the remaining cottages of similar age and a prototype of later cottages of the 1880s and 1890s. Most have had substantial additions to provide extra rooms, new kitchens and bathrooms. Vienna of all the stone cottages is the most intact and few mid-Victorian cottages remain in Sydney in similar condition. Despite the various improvements to include a bathroom, connect water, gas and electricity and provide more natural light, it retains much of its early character and form (ibid, 1983). enna is a four-roomed stone gabled roofed cottage with front and back verandahs on a rectangular suburban block with small front garden and long rear garden, with remnant orchard (Stuart Read, 15/8/8). The adjoining land (40 Alexandra Street), being part of Lot 12 of the original Joubert subdivision of 1859, has never been built upon. It was for many years an orchard having a variety of trees bearing oranges, mandarins, lemons, plums, quinces, pomegranates and guavas. The land has always been an integral part of Vienna. It also contains the old well which is now covered over. The roof is slated and the doors are four panelled. The shuttered windows at the front of the house are pleate galss while those at the back at\re small paned with crown glass. The house retains its early Victorian style timber chimneypieces and in the front rooms are pretty circular ceiling roses, which is the only elaboration of the plasterwork. Behind the house is a weatherboard service block, with an iron roof and stone chimney. This is linked to the main house by a simple covered way across a narrow flagged court (Lucas 1983).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good.
	Date condition updated:03 Mar 00
Modifications and dates:	1920s - windows put in side walls to allow more light into the rooms. 2007-8: garden restoration completed, including ornaments, pots, implements, fence repair, installing new gate and security device (National Trust, 2008).


Current use:	Museum
Former use:	House

History

Historical notes:

Hunters Hill:
At the time of European contact the Kelly's bush area was inhabited by the Wal Umedegal Clan who spoke the Guringai language. They lived primarly on fish and shellfish, supplmenting their diet when necessary with vegetables, marsupials, birds and grubs. They were also frequently observed firing the scrub both to facilitate access to the foreshore and to flush out game. Very little is known of their social structure and religious beliefs (Pitt, 2011).

Captain John Hunter (1737-1821) of the Sirius, charted Sydney harbour in 1788. On 28 January 1788 he wrote in his journal: 'A few days after my arrival with the transports in Port Jackson, I set off with a six-oared boat and a small boat, intending to make as good a survey of the harbour as circumstances would admit: I took to my assistance Mr Bradley, the first lieutenant, Mr Keltie, the master, and a young gentleman of the quarter-deck (midshipman Henry Waterhouse).' Hunter's meticulous chart shows 30 depth soundings around the peninsula bounded by the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. Hunter was Governor of the Colony from 1795-1800. He is commemorated in the name of Hunters Hill (Sherry/Hunters Hill Historical Society, 2011, 15).

The first land grants for Hunters Hill were in the 1830s and development for suburban purposes with house-sized allotments began in the 1850s. Didier Joubert, a merchant from Bordeaux, France, bought Mary Reibey's Figtree faerm in 1847. Recognising the development potential of Hunters Hill, its proximity to Sydney, deep water frontage and pleasant situation, he set about transforming the rugged uncultivable peninsula into Australia's first true suburb. In 1854 he moved into St. Malo. His brother, Jules came to Hunters Hill in 1855 and from then until 1880 they purchased, subdivided and sold land, and built at least 15 houses almost all of stone on the northern side of the peninsula. In 1859 Jules Joubert purchased land in the centre of the peninsula from John Roby Hatfield, the original grantee of 1839, and then subdivided and sold it. Herman Heinrich Groth purchased two allotments in Alexandra Street, the main road to Hunters Hill, and sold them to John Jacob and Ann Hellman in 1866 (Lucas/HCoNSW, 1984, 3).

In 1855 a speculative housing venture of erecting four prefabricated Swiss Cottages at Hunters Hill was underway. In this period Hunters Hill was an established French enclave, with the residence of the French consul located there at "Passy", and much of its early development was constructed by men of French descent. The prefabricated houses were advertised as "four splendid family residences, standing in their own grounds, of about 1 acres each", with "wood and water in abundance" ( Sherry 1989, 48).

Beverley Sherry in her study of Hunter Hill notes that this was the first planned group of houses to be built in the municipality, marking the beginning of the garden suburb character of Australia's oldest Garden Suburb The subdivision and garden suburb development occurred in the mid to late nineteenth century, predating the formation of the Garden Suburb movement. The historic development at Hunters Hill was consistently speculative, although some of the subdivisions were undertaken to provide residences for family members (Mattingley, 2007).

Vienna:
Vienna was built in 1871 for John Jacob Hellman (later Hillman) and his Irish wife Ann. He originally came from Hamburg, Germany and his wife Ann (nee O'Donnell) from Mooneenreave, County Leitrim, Ireland. Ann came to Australia in 1857 as a bounty migrant (Sherry, 2011, 4). They were married in 1860, and purchased what is now 36 to 40 Alexandra Street from Herman Heinrich Groth for (Pounds)60 on 19th November, 1866. This land formed lots 11 and 12 of a Jules Joubert subdivision of 1859. The area was originally owned by John Roby Hatfield by crown grant dated 12th July, 1839.

John Jacob Hellman was a shoemaker by occupation. In the 1870s he had a shop at 171/2 Erskine Street, City and later worked as a shoemaker to St. Joseph's College. He and his wife owned cattle and ran a dairy and orchard and in the early 1880s he was also the lamp lighter of the Borough of Hunter's Hill. There were six children, all except the first were baptised at the Villa Maria Church, Hunters Hill as Hillman, not Hellman. Their second son Hugh (born 8.7.1870) was enrolled as a boarder at St. Joseph's College on the first day (18.7.1881) that the College began at Hunter's Hill.

The adjacent cottage 'Redleaf (36 Alexandra Street) was also owned by the Hellmans and after the death of his wife Ann (5.8.1908), John Jacob and his youngest son James Frederick (born 9.6.1873) moved in 1912 from Vienna into that weatherboard cottage. At that time his son Hugh was the owner occupier of Alroy (34 Alexandra Street) and his married daughter Mary King (born 19.8.1867) and her children lived in Vienna (Lucas, 1983).

After the death of his father, James Frederick, who was a tailor by occupation, became the owner of both Vienna and Redleaf and continued to live in Redleaf until 1923. During the 1920s he made some changes to Vienna including the insertion of side windows to allow more light into the rooms. Mary King left Vienna in 1923 and another of John Jacob's sons, John Hillman (born 15.5.1865) lived there until 1926. A number of tenants then occupied the cottage, the Anderson family since 1941, George Anderson being the tenant in 1983. James Frederick never married and after his death in 1958 the cottage passed to one of his nieces, Gladys Hillman who is still the owner (ibid, 1983).

Vienna was known from its construction in 1871 up until the 1920s as Carrum Carrum. When occupied by John Hillman Jnr. in 1924 it was called Subiaco but since the 1930s its name has been Vienna (ibid, 1983).

The adjoining land (40 Alexandra Street), being part of Lot 12 of the original Joubert subdivision of 1859, has never been built upon. It was for many years an orchard having a variety of trees bearing oranges, mandarins, lemons, plums, quinces, pomegranates and guavas. The land has always been an integral part of Vienna. It also contains the old well which is now covered over (Lucas, 1983, 3).

The cottage and adjacent land became available for purchase in 1982. A number of local citizens were concerned to see it saved from adaptation to modern occupation and wished it restored and opened to the public for historic and educational purposes. The project was supported by the Hunters Hill Bicentennial Community Committee and the National Trust of Australia (NSW). A campaign to raise funds started in 1983 (Lucas/HCoNSW, 1984, 3).

In 1984 Vienna Cottage was purchased by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) with funding from the local Vienna Appeal Committee (Le Seuer, 2015, 7) to be restored for community use. The first stage of restoration was assisted by a $50,000 grant from the Heritage Council of NSW. The adjoining land was bought by Hunters Hill Municipal Council at a cost of $85,000 with the assistance of a dollar-for-dollar grant from the Heritage Council of NSW (ibid, 1984, 3).

Thanks to the generous assistance of the late Dr Flynn, and with Community Building Partnership funding, the verandah at Vienna Cottage, which dates to 1871, was repaired (NTA (NSW) Annual Report, 2020, 6).

In 2021-2022 the National Trust of Australia (NSW) appeal fundraising to rescusitate the gardens of Tomago House, Vienna Cottage in Hunters Hill and Norman Lindsay Gallery garden in Faulconbridge has raised over $104k for these three gardens. This will allow the trust to remove dead trees, replant new ones, revive garden beds, install irrigation, create new paths and enhance these spaces (NTA (NSW) magazine, 3-4/2022, 4).

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.	Modification of terrain-
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	Creating environments evocative of the '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 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	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.	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.	early settlement or worker's cottage-
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	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Housing-
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	Developing suburbia-
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.	Building in response to climate - bushfires-
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 - colonial homestead-
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.	Vernacular structures and building techniques-
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	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.	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.	Ornamental Garden-
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	Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Community volunteering-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Fund-raising activities for community charities-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Places of informal community gatherings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Developing and maintaining a local museum-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Belonging to an historical society or heritage organisation-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Ann Hellman, wife and homemaker-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Mary King, wife and homemaker-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Frederick Hellman, worker-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with John Hillman (Hellman), worker-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with John Jacob Hellman, shoemaker, lamp lighter-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Vienna is an excellent example of a tradesman's cottage of the nineteenth century, complete with its detached kitchen block. It is evidence of the period 1861 - 1890 when Hunter's Hill first developed as a suburb and it stands on the earliest successful small lot subdivision in the village. The subdivision was undertaken by Jules Joubert who with his brother Didier were together the first, and most prominent developers of Hunter's Hill. The cottage demonstrates the tradesman's way of life of the 19th century, and how the family adapted the cottage to accommondate changing needs and standards. (Lucas, 1983)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The un-built upon land, once an orchard, is rare evidence of the reliance of suburban families in the 19th and early 20th century on home produce, and is asignificance feature of the property. (Lucas, 1983)
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Vienna combined with the adjoining Hillman cottages of Alroy and Redleaf demonstrate the once common pattern of family property ownership, and the later resubdivision of the land demonstrates, in microcosm, the speculative nature of land ownership in Hunter's Hill. (Lucas, 1983)
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The cottage has considerable educational value. The cottage demonstrates the tradesman's way of life of the 19th century, and how the family adapted the cottage to accommondate changing needs and standards. (Lucas, 1983)
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Its intactness makes it rare in Sydney. (Lucas, 1983)
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): (a) The maintenance of any item on the site meaning the continuous protective care of existing materials; (b) work set out in the conservation Ananlysis and Plan dated May 1983.	Aug 29 1986
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	00459	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00459	29 Aug 86	136	4238
Local Environmental Plan		13 Sep 91
National Trust of Australia register	10691
Register of the National Estate	2616	21 Mar 78

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT)	1983	'The Way We Were', in The Historic Houses of Australia
Written	Clive Lucas	1983	Vienna - Conservation Analysis and Plan
Written	Le Seuer, Angela	2015	'National Trust celebrates its 70th anniversary'
Written	Lucas, Clive (1983 CMP)/adapted by Heritage Council of NSW	1984	'Vienna restoration appeal'
Written	National Trust of Australia (NSW)	2008	Vienna Cottage - newsletter
Tourism	National Trust of NSW	2007	Vienna	View detail
Written	Sherry, Beverley	2011	'John Hunter', entry (Valentia Street Wharf footpath plaque); 'Vienna' entry
Tourism	Tourism NSW	2007	Vienna Cottage	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:	5045661
File number:	S90/05280 & HC 32911

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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