Perth House and Stables

Item details


Name of item:	Perth House and Stables
Other name/s:	Rose Cottage and convict hut (previously on site)
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -33.8150043163 Long: 151.0076729070
Primary address:	85 George Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150
Parish:	St John
County:	Cumberland
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
			CP/SP	74416

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
85 George Street	Parramatta	City of Parramatta	St John	Cumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	Perth House and Stables is of State significance as it demonstrates c.1850 aspirations with regard to taste and lifestyle on a domestic level. It demonstrates a high degree of creative excellence and is a fine example of medium sized domestic architecture. It has strong associations with important figures such as George Oakes and James Houison. (Howard Tanner & Associates, 1987)
	Date significance updated: 27 Oct 06
	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:	James Houison
Builder/Maker:	James Houison
Construction years:	1841-1841
Physical description:	Site: 85 George Street, Parramatta: the south side of the street, between Charles Street and Barrack Lane. The southern boundary is defined by an old brick wall, and it is understood that a 19th century brick drain crosses the site. Large scale 20th century developments surround the site (Howard Tanner & Associates 1988: 2). The convict-built brick barrel drain part of which is exhibited behind the Ferguson Centre is undoubtedly an item of heritage significance. That the drain extends undisturbed into the Perth House driveway where it lies at a depth of only 200mm from the present surface is now established (Bairstow, 1989, 1). To the west of the house and north of the stables near the footpath on George Street is a large mature Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla), thought to date from c.1844-6, in the time of Oakes. This tree is most probably a remnant of the original cottage garden of Perth House (Tanner & Blackmore CMP, 1988, as quoted in Gerloff, 2010). Very little of what would have been the original garden now remains except for the large Moreton Bay fig in the western neighbouring property side and the olive tree (Olea europaea cv.) on the eastern side. The front fence is a recent addition and the carport and bitumen paving at the western side of the house dates from c.1960. The fernery at the rear of the house is also a later addition, most probably contemporaneous with the 20th century weatherboard additions now standing. A few old shrubs such as Viburnum and roses survive, the only faint clues to the cottage garden plantings of last century, and original bed and lawn areas are not evident (Howard Tanner & Associates, 1980, 29). West of the house is the carriageway, leading to the stone out-building (former stables) behind (south of) the house. Buildings: Single storey Colonial/Victorian Georgian residence with a hipped roof to a central block with encircling verandahs. Constructed of coursed and dressed sandstone blocks with quoins 2 courses deep. The spacing of the Doric moulded square timber verandah pots is unusual. The verandah is paved with stone. Small paned sash windows and a 6 panelled door with fanlight. Generous grounds and plantings. Cedar joinery. Two storied stone out-building at the rear. Archaeological Site: AZP Cross Reference: PC 71
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good.
	Date condition updated:27 Oct 06
Modifications and dates:	The fernery at the rear of the house is also a later addition, most probably contemporaneous with the 20th century weatherboard additions now standing. c.1960 the carport and bitumen paving at the western side of the house dates from c.1960. c.1985 the front fence is a recent addition. (Howard Tanner & Associates, 1980, 29).


Current use:	Commercial (café)
Former use:	Residence, school for girls

History

Historical notes:

Perth House, stables and carriageway were built in 1841 by James Houison for George Oakes, a landholder of the Parramatta district and a NSW State Parliamentarian. The architect of the house was James Houison, who designed many houses in Parramatta. The original cottage garden around the house, stables and carriage way was likely to have been planted between 1844 and 1846, including the Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) which survives today (Gerloff, 2010).

A photo in 1880 shows Perth House was used as a girls' school at that time (Kass, 1996, ML SLNSW PX*D 302/3/25)

Archaeological Site Data Convict Allotments:
1823 return: 'Government'.
1823 Lease: none.
Grant: George Oakes.
Sec 17 Allt 2.

Sites of Buildings:
C1792 map: convict allotment?.
c1804 map: building.
1823 map: building.
1844 map: building of wood.

Extant building: post 1844 building "Perth House" and outbuildings, brick barrel drain.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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	Significant tree(s) providing urban amenity-
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	(none)-
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-
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	(none)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	(none)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Houison, colonial architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with the Hon. George Oakes MLA, parliamentarian and Parramatta landholder-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Perth House and Stables reflects the changing circumstance of Parramatta through the gradual attrition of the land holding. The relatively small accomodation of the house caused its occasional enlargement to the south, firstly by enclosure of the south west verandah area. Division into flats and offices in the 20th century reflected the increasing commercialisation of central Parramatta, with key residential areas on its fringe. (Howard Tanner & Associates, 1987)
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Perth House was apparently built for pastoralist George Oakes, son of a former missionary, who became first Member of the Legislative Assembly for Parramatta as well as a lengthy involvement in local municipal politics. Perth House is also associated with James Houison, who arrived in the colony as a steerage passenger, quickly established himself as an astute builder and urban land speculator and later became known as an architect/builder of recognised talent as well as an important figure in municipal politics. The site has further significance due to its association with the Superintendent of Government Buildings at Parramatta who resided on the site - adjacent to the Lumbar yard - at an earlier date. (Howard Tanner & Associates, 1987)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	This item is aesthetically significant.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	This item is technically or scientifically significant.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Perth House and Stables has a considerable degree of unity in its materials, form and scale and is a rare reminder of the harmonious and generally low scale architectural character once in Parramatta.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Perth House and stable is an important and typical example of a c.1850 house designed by the fashionable Parramatta architect of the day, James Houison. (Howard Tanner & Associates, 1987)
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register	00155	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00155	15 May 81	69	2657
Local Environmental Plan		21 Jul 89	084	4634
Local Environmental Plan		27 Feb 97	20
Register of the National Estate		14 May 91	11	45

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
City of Parramatta Heritage Study	1993	211	Meredith Walker		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Adoranti, Kylie	2016	'Plans bring luxiry 'to the people: 4.5-star hotel's bars and cafes to be open to all'
Written	Damaris Bairstow	1989	Perth House : historical archaeology : report	View detail
Written	Gerloff, Olga	2010	Landmark is 165 years old (about the Moreton Bay fig tree on George Street)
Written	Howard Tanner and Associates Pty. Ltd. and Kate Blackmore.	1988	Perth House Conservation Plan	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:	5051401
File number:	S90/05897 & HC 32408

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