Bidura House Group

Item details


Name of item:	Bidura House Group
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -33.876366 Long: 151.184708
Primary address:	357 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, NSW 2037
Parish:	St Andrew
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Metropolitan

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	1			64069

Boundary:

The south eastern portion of the legal allotment, including Bidura House, annex, ballroom and remnant landscape.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
357 Glebe Point Road	Glebe	Sydney	St Andrew	Cumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The Bidura House Group is of state heritage significance as a key point in a broader network of places associated with child welfare and juvenile justice in NSW. It functioned from 1920-1977 as the NSW receiving home, under various names. It is of state historical significance as during this period all wards of the state came to Bidura House before being fostered out or transferred to other institutions. It also functioned between 1920 and the 1940s as accommodation for children on remand awaiting trial in the Metropolitan Children’s Court. It is therefore historically and socially significant for its impact on children and their families who were affected by child welfare and juvenile justice systems including the Forgotten Australians and Stolen Generations for a period of almost sixty years. Bidura House Group is also of state significance aesthetically as a good example of Victorian regency design, and via its strong association with prominent NSW architect Edmund Blacket.
	Date significance updated: 10 Mar 17
	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:	Edmund Thomas Blacket
Construction years:	1860-1880
Physical description:	The following description has been summarised from the 2015 Conservation Management Plan by Graham Books and Associates Pty Ltd. Landscape: The street frontage and northern boundary (to a lane/driveway which is used to access the Childrens' Court facility behind) are delineated by a timber picket fence. A sandstone block wall under a picket fence along the garden's northern side forms the southern side of this driveway to the rear. The landscaped area at the front of the Bidura House group is a notable feature of the site, where the early carriageway alignment, garden layout, sweep of lawn and stone retaining wall form a fine urban setting for the early residence. There are several mature trees located near the street frontage and to the immediate rear of the residence, including a Peruvian pepper(corn) tree (Schinus molle), Queensland black bean (Castanospermum australe), Belmore or Lord Howe Island palm (Howea balmoreana), smaller trees including crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica), frangipani (Plumeria x rubra cv.), shrubs including several Camellia japonica cv. and pomegranate (Punica granatum) and forest cabbage tree (Cordyline stricta), rosemary (Rosmarinus sp.), lavender (Lavandula sp.), climbers including Chinese wisteria (W.sinensis) and lower-growing plants such as Nile or African lilies (Agapanthus x praecox), Indian shot (Canna indica cv) (Stuart Read, 3/6/2018). A species of bamboo has spread into Bidura's southern front garden from an adjacent property, the restaurant 'Ombretta'. This is not an original or early Bidura garden plant, but a weed from next-door (Stuart Read, 13/2/2019). An oval front lawn comprises the centre of the carriage loop which dominates the front garden to Glebe Point Road, softened and over-shadowed by mature Peruvian pepper(corn) tree and Queensland black bean, with beds of shrubs and lower-growing plants against the house's front (west) facade and to north and south sides of the carriage loop. Garden bed edging and minor path edging are defined with upturned 45-degree angle bricks (Stuart Read, 14/2/2019). Bidura House Exterior The front and rear facades of this three-storey Victorian Regency house feature the symmetry characteristic of the style, as evident in the overall rectangular form, the hipped roof and the arrangement of chimneys, windows, doors and verandas. On both sides, however, the addition of windows has produced a less symmetrical appearance. The external walls are of rendered, coursed and painted brick. The double-hung windows are timber, with external timber louvred shutters. The roof is clad in slate with decorative eaves brackets and patinated copper gutters, and features a central valley which appears to spill into a rainwater head on the north-western facade. On either side of the house stand two tall chimneys with corbelled cornices and metal chimney pots. Bidura House Interior On the ground floor a wide partly glazed front door with sidelights and highlights opens into a central entrance hall with a marble and slate floor and a secondary hall with polished non-original timber flooring beyond. Off the main hall lie a square room on the north-west side and a larger rectangular room on the south-east. Off the second hall is another square room to the north-west and a rectangular room to the south-east. At the north-west end of the second hall is the main timber staircase, with simple timber balusters and a timber handrail. The rooms have plastered walls and chimney breasts and, excepting the front north-west room where the chimney has been bricked up, metal fireplaces with marble mantels and slate hearths. All have ornate cornices, picture rails, high skirting boards with moulded tops, wide architraves and four-panel doors. Although high ceilings with ornate ceiling roses are found in every room, the ceilings themselves are contemporary and plain, with inset downlights. The western corner room has a non-original polished timber floor; the other three rooms are carpeted. The current colour scheme uses shades in the pink-orange spectrum for detailing as well as green in the cornices, with a softer beige for the walls. The first floor features three square rooms and, in the southern corner, a larger rectangular room echoing that below. To the north-east of the central landing are a toilet and handwashing area fitted and tiled in relatively contemporary style, while the parallel area to the south-west is occupied by a storeroom. The four main rooms are fitted as on the ground floor; in this case it is the large southern corner room whose chimney breast has been bricked up rather than featuring a fireplace. The south-western wall of the stairwell shows patching from removal of the stairs once leading up to the 'Matron's WC'. The current colour scheme is generally more muted than that of the ground floor. The lower ground or basement level, once comprised mainly of working areas, has square areas in three corners and a larger rectangular room in the eastern corner, echoing that on the ground floor. These have been divided to create a passage to the Annexe, two toilets and cleaner's store. The wall originally dividing the larger area into two rooms (scullery and perhaps pantry) has been largely removed to form one room. At the bottom of the stairwell is a possibly original tongue and groove timber door with long strap hinges, leading to the outside. Opposite the stairs across the central hallway is a narrow contemporary kitchen and between the southern and western corner rooms is a narrow storeroom. Walls are painted brick, except the larger eastern corner room which is plastered. Some original doorways are flat-arched. Cornices and other details are absent and the contemporary, plain ceilings are notably lower than in upper storeys. A variety of contemporary services have been fixed to walls and ceilings and in some places penetrate brick walls. One pane of a window on the north-west side has been removed to accommodate computer cabling. Floors are mostly vinyl or carpet; the WC and cleaner's store is ceramic-tiled. The current colour scheme is a relatively simply one based on cream and green. Annex Exterior The annex is a one-storey rectangular structure at basement level with double hung windows and a hipped slate roof. A front veranda with timber posts and striped corrugated metal roof opens onto small grassed courtyard to the south-west. The external walls are rendered, coursed and painted brick. The outlines of a bricked up archway in the south-western wall are evident. Annex Interior The interior consists of one large room.Timber architraves, skirting, etc are simple and contemporary, as are the ceiling and cornices. Exterior doors are partly glazed. Lighting is contemporary, as are the ceiling fans. The floors are carpeted and the colour scheme simple and muted. Ballroom Exterior The Ballroom is a separate Victorian Italianate building connected to the main residence by a covered way roofed in striped, vaulted corrugated metal. The external walls are coursed, rendered and painted brick featuring ornate cornices at ceiling and roof height and parapet walls castellated at the north-western and southwestern sides. At the front (south-western) facade is a Vestibule annex with double timber panelled entrance doors at the north-west and two double-hung windows to the south-west. The main building has two (original) pairs of double-hung windows to the north-west and four (non-original) double-hung windows and a small highly-placed central window to the north-east. Behind the parapet walls, Ballroom and Vestibule have metal butterfly roofs falling to a shared central box gutter spilling into a large rainwater head located on the northern external wall. The truncated remains of a chimney on the south-eastern wall are visible from above. Ballroom Interior The Ballroom interior consists of a large single space with a high, timbered and decorated ceiling including an ornate ceiling rose and highly ornate cornices. The walls are plastered and painted, with a simple picture rail and double-height skirting boards with moulded tops. The fireplace in the chimney breast on the south-eastern wall has been bricked up. Timber floors may be partly original and have been carpeted. The Vestibule has been treated similarly, though the floor finish is vinyl. Two tall arches between the Vestibule and Ballroom spaces have cornices at springing point. Some original ventilation grilles are evident.
Modifications and dates:	-c. 1860 Construction of existing residence, probably including side annex, by Edmund Thomas Blacket. -1870-1876 Probable addition of Ballroom by Robert Fitz Stubbs -By 1876 Addition of the Ballroom and its vestibule, connected to residence by covered way, and (in rear addition) a billiardroom, day nursery and bedroom, detached kitchen, scullery, servants' hall, store, servants' bedroom, laundry and ironing room and 2 servants' bedrooms, and at the rear of the property, a workshop, tool house, two bedrooms, garden-house, carriage house, gighouse, stables, horse-boxes, hay-room, and several out-buildings. -By 1889 Construction of apparent semi-detached houses in northern corner of site. Formal subdivision took place in 1904. -Early 1920s Adaptation of c.1860 buildings for use as Depot for State Children, including conversion of bedrooms to dormitories, conversion of ballroom to school room, conversion of ballroom rear addition to store; and partial infill of residence front veranda (north end) for office. -1925 Likely demolition of stables. Construction of the Metropolitan Girls' Shelter. -1930s-40s Demolition of rear addition to onetime ballroom. -1940s Construction of new Store and Air Raid Shelter. -Late 1950s Construction of School building. Alterations to residence, including: division of Dining Room into bathroom and passage, internal fitout of bathroom, conversion of store to bathroom and bathroom to store, conversion of sitting room to locker room; infill of back veranda, conversion to WCs, blocking up of window and opening, conversion of window to door, removal of internal annex walls to create one space, new windows to side and rear of annex, division of Matron's bedroom into staff dining room with new window and medical room with new sink; conversion of dining room to dormitory with new windows to south-east wall, conversion of ballroom/school to dormitory with new windows to south-east wall, new WC in south corner, vestibule converted to dental examination room with sink, new external door in south-west wall with hood over, modification of doors and partitions at stairs, modifications to existing Matron's WC on stair landing, including installation of shower, division of large dormitory into two staff bedrooms with new window to south-east wall. -1960s Conversion of Store to children's and staff dining facilities. -Early 1970s Construction of new classroom building. -By 1978 Demolition of all site buildings except residence, annex and ballroom. -1980-1983 Construction of Metropolitan Remand Centre building. Restoration of Bidura House, annexe and ballroom building - substantially restored under Behne Ritche & Hart P/L and used as an adjunct wing to the Remand (Metro. Remand Centre) building for administration and meeting purposes (Davies, 2021).. 1984 Youth and Community Services Dept. developed alternative programs for housing offenders and by 2/1985 remand facilities were closed at Bidura. The Buildings (Metro.Remand Centre) were adapted and continued to function as the Children's Court until 2017 (Davies, 2021). 2014 Property sold by state government to a private company for redevelopment (Davies, 2021).


Former use:	Aboriginal land, farm, private home, orphanage, girls shelter, offices

History

Historical notes:

The following historical overview has been summarised from the 2015 Conservation Management Plan by Graham Books and Associates Pty Ltd.

Phase 1: Eora Nation
-The original inhabitants of the Sydney city region are the Gadigal people.
-Despite the destructive impact of first contact, Gadigal culture and connections in Glebe endure.
-In addition to the Gadigal, Aboriginal people from elsewhere gradually moved into Glebe as it developed into an inner Sydney suburb (GBA, 2015).

The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters (sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani ).

With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney (Heiss, City of Sydney).

Phase 2: European Land Grants and Subdivision
-The subject site is on land that was part of a 1790 grant of 400 acres (162 hectares) by Governor Phillip to the Church of England, officially named St Phillip's Glebe but known as 'the Glebe'.
-When the church reserve was subdivided into 27 allotments in 1828, Lots 3 and 4 of the subdivision were purchased by William Dumaresq, a captain in the Royal Staff Corps.
-Dumaresq first subdivided his land as the 'Boissier Estate' in 1840 with Lots 1 and 2 purchased by businessman Stuart Alexander Donaldson in 1841 (GBA, 2015).

- The property was purchased by prominent colonial architect, Edmund Blacket, as a family home while he was working on the University of Sydney in 1857. Blacket chose to live close by the University project, in Glebe. He rented the villa 'Hawthorn' on the Boissier estate first (Collingwood et al, 2019).
- The landscape was still largely covered in dense bush at this time and Blacket is recorded to have "found it necessary to have four men to escort him home through the heavy timber after a day's work at his city office", along the track that became Ferry Road (GBA, 2015).

Blacket built the two storey house (completed by 1858 (ibid, 2019; SCC (2011) say c1860) and a single storey annex c1860 (GBA, 2015).

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 approporiated 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).

Sketches of the building, dating from 1865, likely drawn by his daughter Edith label the building "Our House". Blacket's daughters Edith and Hilda sketched many local houses and scenes, creating an excellent early record of The Glebe (ibid, 2019). A July 1870 drawing of the house's eastern garden front by a young Hilda Blacket shows its three stories with two-storey verandahs, an Araucaria tree and a single-storey wing on the house's northern side. A watercolour painting by Edith Blacket (from a collection of pencil sketches and watercolours, 1863-75 and 1891)(ML/SNLSW) shows the summer house at the bottom of the garden (The Glebe Society, exhibition 'Villas of Glebe and Forest Lodge, c.1870', 7/2019).

He lived in The Glebe for 11 years and was a member (an Alderman) of Glebe's first Council in 1859 and held that post for 11 years (Pollen & Healy, 1988, 110).

Blacket sold the house in 1870, following the death of his wife Sarah in 1869. He and the children shifted to Balmain (ibid, 2019). The new owners were Rosina and Robert Fitz Stubbs, who named the house 'Bidura'. A 'well-known family of musicians', they added an adjoining new ballroom in the 1870s (ibid, 2019).

- The extensive rear garden contained a number of outbuildings including a detached kitchen, scullery, servants' hall, store, servant's bedrooms, laundry and ironing room, workshop, tool house, two bedrooms, garden-house, carriage house, stables, and horse-boxes.

By 1878, the Fitz Stubbs had moved to (nearby) Glebe villa 'Lynwood'. Bidura's subsequent owners were merchant Frederick Perks (ibid, 2019). It served as Perks' residence for many years and has a fine ballroom (SCC, 2011).

In 1904, the northern corner of the property was subdivided and sold by owner, Frederick John Perks.
- Subsequent owners were physician Walter Burfitt and grister, Rowley Walker (GBA, 2015).

Phase 4: Joint welfare and judicial role 1920-1925
In 1920 the site was purchased by the NSW Government for use as accommodation for wards of the state. Children lived and were schooled on site. Originally called the Depot for State Children, but also known as Bidura Orphanage or Glebe Girls Home.

The site originally had two functions:
1.as a receiving home: all wards of the state come to Bidura for processing after they had been removed from their families
2.as a remand facility: it also housed children awaiting trial in the Metropolitan Children's Court.

At the time, under this dual function a common 'child saving' objective saw children who had committed crimes, those who were neglected or abandoned, those who were from single parent families, or had Aboriginal parents, and those who were simply poor processed in the same way.

The site was the central point of child welfare in NSW, being the first place most children saw after they were taken from their families and the transit point for their referral to other institutions or programs. As a result, this was the place many members of the Forgotten Australians and Stolen Generations entered 'care' (GBA, 2015).

Phase 5: Development of the Metropolitan Girls Shelter 1925-1940s.
From 1925, the two functions began to be separated when the NSW Government reorganised its approach to child justice institutions.

The government moved the Children's Court from Paddington to Surry Hills, and established two designated sites to house children awaiting trial-a nearby property, Royleston, was designated for use as the Metropolitan Boys shelter and a new building, the Metropolitan Girls' Shelter, was constructed fronting Avon Street at the rear of Bidura House.
- Both Bidura and the Girls Shelter operated on the subject site under the same administration and appear to have shared facilities for the first few decades, with the entire site known as the Metropolitan Girls' Shelter until the 1940s.
- The site as a whole was notoriously known as a place where cruelty and abuse were an everyday occurrence. This has caused significant ongoing distress and associated health and social problems for the former residents and their families, as specifically recognised in the Forgotten Australian's report of 2004 (GBA, 2015).

Phase 6: Separation of Bidura and Metropolitan Girls Shelter 1940-1977.
- By 1943 the Victorian house group was simply known as Bidura and appears to have been both administratively and physically separated from the Metropolitan Girls Shelter fronting Avon Street.
- The site was subject to protests by Women's Liberationists in the 1970s for the plight of female residents.
- Adaptation of all buildings and erection of additional outbuildings was undertaken in line with shifts in thinking, for example changing of open dormitories to single rooms, and adaptation of the ballroom for use as a school (GBA, 2015).

Phase 7: Establishment of Offices late 1970s-present.
- Bidura closed as a residential facility in 1976/77 and the house was restored by the Department of Public Works and used as office space for what is now known as the Department of Family and Community Services.
- Restoration works included demolition of the rear veranda and construction of a new one, removal of non-original internal partitioning and repartitioning of some areas for new purposes, reinstatement of some infilled openings and bricking up of others, replacement or removal of bathroom and kitchen fitouts, replacement of timber windows and doors, installation of new electrical, lighting and ventilation services (GBA, 2015).

In 1973 Bidura's site was stormed by women's liberationists in protest about the brutal conditions for female wards in state institutions. In 1980, residential facilities were closed and a new building was constructed at the rear to house a children's Court (Sydney City Council, 2011, item 14).

- The site was sold into private ownership in 2014, with the Department of Justice planned to vacate in 2017 (GBA, 2015).

In November 2015 the NSW Departments of Justice and Community Services were still leasing the premises (Reed Burns, J., pers.comm., 14/2/2019).

This institutional history of Bidura has been recognised by Federal and State governments through a series of reports. The National Museum of Australia's 'Inside' exhibition, (promised in the National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants delivered by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 16 November 2009 in Canberra) notes that three Senate reports (The 'Bringing Them Home' report of 1998, the 'Lost Innocents' report of 2001, and the 'Forgotten Australians' report of 2004) were undertaken following pressure from interest groups for the government to put on record the histories that had been hidden or unrecognised. The reports acknowledged that children had experienced systems of 'care' and social attitudes that had utterly failed to protect them. It also notes that the places associated with these Australians, like the Bidura House Group, despite being adaptively reused for other purposes, or left derelict or demolished, continue to be repositories of these historic events and connections (GBA, 2015).

In 2016 local heritage groups pushed to save Bidura, which led to the NSW Land & Environment Court rejecting a refusal of a DA by Sydney City Council for a proposed $43m redevelopment of the rear or the property, involving the five-storey 1983 Brutalist style court building as well as Bidura house and garden. Two apartment blocks were proposed, up to 8 storeys high, behind (east of) the villa, which was proposed for retail and office use. In early 2017 the developer lodged an amended $29m development application proposing one seven-storey apartment building, which is now before the court for hearing in November, or full hearing in February 2018 (O'Rourke, 2017, 22). . The City of Sydney are appealing the LEC's subsequent approval decision (which allowed for the demolition).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Gardens-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	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.	Streetscape Tree or trees-
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.	Special tree or trees-
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.	All nations - controlling dispossesed peoples-
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.	English migrants-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Migration-Activities and processes associated with the resettling of people from one place to another (international, interstate, intrastate) and the impacts of such movements	Free Immigrants in the 19th century-
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	Landscapes demonstrating styles in landscape design-
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 institutions - productive and ornamental-
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-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Creating environments evocative of the 'old country'-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
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.	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.	Victorian 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.	Adapted heritage building or structure-
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.	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 public servants and officials-
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.	Housing professional people-
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	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	Resuming private lands for public purposes-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in offices-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in the public service-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Providing job training and placement services-
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.	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 - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
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-
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 - caring for orphans-
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.	Providing public offices and buildings-
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 - administering the justice system-
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.	Administering ports and shipping facilities-Includes maladministration.
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Administration of justice-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Corrective services-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	court house-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Detaining young offenders-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Policing and enforcing the law-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Children in need-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Children in need-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Providing a home for disadvantaged children-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Rehabilitation of truants from schools-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Rehabilitation of juvenile offenders-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Providing training for destitute boys-
7. Governing-Governing	Welfare-Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations	Welfare-Includes charitable and self-help institutions.
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 Regency 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.	Building in response to climate - bushfires-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - Federation 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.	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.	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.	Designing landscapes in an exemplary 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.	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 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 1850-1900-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Living in a new house-
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	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	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	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	Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Edmund Blacket, Government Architect-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Bidura House Group is of historical significance at a state level as a key point in a broader network of places associated with child welfare and juvenile justice in NSW. It functioned from 1920-1977 as child accommodation. During this period all wards of the state came to Bidura House before being fostered out or transferred to other institutions. It also functioned between 1920 and the 1940s as accommodation for children on remand awaiting trial in the Metropolitan Children’s Court.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The building is associated with prominent colonial architect Edmund Thomas Blacket who purchased the site in 1857, built the regency-style residence, Bidura, c.1860 and lived there with his family until 1870. The site has been occupied by various government child welfare and juvenile justice institutions, including the Depot for State Children, Glebe Girls’ Home, Glebe Orphanage, Metropolitan Shelter for Girls, and the Department of Family and Community Services over a period of 96 years. As the first place most children were housed after being removed from their families before their referral to other institutions, this was the place many members of the Forgotten Australians and Stolen Generations entered 'care'. As such, Bidura has strong associations with these groups. The site is also associated with mid-20th century feminist movement. In the 1970s, Bidura House, along with Parramatta Girls' Home and Hay Institution for Girls, were targeted by Bessie Guthrie and activists from the Women's Liberation movement for abuses against young women.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The precinct is socially significant for its impact on NSW children and their families who were affected by the juvenile justice system including the Forgotten Australians and Stolen Generations. Its importance is indicated by attention given to the site in publications such as the Forgotten Australians Report, the Find & Connect web resource on institutional ‘care’ in Australia, the National Library of Australia’s Forgotten Australians and former child migrants oral history project and the Sydney Barani website. It continues to be a focal point for campaigns recognising the history of abuse in child institutions such as the ‘Loud Fence’ Campaign in 2016.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The site is of potential technical significance at a state level as its fabric provides evidence of the conditions experienced in children's homes and remand facilities from the 1920s to the 1980s. The buildings together with descriptions of their former use, provide an insight into the processing, domestic routine and methods employed in the treatment of NSW minors in the state system. Many of the oral histories of former residents describe the routine at these institutions. Evidence of the various alterations and additions undertaken over time reflect changing philosophies and practises such as partitions which show the shift from open dormitories to single rooms at Bidura house.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The site is rare within NSW as a State children’s welfare facility which operated continuously from the 1920s to the late 1970s, showing, through its modifications, changing philosophies of child welfare over time.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Though modest in its detailing, the form, design and main elements of Bidura House make it a good example of upper-middle-class Victorian Regency residential architecture. The Ballroom is a simple example of the Victorian Italianate style.
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	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
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		01994	28 Aug 17	2017-95	4586

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Aitken, Richard	2002	'Villa Garden' (entry)	View detail
Written	Collingwood, Lyn, Crawshaw, Peter and Hannan, Robert	2019	Villas of Glebe and Forest Lodge, pre-1870	View detail
Written	Graham Brooks and Associates Pty Ltd	2015	Conservation Management Plan - 357 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Electronic	NSW Government Gazette	2017	NSW Government Gazette	View detail
Written	O'Rourke, Jim	2017	'Heritage Protection for Bidura - children's court left out of listing'
Written	Paul Davies P/L Architects, Heritage Consultants	2021	Bidura House, Glebe - Heritage Impact Statement
Written	Pollen, Francis (ed.) and Healy, Gerald	1988	'Glebe' entry
Written	Saulwick, Jacob	2017	'Architects fight to save a concrete behemoth'
Written	Sydney City Council	2011	14. Bidura (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:	5063601
File number:	EF16/2939

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.