Parramatta District Hospital - Brislington and Landscape

Item details


Name of item:	Parramatta District Hospital - Brislington and Landscape
Other name/s:	Brislington & Landscape - Parramatta District Hospital
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Health Services
Category:	Hospital
Location:	Lat: -33.8129684710 Long: 151.0021044560
Primary address:	10 George Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150
Local govt. area:	City of Parramatta
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Deerubbin

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	23		DP	1173876

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
10 George Street	Parramatta	City of Parramatta			Primary Address
CNR Marsden Street	Parramatta	City of Parramatta	St John	Cumberland	Alternate Address
CNR George Street	Parramatta	City of Parramatta	St John	Cumberland	Duplicate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
NSW Ministry of Health	State Government

Statement of significance:


	Brislington is the oldest extant example of the archetypal early colonial two-storey townhouse privately built in mainland Australia. It has been associated with the medical profession since 1851 having been a doctors residence and practice and associations with the Parramatta District Hospital. This represents an extensive relationship with the community of Parramatta over an unparalleled period of time. Association with notable people. Evidence of the major role of colonial and state government in Parramatta. Site possesses potential to contribute to an understanding early urban development in Parramatta. Contains one of the first five wells dug (by colonists) in Australia, one of originally three on the property. (Parramatta Hospitals Archives Committee, 1983). The Port Jackson fig tree (Ficus rubiginosa) which predates 1857, still growing in the remnant front garden is probably the oldest tree on the Parramatta Hospital site. Its geographic location relates directly to the formal symmetry of the house's faade.
	Date significance updated: 24 Mar 10
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Builder/Maker:	John Hodge
Construction years:	1819-1821
Physical description:	Large two storey Old Colonial Georgian building - free standing house in red brick laid in Flemish bond built 1819-21. Later (c. 1910) verandahs to ground floor. Roof, now slated, is hipped. The front garden screened by a large Port Jackson Fig Tree provides an appropriate setting. AZP Reference: PC 34 and Parramatta Hospital Sites: PC 31, 32, 33, 1. DP235337 Walls constructed in warm red brickwork laid in Flemish bond. The roof is slated. Verandah and entrance porch has brick column bases with timber columns and bracketing with a slate roof. Small (remnant) garden, with large pre 1857 Port Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa) on George Street, jelly palm (Butia capitata) near the south-western corner of the house, and more recent cottage plantings in beds edging lawn. Cellar entry is on rear of eastern (north-south axis) wing of house. Garden contains two foundation stone tablets both relocated from the former "Cottage Hospital" designed by John Sulman, of Sulman & Power Architects, Government Architect. One stone tablet dates from 1 May 1901, commemorating The Hon. John See, NSW Premier's opening of a wing of the hospital. The other stone tablet dates from 4 June 1896, commemorating Viscount Hampden, State Governor's opening the cottage hospital.
Modifications and dates:	Built 1819-21 and set on an acre and a quarter of ground c1910 ground floor verandahs added, with stumpy brick pier posts, twin timber posts, heavy timber brackets, and gabled entrance bay. Two storey eastern bay is another addition. Some internal alterations made. 1930s?/40s? Front verandah added to (southern elevation) house, facing George Street. 1949 resumed by Parramatta District Hospital for health related uses (nursing home from 1949). 1970s?/redevelopment of the adjacent Parramatta District Hospital with a new Accident & Emergency wing directly north of Hambledon, three stories tall. 1982 restoration by Parramatta Hospitals, Parramatta City Council and NSW Heritage Council involved demolition of two rear wings (one two storey to the east, one one storey to the west) on the recommendation of National Trust.
Further information:	CPS; AZP; Brislington House: Conservation Analysis and draft conservation guidelines. Final Draft, April 1991, Clive Lucas, Stapleton & Partners, For Dept of Public Works


Current use:	Nurses' Home
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, Hotel, Doctor's residence

History

Historical notes:

This was built 1819-21 for emancipist trader and publican, John Hodges, and probably used as the 'Anchor & Hope' Inn. Occupied by Sir George Wigram Allen from 1840s to 1857. Local history claims that Hodges won a thousand pounds in a card game at the nearby Woolpack Inn - the 8 of diamonds being his winning card. It is believed that to commemorate his luck, he had the convict bricklayers work the diamond pattern into the back wall of the building.

Then set on an acre and a quarter of ground, the building was 'large and commodious', with four rooms on each floor, a variety of outhouses consisting of kitchen and pantry, a large cellar, two servants' bedrooms, a four stall stable and a coach house and possessing one of the first wells in Parramatta town. Hodges was found guilty of stealing a large stone from the Government Quarry to build his kitchen fireplace, his conviction leading to the forced sale advertisement in the Sydney Gazette on 14 April 1825.

The property had various owners until 1857, including George Wigram Allen (1840s).

In 1857 passed to Dr Walter Brown, the first of three generations of Doctors Brown, establishing a long association with the medical profession. Brown named the house Brislington after his home town in Bristol, England, commencing 95 years and three generations of the family's practise of medicine on this site (until 1952). Walter Brown died in 1896, his wife Sigismunda in 1903, both being buried in St. John's cemetery, Parramatta.
The Port Jackson fig tree (Ficus rubiginosa) at the front gate was already large in 1857 when Brown bought the property.

From 1949, it became a part of Parramatta Hospital and was used as a nurses' home.

1970s demolition proposed but not proceeded with. The role of Parramatta Hospital was changing and it ceased to provide acute surgical care, meaning Brislington was no longer needed for accomodation. (1970s Accident & Emergency wing of the hospital built next to Brislington to the north facing Marsden Street, 1977 Westmead hospital opened, 1983 last patient left Jeffrey House, further north on Marsden Street from Brislington/A& E wing).

From 1983 (when the Archives Committee was established by both Parramatta and Westmead Hospitals to guard their history) until the present Brislington has been used as a nursing/hospital museum, housing a medical and nursing display for public viewing. (Parramatta Hospitals Archive Committee, 1983)

Archaeological Site Data Convict Allotment and Hut, 1790. Pre 1823 leases: Timothy Hollister, 16 July 1804 (LTO Book 3C No 140) C 1804 map: No.3. 1823 return: John Hodges. 1823 Leases: none. Grant: John Hodges, 30 June 1823 (LTO Book 26. No 4) Sec 19. Allot 98. Sites of buildings: c1792 map: convict hut. c.1804 map: 2 buildings. 1823 map: building. 1844 map: same building, masonry, another building of wood.

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.	Environment/Contact: What do we know of the Contact Environment?-Environment (Natural) Control
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-
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	Convict-Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities	Demonstrating emancipist's entrepreneurial activities-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Innkeeping-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Caring for the sick in hospitals-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans	Operating public hospitals-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Utilities-Activities associated with the provision of services, especially on a communal basis	Providing drinking water-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in health care-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Valuing women's contributions-
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-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Aaron Muron Bolot, architect-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Brislington is the oldest extant domestic structure within the town of Parramatta being built in 1821. It is a building of the Macquarie period. The site's incorporation of a well, known as one of the first to be sunk in Parramatta and an extremely rare extant example of a house and well in an urban setting. (Conservation Analysis and Draft Conservation Guidelines, Clive Lucas Stapleton & Partners 1991)
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The association of the building with John Hodges, an early 'character' of New South Wales, providing a link with the early colonial township of Parramatta. The association of the building and site with the Brown family, from whom the name 'Brislington' is derived and who occupied the home as a residence for over ninety years. The association with of the building with nineteenth century identities such as George Wigram Allen and Alfred George Lloyd. The site has been associated with the Parramatta District Hospital since c.1850. (Conservation Analysis and Draft Conservation Guidelines, CLive Lucas Stapleton & Partners 1991)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The building retains elements of its original fabric including sash windows, doors, fanlight, elements of the stair, cellar details and chimneys. The building substantially retains its exterior fabric. The date of the building makes the bricks and flagstones extremely rare especially in a in-situ domestic urban setting. The building incorporates an unusual decorative feature on its north-east exterior wall in the form of burnt bricks in a diamond design. The original design of the building incorporates the unusual feature (in early colonial buildings) of two fronts. The building possesses a Edwardian period front verandah, albeit reduced, and entrance door. (Conservation Analysis and Draft Conservation Guidelines, Clive Lucas Stapleton & Partners 1991)
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The site has been continuously occupied since the earliest days of European occupation in Australia. Thesite can potentially hold information pertaining to his period. The site has had the present dwelling on it since 1821. The iste therefore may have archaeological potential in revealing aspects about earlier configurations of the house and land and aspects of the garden. (Conservation Analysis and Draft Conservation Guidelines, CLive Lucas Stapleton & Partners 1991)
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	This item is rare. The oldest existing building in Parramatta.
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:


	another former file is S90/6870

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	Refer to standard exemptions gazetted 23 October 1998. Order Under Section 57(2) to exempt the following activities from Section 57(1): (1) The maintenance of any building or item on the site where maintenance means the continuous protective care of existing material. (2) Garden maintenance including cultivation, pruning and tree surgery (but not extensive lopping), weed control and the repair and maintenance of existing fences, gates and garden walls.	Dec 5 1986
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	Parramatta Hospital and Attorney-General's Carpark Site, Parramatta NSW (DPWS Heritage Group, Jan 02)		May 8 2003
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	00059	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00059	18 Feb 83	32	0750
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	03/2/6/1003	01 Feb 92
Local Environmental Plan		27 Feb 97	20
Register of the National Estate		21 Mar 78

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
City of Parramatta Heritage Study	1993	204	Meredith Walker		Yes
Department of Community Services - Preliminary s170 Register	1993	03/2/6/100	State Projects Heritage Group		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Bartok, Di	2013	'Our oldest house for sale', in The Parramatta Advertiser, 11/12/13
Written	Clive Lucas Stapleton & Partners	1991	Conservation Analysis and Draft Conservation Guidelines
Written	Cumberland Area Health Service	1988	Caring for Convicts & the Community - a history of Parramatta Hospital
Tourism	Parramatta City Council	2006	Brislington Museum	View detail
Written	Parramatta Hospitals Archives Committee	1983	Brislington 1821
Written	Schweger Brooks and Partners	1992	NSW Dept. of Health - Preliminary Heritage Register	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:	5051397
File number:	10/21989; S90/06154; S90/06653

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