Fenton and surrounds

Item details


Name of item:	Fenton and surrounds
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -33.8806110569 Long: 151.2387161960
Primary address:	8 Albert Street, Edgecliff, NSW 2027
Parish:	Alexandria
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Woollahra
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	La Perouse

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	A		DP	964839

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
8 Albert Street	Edgecliff	Woollahra	Alexandria	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private	25 Mar 99
Kinsale Australia Pty Ltd	Private

Description


Designer/Maker:	Robert Smith (Robin S.) Dods
Construction years:	1918-1919
Physical description:	Site and Garden: 1408 square meters (approx: Sotheby's, 2021) of north-facing land. A (35m) long private brick drive between a church and tennis court leads into a walled garden facing a symmetrical and restrained white painted rendered brick wall with sandstone plinth and dressings, deep green shutters and above a steep roof of flat terracotta shingle tiles. Red paved concrete terrace (AHC, 1981). From Albert Street only the imposing gate posts, gates and long drive, shaded by cypress and other trees and shrubs is visible. The house is (now) behind another house. Extensive manicured grounds, myriad of mature trees, hedges and landscaped garden. 35m long private driveway through grand entrance gates transitiions to a beautiful sweeping circular driveway (sic: carriage loop, around a grassed mound and centrally planted mature fig tree: Stuart Read, observation from photo) (Sotheby's, 2021). House: Extends over two levels it has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and garaging for 2 cars (Sotheby's, 2021). Interwar Georgian revival style. A modest, stuccoed building influenced by (artist and architect, William Hardy) Wilson colonial revival, neatly and discretely detailed (RAIA, 2013). Single storey house (to southern, driveway side: Stuart Read, obs., from photos: two storey to north/rear, with portico / loggia and 'U'-shaped wings around it, open deck above with pergola atop). On the harbour side, the ground falls away to expose a lower floor with a loggia behind simple arcading and now a separate flat (ibid, 1981; LEP, 2015) Symmetrical and restrained elevation of white rendered walls with sandstone plinth and dressings, deep green shutters and steep roof of flat terracotta shingle tiles (ibid, 1981, LEP, 2015). Stone stairs and iron rails give entrance to a shallow porch between two simple columns and lintel. Front door has a delicate leaded fanlight and side lights with carved white painted jambs frame the door, set within a small porch framed by simple columns and lintel... The ceiling of the hall is a single vault in white plaster (ibid, 1981, 2015). The drawing room of generous proportion has natural maple panelling with architraves matched to the ancient corner cabinet, and the ceiling without cornice has the initials 'R' and 'M' worked into the plaster (ibid, 1981, 2015). The joinery and interior detailing is largely intact with some sympathetic additions (ibid, 1981). A well considered and accomplished fusion of English 'Arts and Crafts' ideals, American tendencies in Mediterranean forms and the local heritage of (colonial architect Francis) Greenway (AHC, 1981; LEP, 2015). Fenton is the last personal statement by an important Australian architect, Robin Dods, and as such has been influential. Hardy Wilson, Professor Wilkinson, B J Waterhouse and Sir Robert Lorimer all admired it. It was built around Dod's fine collection of furniture, most of which remains (AHC, 1981).
	Date condition updated:31 Dec 19
Further information:	typical (RAIA)


Current use:	residence
Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm, suburban estate

History

Historical notes:

Aboriginal Sydney:
When Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet landed, first in Botany Bay and then in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), in January 1788, he was met by people who had lived on this land for many thousands of years. At least 1,500 people lived in the area between Botany Bay and Broken Bay and the intermediate coast (Attenbrow, n.d.)

There were two main languages spoken in the Sydney region - Darug and Tharawal. The Darug language had two main dialects - one spoken along the coast and the other in the hinterland (west of present-day Parramatta). Tharawal was spoken to the south of Botany Bay and as far west as the Georges River and possibly Camden (ibid, n.d.)

People belonged to small groups (territorial clans) through which they were spiritually related to specific tracts of land - these clans included the Gadigal, Wanngal, Gamaragal, Wallumedegal and Boromedegal. The suffix 'gal' denotes 'people of', thus, for example, the Gadigal were the people of Gadi (also spelled Cadigal and Cadi respectively) (ibid, n.d.).

The 'district of Gadi' was reported to have stretched from South Head west to 'the cove adjoining this settlement' (Darling Harbour) - an area that would have included Centennial, Moore and Queens Parks. Watkin Tench referred to the Gadigal as 'those who reside in the bay of Cadi'. The 'bay of Cadi' is probably Kutti, the Aboriginal place name recorded for present-day Watsons Bay, and the present name of a small beach in the bay (ibid, n.d.).

The Centennial Parklands Conservation Management Plan contains the following report that provides in depth detail of the pre-colonial history of the lands that are present day Centennial Parklands, which is where the text on this page comes from: Pre-colonial Aboriginal land and resource use in Centennial, Moore and Queens Parks - assessment of historical and archaeological evidence for Centennial Parklands Conservation Management Plan (ibid, n.d.).

Edgecliff:
Edgecliff takes its name from its location because it literally sits on the edge of a cliff. The rocky cliff was extensively quarried in the early day of European settlement (wikipedia entry, accessed 31/12/2019).

The area was dominated for some time by the 'Glenrock' property, on the north side of New South Head Road. Sir Edward Knox* built 'Fiona' in 1864 after having it designed by J. F. Hilly. It has been described as "a Classical Revival two-storey mansion" and was made of sandstone. Other elements of the estate included 'Glenrock', an Italianate residence designed by David MacBeath and built by John Marks circa 1870. There were also substantial gates of wrought iron and sandstone. The building was demolished when New South Head Road was widened, but the gates survived. Also on the estate was the 'Dower House', a Victorian Gothic Revival house of sandstone, built some time after 1842 by Whistler Smith. The estate is now the site of Ascham School, and the above items are on the Register of theNational Estate (ibid).

*Sir Edward Knox:
Edward Knox was a self-made man who coped with adversity, in a world of great uncertainty. Not only did he prosper, but he supported and led others to flourish. His highly principled behaviour and deep religious faith created valuable industries, thousands of jobs and pioneered fair and just industrial practices. He was born in 1819 in Helsingor, Denmark. After commercial training in Denmark and his uncle's London merchant house, he arrived in Australia in 1840. Through hard work and good connections, he progressed, becoming involved with the Australian Sugar Company and acquiring assets from astute commercial deals. At the age of 26, he became a director of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney in 1845, acting as manager from 1847-51 and remaining a director until his death in 1901. In 1855 he started the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), owning 1/3 of its capital and remained associated with it until his death. He established a vertically integrated sugar milling and refining operation which became the dominant sugar company in AUstralia and beyond. CSR today has become a major conglomerate expanding internationally into building products. By the early 1860s, Knox had resettled his family of four sons and four daughters in Sydney, returned CSR to prosperity, become a substantial pastoralist; and built his family home, Fiona, which is now Ascham Junior School, in Darling Point . He co-founded the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Carrington Convalescent Home and assisted many other benevolent institutions and activities over the term of his life (Tresise, 2020).

In September 1894 a cable tram service opened, which operated from King Street in the city to Ocean Street in Edgecliff. The powerhouse driving it was located at Rushcutters Bay. Unlike other trams of the era which were driven by steam, the cable ran in a gutter between the tracks. The cars gripped the moving cable to advance and released it to stop. It operated until 1905 when the tram line was electrified (ibid).

Interwar Georgian Revival Architecture:
A swing to Georgian simplicity in Britain at the turn of the (20th) century paralleled a revived interest in colonial architecture in the United States. William Hardy Wilson's visit in the first decade of the 20th century to Britain and America sparked off the Inter-War Georgian Revival) movement in Australia. Publication in 1923 of Hardy Wilson's 'Old Colonial Architecture in New South Wales and Tasmania' led to a reawakening of general interest in hitherto neglected early Australian archicture. Key practitioners included Robin Dods (late in career); Wilson; Eric Apperley and Wilson, Neave and Berry (Apperley et al, 1989, 153).

Robert Smith (Robin) Dods, architect and family:
Robert Smith (Robin) Dods (1868-1920), architect, was born on 9 June 1868 at Dunedin, New Zealand, eldest of 3 sons of Robert Smith Dods, wholesale grocer and his wife Elizabeth Gray, nee Stodart, both Edinburgh Scots. He came to be known as Robin. The family returned to Britain in the early 1870s and the father died in Edinburgh in 1876. Elizabeth and her children left for Brisbane to join her mother and in 1879 she married the ship's surgeon, Charles F. Marks, whom she met on the voyage; they had 4 children. He eventually settled into a practice in Wickham Terrace, Brisbane (Riddel, 1981).

Robin was educated at the Brisbane Boys' Grammar School and in 1886 sent to Edinburgh to serve articles with Hay & Henderson, architects. He also attended evening classes at Edinburgh Architectural Association until 1890 and formed there a lasting friendship with (Sir) Robert Lorimer (1864-1929). In 1890 Dods moved to London, where he worked with the fortifications branch of the War Office and in the office of (Sir) Aston Webb. In 1891 he was admitted to the Royal Institute of British Architects and travelled in Italy. There he first met Mary Marian King, daughter of an American clergyman, whom he married at Woollahra, Sydney, on 21 March 1899 (ibid, 1981).

In London Dods contributed measured drawings to the Architectural Association's A.A. Sketchbook and in 1893 won a special award in the Tite prize competition. Next year he was runner-up for the more valuable Soane medallion, and employed by Webb to prepare drawings for his successful entry in a competition for Christ's Hospital schools at Horsham, Sussex (ibid, 1981).

Dods visited his mother in Brisbane in 1894 and there completed designs which subsequently won a competition for a nurses' home at Brisbane Hospital. He was offered a partnership with John Hall & Son and, returning to Brisbane in 1896, started practice with Hall's son Francis as Hall & Dods. The hospital proved a valuable client over the next decade (ibid, 1981).

By 1900 Dods had designed a handful of houses, including his own at New Farm (demolished) and several small commercial buildings. His domestic work adopted many local techniques in wood but had a sophisticated discipline and common-sense response to climate which were radically new. Influenced by C. F. A. Voysey and like contemporaries in Britain including Lorimer and Lutyens, his early work was full of the romance of an arts and crafts philosophy which he never completely lost. Dods entered a competition for the new Brisbane Post Office in 1900. After inspecting the main southern post offices, he produced a design in the style of freely interpreted 'William and Mary' which won second place and a premium but failed to secure the commission (ibid, 1981).

The turning-point came in 1904 when, as architect for the Brisbane diocese of the Church of England, he accepted responsibility for building the last and possibly finest design of English architect J. L. Pearson. When the ambitious cathedral church of St John was opened in 1910, the east end, transepts and two bays of the nave had been completed under Dods's direction. He designed other buildings in the cathedral group, including the schools in 1904 and church offices in 1910 (ibid, 1981).

After 12 years in practice, Hall & Dods secured substantial clients. The Catholic Church had commissioned a new hospital, the Mater Misericordiae in South Brisbane. They had worked for the New Zealand Insurance Co., Australian Mutual Provident Society and Bank of New South Wales. Although the partnership inherited the reputation of Hall senior, its success was due more to Dods's ability and the influence of his family. To his mother's financial acumen was added the standing, as members of parliament, of both his stepfather and his uncle James Stodart (ibid, 1981).

Dods himself combined immense charm, wit and natural ability with discriminating and impeccable taste. He was passionate about work and derived great pleasure from it, seeking, in both buildings and writing, an appropriate Australian architecture. He contributed several times to premier English journal, the Builder. He was interested in politics, literature and the arts; read essays and especially Robert Louis Stevenson. He encouraged then unknown figures, such as (poet, writer) Dorothea Mackellar, (artist) Jesse Hilder and (artist, writer and architect, William) Hardy Wilson (ibid, 1981).

His mother's death in 1908 devastated Dods; soon after, the firm was supplanted as architects for Brisbane Town Hall, and the pressure affected his health. In 1909 he ceased practice for almost a year and travelled in North America and Europe, calling on professional associates and examining architectural treasures. With Lorimer he travelled in Italy, until influenza brought him down. The damaging effect of northern winters on his health probably dissuaded him from staying permanently in Britain (ibid, 1981).

Back in Brisbane Dods entered competitions for completion of St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral and Geelong Church of England Grammar School, but neither yielded a commission. Late in 1913 he moved to Sydney but not before completing some of his best work, including the chapel for the archbishop of Brisbane at Milton, the Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Co.'s offices and, perhaps his finest work, St Brigid's Catholic Church at Red Hill (ibid, 1981).

The move to Sydney was prompted by an invitation from the Bank of New South Wales to design its Royal Exchange branch and he was able to secure a partnership in Spain & Cosh, for whom he had prepared a design for the Daily Telegraph building in Castlereagh Street in 1912. With the outbreak of war, investment was curtailed, building the bank abandoned and the practice was fortunate in having a small continuity of work. Dods devoted himself to affairs of the local institute of architects, the Arts and Crafts Society and writing. With a kidney disease which affected his eye-sight, he knew that he had not long to live (ibid, 1981).

Another legacy of Arts & Crafts interior design was the taste for antiques, particularly of the 18th century and Regency period. Dods had extolled the work of Thomas Sheraton in one of his published articles on furniture, and quoted Lethaby who promoted the study of historical examples of furniture, in another...Arts and Crafts architects and their clients became collectors of this furniture, which, because it embodied the same values of honesty, good workmanship and simplicity that their own furniture strove for, was considered worthy. It was quite common for the two periods of furniture to sit together - as in Desbrowe-Annear's house in South Yarra or Robin Dods' house in Sydney. Here he collected English furniture and published a series of articles on the history of furniture design. A photograph of Fenton's interior shows the simplicity of an Arts and Crafts aesthetic with polished timber floor and panelled walls but now combined with Georgian and Regency funiture, rather than the earlier pieces of his own design (Edquist, 2008, 151-2).

Confidence returned with the armistice and Dods was engaged on the South British Insurance Co. building in Hunter Street (demolished) and Newcastle Club; he did not live to see either completed (ibid, 1981).

Fenton:
Fenton was built in 1918-19 for the architect Robin Dods shortly before his death, as his own home (LEP, 2015).

In 1919, collaborating with other prominent architects in writing Domestic architecture in Australia, he confirmed a national debt to Francis Greenway and looked hopefully toward America, not to Frank Lloyd Wright or Walter Burley Griffin but to a more conservative movement based on the European tradition. He moved into a new home at Edgecliff and died there soon after of 'subacute nephritis' on 23 July 1920. He was buried in the Church of England section of South Head cemetery. His estate, valued for probate at (Pounds)10,752, was left to his wife and two children. His son, (Sir) Lorimer Fenton, became prominent in medical research (ibid, 1981).

Dods drew from many sources, fully exploiting what he saw as the regional tradition and sensible climatic controls. Within a confident vocabulary of style he emphasized certain elements to achieve proportions of rare quality and an architecture of distinction (ibid, 1981).

It is the last personal statement by an important Australian architect, Robin Dods and as such has been influential. (William) Hardy Wilson, Professor (Leslie) Wilkinson, B. J. Waterhouse and Sir Robert Lorimer all admired it. It was built around Dod's fine collection of furniture, most of which remains (AHC, 1981).

A Harold Cazneaux photograph titled 'Fenton - Edgecliffe, Sydney: the residence of Mr. R. S. Dods' taken in 1920 was published in a journal article in 'Automobile and the Woman' - it concluding: 'Built after the First World War, "Fenton" is described as a contemporary house, built as a counterpart to an eighteenth century English house but with "all the best features of a modern home". ' (http://collection.hht.net.au/firsthht/fullRecord.jsp?recnoListAttr=recnoList&recno=27059).

Sir Lorimer Fenton Dods (1900-1981), physician and professor of child health, was born on 7 March 1900 at New Farm, Brisbane, elder child of Robert Smith Dods and his wife Mary Marian. Moving to Sydney with his family when he was 14 years old, Lorimer attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore), North Sydney, and St Paul's College, University of Sydney (MB, Ch.M., 1923; MD, 1936). After working as a resident medical officer at Newcastle Hospital in 1923-24 and at Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1925, he entered general practice at Edgecliff, where his interest in paediatrics grew over the next ten years. He married Margaret (Margot) Kathleen Walsh on 26 February 1927 at St Alban's Church of England Chapel, The Southport School, Queensland (Yu, ADB entry: 2007).

Fenton was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1981 after being classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW). It was listed under a permanent conservation order under the NSW Heritage Act 1977 in 1983 (transferred to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999).

Fenton was listed as a local heritage item on Woollahra Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 1995 (repealed, in an updated LEP gazetted in 2015).

Fenton sold in 1996 for $1.65m (http://house.ksou.cn/p.php?q=Edgecliff&sta=nsw&id=2851425). Telecom founders, brothers David and Aidan Tudehope sold Fenton after 27 years of family ownreship. It sold in 2022 for $16.5m to medico Kenney Wan, wife of anaesthetist Brett Wells (Macken, 2022, 43).

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.	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	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Aboriginal Culture-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Daruk Nation - sites evidencing occupation-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Bidjigal tribe - Eora nation-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	Cadigal tribe - Eora nation-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Scottish settlers-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	English migrants-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Scottish migrants and cultural traditions-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	Scottish building and design practises-
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	Unseen but Present-
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 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 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	Exploration-Activities associated with making places previously unknown to a cultural group known to them.	Opening Up, 1818-39-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Exploration-Activities associated with making places previously unknown to a cultural group known to them.	Exploring and surveying for the Crown-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Forestry-Activities associated with identifying and managing land covered in trees for commercial purposes.	Timber getting-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Residential-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Housing 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.	Retirement home-
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 (suburbs)-
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.	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.	Living as a hermit-
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.	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.	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.	Federation 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 famous families-
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.	Owning and occupying a house-
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	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
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	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	Suburban Centres-
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	20th 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	Shaping riverine settlement-
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	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	Shaping coastal settlement-
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-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working independently on the land-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Servants quarters-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working with animals-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working on the 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.	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 - grants of land for agriculture-
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.	Suburban Consolidation-
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 - facilitating agriculture-
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 - town and country planning-
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.	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.	Landscaping - 20th century interwar-
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 - Interwar 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.	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.	Landscaping - artists gardens-
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 - 20th century Inter War-
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.	Physical evidence of creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses, through domestic artefacts scatters, ar-
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.	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 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 and working at home-
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	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Outdoor relief-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Writing and writers' retreats-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
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	Developing collections of items-
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	Leisure-Includes tourism, resorts.
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-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Developing local clubs and meeting places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Joining together to study and appreciate philosophy-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with C.F.A. Voysey, English radical architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Sir Lorimer Fenton Dods, Doctor and Professor of Medicine-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Brian Yuill, merchant banker-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Maureen Tudehope, philanthropist-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Aidan Tudehope, Telstra co-founder-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with David Tudehope, co-founder of Telstra-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Robin Dods, architect-

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		00249	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00249	18 Feb 83	32	0750
Local Environmental Plan			10 Mar 95
Local Environmental Plan	Fenton - house, gardens, gateposts, gates	232	23 May 15
National Trust of Australia register	NTA (NSW) Suburban Register	7500	01 Jan 86
Royal Australian Institute of Architects register			30 Mar 79
Register of the National Estate			25 Aug 81

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Apperley, Richard; Irving, Robert; and Reynolds, Peter	1989	A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture - styles and terms from 1788 to the present
Written	Attenbrow, Val.		A pre-colonial history	View detail
Written	Edquist, Harriet	2008	Pioneers of Modernism - the Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia
Written	Federation House (website)		Robin S. Dods	View detail
Written	Macken, Lucy	2022	'Doctor in the 'Hood'
Written	Riddel, R.J. (Robert)	1981	'Dods, Robert Smith (Robin) (1868-1920)	View detail
Written	Sotheby's International Realty	2021	Edgecliff - 'Fenton' 8 Albert Street	View detail
Written	Tresise, Ian	2020	'The Builders of Modern Australia - part 4' (Sir Edward Knox)
Written	Yu, John (Dr.)	2007	'Dods, Sir Lorimer Fenton (1900–1981)' entry	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:	5045685
File number:	S90/05359 & HC 32876

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.