Rosebank

Item details


Name of item:	Rosebank
Other name/s:	Queens College
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -33.9274053352 Long: 150.9233314840
Primary address:	17 Speed Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170
Parish:	St Luke
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Liverpool
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Tharawal

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1		DP	567283

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
17 Speed Street	Liverpool	Liverpool	St Luke	Cumberland	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Liverpool City Council	Local Government

Statement of significance:


	Rosebank is considered to be State heritage significance for its association with the life and works of the architect, politician and Postmaster-General, Varney Parkes (1857 - 1935). Varney Parkes, the son of Sir Henry Parkes, was a Liverpool Council Alderman, State Parliamentarian (1885 - 1913), Postmaster-General (1889 -1899) and successful architect. Parkes who trained under the Colonial Architect, James Barnet between 1878 and 1880 established a successful architectural practice with C. H. E. Blackman and was responsible for the design of a wide range of buildings over much of urban and rural New South Wales, including hotels, warehouses, banks, commercial premises and domestic residences. Rosebank is a rare surviving example of the residential work of Varney Parkes. Significantly, Rosebank was designed by Parkes (c.1883) for himself and his bride Mary Cameron Murray, and demonstrates the architectural devices used to convey wealth and status, as well as the use of pattern books in the spread of architectural ideas throughout the colonies. Rosebank is considered to be of Local heritage significance as a grand, relatively unaltered, architect-designed and built Victorian villa. In addition, Rosebank is the only large Victorian house remaining in the historic Liverpool Township and is held in high esteem by the local community. Rosebank has associations with many of the most prominent families of late nineteenth and early twentieth century Liverpool. The changing pattern of its use, from a family residence to a school indicates changing economic patterns within the local community. Liverpool was one of the earliest rural settlements in the State and Rosebank is a rare survival illustrating a further, industrial stage in Liverpool's development. Rosebank is also significant for its twentieth century use as a girl's boarding school and later as a men's boarding house. As a school, Rosebank contributed to the cultural life of twentieth century Liverpool. A collection of moveable heritage has been established, documenting the day to day running of the school. In addition to the house, the garden retains some original Victorian plantings, including mature Bunya Pines. The form of the building, as well as the associated planting, makes it a local landmark. Rosebank is one of a handful of properties, including nearby Del Rose and Collingwood, which can be used to interpret Liverpool's pastoral, industrial and commercial history (NSW Heritage Office, 2005)
	Date significance updated: 06 Nov 03
	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:	Varney Parkes
Construction years:	1882-1883
Physical description:	A two storey Victorian Italianate villa with a tower, asymmetrical planning and neoclassical details. Constructed of rendered brickwork with string courses, heavily framed windows and doors of semicircular heads with keystones, fluted pilasters, cornices and ornamental eaves brackets. There are also some crenallated walls attached to the tower and the end of the verandah. The property has both front and rear gardens, the latter relatively densely planted. The front garden contains mature trees including (hanging over the front fence) a jacaranda (J.mimosifolia), mature eucalypts (E.sp.), a Bunya Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) and a Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis). The jacaranda, palm and Bunya are all on the front lawn (Stuart Read, pers.comm. from photographs of 30/8/2014) The verandah runs across the width of the street elevation and returns down each side elevation. It has cast iron columns, balustrade, frieze panels and bullnosed roof. The roof is steeply pitched in a hipped form, originally slate but now sheeted in corrugated steel roofing. The main entry to the verandah is framed by a small pedimented porch with a decorative element of the initials 'LH', representing the early owner Louis Haigh. The entry porch features geometric encaustic tiles and a stained glass window. The windows are generally timber double hung, with the windows to the main room being full height. The interior features are lath and plaster ceilings with elaborate cornices and ceiling rose, plastered brick walls, large moulded timber skirting, marble fireplaces with cast iron inserts and four panelled doors. The stairs have turned timber balustrades and the floors are covered in carpet tiles. A two storey brick addition is attached to the west, rear side of the building, but is in poor structural condition. It was built mid 20th century and has been renovated in 1974.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Generally the building is intact with much of the original details in good condition. There has been significant termite activity in the floor structure, both at ground floor and first floor. When the rear addition is demolished, excavation can be carried out to the footings as well as along the western boundary to establish the nature of the previous footing structure and cross walls.
Modifications and dates:	Back verandah probably infilled during the early 20th century; Two storey rear addition with stairs, mid 20th century; Renovation to rear addition and removal of stairs in 1974; Demolition of a weatherboard structure on the west boundary in about 1974.


Current use:	Vacant
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, Residence, Boarding School, Boarding House

History

Historical notes:

Aboriginal occupation, Early European Settlement of the Liverpool Region
Some 40,000 years before European settlement of this region of the Georges River, this land was occupied by the Darug people and the neighbouring Tharawal and Gandangara peoples. The land was known as Gunyungalung. The Georges River has been seen by some as the natural (east-west) boundary between the Darug, or 'woods' tribe, (north of the river and east to the coast); the 'coast' tribes of the Tharawal (south of the river and east to the coast) and the Gandangara (west of the river, inland). Others argue that the region around Liverpool (where the river runs generally west to Botany Bay) signifies an important north-south cultural divide between the Darug peoples living north of the river and the Tharawal to the south of the river. The river demarcated rather than divided groups, providing an 'important corridor of mobility' that enabled transport, communication, economic and cultural interaction up, down and across the river on light, rapid bark canoes (Goodall & Cadzow 2009: 21).

The Georges River area first felt the impact of European settlement in the 1790s when early settlers around the Parramatta area sought out fertile soils for cultivation, moving south along Prospect Creek to the alluvial flats around Liverpool. Facing the steep banks and sandstone cliffs of sections of the Georges River, settlement penetrated slowly in the 1790s.

From the early 1800s the area saw Aboriginal hostilities against settler intrusions with raids on settler crops and stock led first by Pemulwuy of the Bediagal (until his death in 1804, likely at the hands of settlers). Some prominent settlers, who argued that the smaller settlers were the aggressors, themselves sought communication and interaction with Aboriginals, employing them as shepherds and allowing them to remain on the fringes of their landholding. Governor King's 1801 edict, however, prevented settlers harbouring Aboriginal peoples thus effectively excluding Aboriginals from the settled areas. Following the Appin massacre of 1816 the Gandagara and Tharwal kept their distance from the settlers, but they remained around the Georges River.

Governor Macquarie's policy was two-pronged. He authorised settlers around the Georges River to take action against Aboriginal raiders and later instructed the military to make pre-emptive strikes. He also sought conciliation, meeting with the Tharawal when he toured the Cow Pastures in 1810. Kogi of the Tharawal was one who met with Macquarie and who, like other Tharawal, developed close relationships with settlers around the Liverpool area. In 1816 Macquarie issued a call to Aboriginals of the Georges River to lay down arms in return for food, education and secure title to land in the Liverpool area. Kogi was one who took up this option, receiving a King Plate from Macquarie which identified him as "King of the Georges River". Land grants were the only means of effecting land transfer prior to the 1850 legislation that reserved Crown land exclusively 'for the use of Aborigines'. The are few records of land grants to Aboriginals arising out of the 1816 agreement but there is anecdotal evidence of Aboriginal freehold land along the Georges River until the late 20th century (Goodall & Cadzow 2009: 47-56).

In 1810 the Liverpool area was the frontier of settlement, with its alluvial and clay soils increasingly being cleared for farming. Small farming enclaves characterised the area around Liverpool which Governor Macquarie proclaimed on 2 November 1810 as the first of his new towns. The first land grants followed. Partly because of Aboriginal hostilities the area did not take off for settlement, however, until the 1830s.

The construction of Liverpool Weir in 1836 would have impacted on the different Aboriginal groups' use of the river as a communication channel. The weir would also have gradually changed the ecology of the river upstream (Keating, 1996; Goodall & Cadzow, 2009; www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/aboriginalpeople.htm; Tuck & Douglas, 2002).

EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LIVERPOOL
In 1810, following the lead of the prominent pioneer Thomas Moore, Governor Lachlan Macquarie set out on a surveying expedition along the newly discovered Georges River. On the undulating Cumberland Plain and the banks of the Georges River, Governor Macquarie located the new township of Liverpool. From this township, of the developing colony (Cserhalmi, CMP Vol 1, 1994; Liverpool Heritage Study Vol 1, 1992).

Commissioned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and designed by Francis Greenway, St Luke's Church was built in 1818-1819 as part of Macquarie's establishment plan for the town of Liverpool. It was the smallest of the three major church designs commissioned by Macquarie from Greenway, the others being St James in Sydney and St Matthew's at Windsor. A rectory was built about the same time but was replaced in 1840.

The site for Liverpool was marked out by Macquarie in 1810. St Luke's Anglican church was one of the original public buildings for the town. Its foundation stone was laid in 1818 and the first service was held on 18 October 1819. Macquarie attended a service in December 1820. The building was not fully completed until the early 1820s. A rectory and school building, since demolished, were built close by.

Liverpool weir was built in 1836 to supply water to local farmers and the town and to serve as a causeway across the George's River. It was one of the two last convict-built public works at Liverpool, the other being Lennox's Lansdowne Bridge over the Prospect Creek on the Hume Highway, Lansvale (Keating, 1996, 63; ADB, Liston, 2009, 18; ).

The railway station at Liverpool opened in September 1856. This, with the electic telegraph arriving in 1858, provided speedy, safe transport and communication and began the transformation of Liverpool into a major regional city (www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/ourcity/historyofliverpool.htm).

Rosebank:
1882 - 1883: Construction by Varney Parkes for his new wife, Mary Cameron Murray, daughter of the owner of the land at the time. Parkes was an architect, local and state politician, and son of Sir Henry Parkes.
1883: sold to Louis Haigh, who was involved in the wool scouring business and a mayor in 1880.

The term 'villa' was first used in England in the 17th century, partly from the Latin and Italian 'country house, farm', perhaps derived from the stem of vicus (village). The villa was a country mansion or residence, together with a farm, farm-buildings, or other house attached, built or occupied by a person of some position and wealth. It was taken to include a country seat or estate and later a residence in the country or in the neighbourhood of a town, usually standing in its own grounds. From this is was appropriated by the middleof the 18th century to mean a residence of a superior type, in the suburbs of a town or in a residential district, such as that occupied by a person of the middle class, and also a small, better-class dwelling house, usually detached or semi-detached. The term 'villa garden' was used in the context of Hobart and Sydney residences in the 1830s, and if near the coast or harbour, the appellation 'marine villa' was often applied. Australian origins probably date from the grant conditions applied to Sydney's Woolloomooloo Hill (1827, under Governor Darling), which obligated the construction of villas fulfilling certain conditions... 'with garden like domain, and external offices for stables and domestic economy' (John Buonarotti Papworth, 1825, quoted in James Broadbent's 1997 book, 'The Australian Colonial House'). Many gardens of 19th century villas followed Gardenesque conventions, with garden ornaments often complementing the architecture of the house. The term had acquired such widespread usage by the 1850s that when Jane Loudon issued a new editiion of her husband (John Claudius Loudon)'s 'Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion' (1838) she merely entitled the revised work 'The Villa Gardener' (1850). This coincided with a growing period of suburbanisation in Australia with consequent fostering of the nursery trade... By the 1880s, descriptions of Australian villas implied sufficient room for a lawn on two or three fronts of the residence...(Aitken, 2002, 619-20).

The property was rented or owned by a number of prominent people, including Martin and Henrietta Christiansen from 1908 to 1911. Christiansen owned a brick making business, was an alderman for 30 years and mayor of Liverpool in 1900.

1929 - 1957: Rosebank was used by the Queens College as a boarding school for girls and later, for boys. During this time the rear two storey structure was built.

1958 - 1973: Rosebank was used as a male boarding house.

1974: Purchased by Liverpool City Council and used for community based offices and meeting rooms.

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.	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-
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.	Cultural: Plains and plateaux supporting human activities-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	Office use-
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 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	Gardens demonstrating the travels and sojurns of a gardener-
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	Gardens and landscapes reminiscent of an '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 parklands of distinctive styles-
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 (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.	Gentlemens Villas-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	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.	Gentlemens Mansions-
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 politicians-
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.	Federation Style residential development-
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 for industrial managers and owners-
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	Townships-
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	Townships-
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	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	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th century suburban developments-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Subdivision of urban estates-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	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	Creating landmark structures and places in suburban settings-
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-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Private education-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	Adapted villa/ cottage for a school-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	College boarding house-
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 - providing community facilities-
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.	Architectural styles and periods - Victorian Italianate-
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 natural landscape features.-
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.	Interior design styles and periods - Victorian-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Adaptation of overseas design for local use-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - Victorian period-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - Victorian gardenesque style-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1900-1950-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1950-2000-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1850-1900-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ornamental Garden-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in suburbia-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	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.	Living in, adapting and renovating homes for changing conditions-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Outdoor relief-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to talks and lectures-
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	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gardening-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting heritage places-
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	Community organisations-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Developing clubs for social improvement-
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-
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. Ald. Varney Parkes MLA, local Councillor, architect, artist, Postmaster-General-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Mary Cameron Parkes (nee Murray), daughter of Rosemont's original land owner-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Ald. Martin Christiansen, brickmaker, Councillor, Mayor of Liverpool-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Rosebank is of Local heritage significance for its association with a number of notable families, including Murray, Parkes, Haigh, Rougier and Christiansen, who developed industries and businesses that have had a significant impact on the development of Liverpool and to a lesser extent, the trading culture of the Sydney basin. Rosebank was located adjacent to a number of significant local industries and may have been chosen by these families as a grand residence for its convenient location. Its use as a school has also contributed to the cultural life of Liverpool. (Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects 2001 & NSW Heritage Office 2005)
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Rosebank is of State heritage significance for its association with the life and works of the architect, politician and Postmaster-General, Varney Parkes (1857 - 1935). Varney Parkes, the son of Sir Henry Parkes, was a Liverpool Council Alderman, State Parliamentarian (1885 - 1913), Postmaster-General (1889 -1899) and successful architect. Parkes who trained under the Colonial Architect, James Barnet between 1878 and 1880 established a successful architectural practice with C. H. E. Blackman, and was responsible for the design of a wide range of buildings over much of urban and rural New South Wales, including hotels, warehouses, banks, commercial premises and domestic residences. Rosebank is a rare surviving example of the residential work Varney Parkes. Significantly, Rosebank was designed by Parkes (c.1883) for himself and his bride Mary Cameron Murray, and demonstrates the architectural devices used to convey wealth and status, as well as the use of pattern books in the spread of architectural ideas throughout the colonies. Rosebank is of Local heritage significance for its association with a number of notable people, including the Murray, Parkes, Haigh, Rougier and Christianson families. These families have been associated with the industrial and political development of Liverpool during the last decades of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the 20th century. Having been used as a school during the period from 1929 to 1957, Rosebank became an important institution for a generation of students in the Liverpool area and continues to have an association for former students. (NSW Heritage Office 2005)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Rosebank is of Local heritage significance as a fine example of Victorian Italianate residential architecture and is representative of this style of design during its era. Rosebank is the only surviving Victorian 'Gentlemen's Residence' in the Liverpool area. Given its rarity, its contrast with the surrounding buildings and significant landscape plantings, it has a landmark quality for the Liverpool area. (Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects 2001 & NSW Heritage Office 2005)
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Rosebank is of Local heritage significance for its association with Queens College, which operated on the site between 1929 and 1957. As other buildings associated with the College have been demolished, Rosebank is the only link with the school for its former pupils. The Haigh and Christianson families were associated with the political and industrial development of Liverpool. As the building is the only example of its type in Liverpool, Rosebank represents an important link between the earlier colonial Georgian houses and the 20th century. (Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects 2001 & NSW Heritage Office 2005)
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	Rosebank is of Local heritage significance as it contributes to an understanding of the pattern of development and subdivision of Liverpool during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Few could afford to maintain large houses such as Rosebank in the region during the 20th century, hence the use of such a building as a school or subdivision into flats was common. Rosebank contributes to an understanding of the contrast between a 'Gentlemen's Residence' and the neighbouring workers' cottages. The understanding extends to the use of materials in this type of building as well as how a garden of that time was planted. (Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects 2001 & NSW heritage Office 2005)
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Rosebank is of Local heritage significance as a rare, if not the only, local example of this type of building from the Victorian era in Liverpool. As a former Gentlemen's Residence, it demonstrates a way of life that no longer exists or is affordable. Other examples of this type and size of residence such as Drummond House, Forbesville and Sophienberg have all been demolished. Its surviving original plantings are unique within the Liverpool Central Business District. Its use as a boarding school, unusual for a single dwelling, is a rare use within the local area. (Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects 2001 & NSW Heritage Office 2005)
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Rosebank is of Local heritage significance as a fine and largely intact example of its building type. It has all the characteristics of its representative type. As a rare example of its era, it is an important part of a unique group of existing residences in Liverpool that illustrate the range of housing types through the 19th century and early 20th century, from Collingwood to Dela Rosa. (Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects 2001 & NSW Heritage Office 2005)
Integrity/Intactness:	Rosebank as a house has integrity because its original features are largely intact and in good condition. However, Rosebank's aspect, setting and curtilage have been significantly diminished by subdivision and medium density development in the immediate vicinity of the house.
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:


	The implementation of the Conservation Policies contained within the Conservation Management Plan is recommended.

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review 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
CMP-Endorse	Conservation Plan submitted for endorsement	Rosebank: Conservation Management Plan (Otto Cserhalmi and Partners, June 2001)		Jun 27 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	01729	27 May 05	61	1880
Local Environmental Plan	252	03 Feb 95	11
National Trust of Australia register	9538

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Aitken, Richard	2002	'Villa Garden' (entry)	View detail
Written	Austral Archaeology	2006	Rosebank House, Liverpool: archaeological assessment and research design	View detail
Written	Edward Higginbotham and Associates	1997	Historical and archaeological assessment of Liverpool interchange, Liverpool Railway Station, Bigg and Moore Streets, Liverpool, NSW	View detail
Written	Judith Pack	1998	The Last Gentleman's Residence in Liverpool
Written	Louise Raine	1977	Varney Parkes
Written	Musecape P/L	2003	Landscape Concept Plan for Rosebank, Liverpool
Management Plan (HC endorsed)	Otto Cserhalmi & Partners Pty Ltd Architects	2001	Rosebank Conservation Management Plan	View detail
Written	Otto Cserhalmi and Partnres P/L	2009	Rosebank house, Liverpool: archaeological excavation and monitoring report	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:	5053386
File number:	H04/00362

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