Lydham Hall
| Lydham Hall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | 18 Lydham Avenue, Rockdale, Bayside Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°56′42″S 151°07′48″E / 33.9449°S 151.1301°ECoordinates: 33°56′42″S 151°07′48″E / 33.9449°S 151.1301°E |
| Built | 1860 |
| Owner | Bayside Council |
| Official name | Lydham Hall; Lydham; Lydham Hill |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 477 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Sven Bengtson (Swedish stonemason) |
  Location of Lydham Hall in Sydney | |
Lydham Hall is a heritage-listed former rural residence and now house-museum at 18 Lydham Avenue, Rockdale, Bayside Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It stands on the Street previously known as Joseph Street. It was named Lydham Avenue in 1917 at the request of the owner of a neighbouring property. Lydham Hall was purchased by the Rockdale Municipal Council, now owned by Bayside Council since the amalgamation in 2016. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]
History[]
The parcel of land on which Lydham Hall stands was originally part of 1200 acres granted to James Chandler in the early 1820s, who named the estate Bexley after his birthplace in England. The property was mortgaged and eventually sold after unsuccessful attempts at farming.[1]
In 1860 wealthy master butcher, Joseph Davis bought 50 acres 24 and a quarter perches of the original 1200 acres and used the land for resting and fattening his cattle before slaughter. Davis engaged Swedish stonemason, Sven Bengston to construct a house on the highest point of the estate to have sweeping views of Botany Bay. Davis named his estate Lydham Hill.
Davis was born in the village of Brede in Sussex in 1827, came to New South Wales in 1847 and set up business in Newtown, first as a publican and then as a butcher. On 28 October 1850 he married 17 years old Ellen Turner at Scots Church, Sydney.[1]
His butchering business flourished and Davis was buying, fattening and slaughtering his own stock. Davis was also a prominent man in the district and a generous benefactor to St George's Church, Hurstville and Christ Church, Bexley.[1] He was one of the petitioners who advocated for the established of a local school in the area in 1887. This educational establishment is known now as Bexley Public School.
The rural character of the area remained largely unchanged until the coming of the Illawarra railway line in 1884. The land boom which followed in the wake of the railway influenced Davis to subdivide all but 8 acres surrounding his home. The streets formed as a results of this subdivision were named after Davis's sons, Frederick and Herbert and his eldest grandson, Clarence.[1]
Shortly after Davis' death in 1889, Mrs Davis sold Lydham Hall to Frederick Gibbins, a successful oyster merchant and trawling magnate,[1] who lived nearby at Dappeto (now known as Macquarie Lodge).
Gibbins leased out Lydham Hall to various tenants from 1890 to 1907, one of which was H. E. Hoggan, Manager of the Australian Gas Light Company.[1]
In 1907 David George Stead a widow, moved into Lydham Hall after marrying Ada, a daughter of Frederick Gibbins, who made Lydham Hall available to the couple rent-free.[1]
David Stead was a world renowned naturalist. Born on 6 March 1877 he left school at the age of 12 and began working as an apprentice to a rubber stamp maker. His scientific career began with a zoology course at Sydney Technical College. At the age of 21, he joined the Linnean Society of New South Wales and by 1900 he had written several short articles that were published by the Society. Stead's special field was in marine life and this was recognised in when he was offered employment in 1902 as a scientific assistant under the Director of Fisheries for the Commonwealth. Stead was also an outspoken conservationist and in 1909 he cofounded the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia.[1]
David Stead had previously been married to Ellen Butter and on 17 July 1902 had a daughter, Christina Stead. Tragically Ellen's life was cut short on 9 December 1904 when she died from a peforated appendix.[1]
Christina Stead was one of Australia's greatest and the most esteemed writers. She was born on 17 July 1902 in a cottage in Kimpton Street, Rockdale (now known as Banksia). Christina moved into Lydham Hall with her father and his second wife Ada. During ten years at Lydham Hall, the Steads grew rapidly with Ada giving birth to six children. A great storyteller, young Christina would entertain her brothers and sisters with tales and poems. Many of Christina's novels were based on this period of her life.[1] It is claimed that she used experiences of this time as the background for possibly her most important work, "The Man Who Loved Children". Although Christina did not begin her schooling until she was seven, she was regarded as an excellent student during her years at Bexley Public School. After a year at Kogarah Intermediate, she transferred to St George Girls High School when it opened in 1916.
The security of life for the Stead family at Lydham Hall very much depended on the benevolence of Ada's father, Frederick John Gibbins.[1] However, in 1917, he died and the exposure to his financial indebtedness was a severe disruption to the Stead family. Following the forced sale of Lydham Hall the Stead family moved to Watsons Bay[1]
The property has changed hands on a few occasions and was subdivided several times until the current curtilage was established.
Lydham Hall was purchased by the then Rockdale Council in 1970 and its Museum is managed by the St. George Historical Society. It houses its collection using as a display the furniture of Miss Holbeach, which is on loan from the National Trust of Australia (NSW). An extensive array of willow patterned china was donated to the Museum by Alderman Ron Rathbone, to whom the purchase or Lydham Hall and loan of the Holbeach Collection are owed to.[2][1]
Generally the Lydham Hall Museum collection contains a range of working and middle class household items typical of the United Kingdom and Ireland, where many adapted from European practices, customs and culture to Antipodea.The Museum collection features tableware, interior decoration, clothing and fashion, military and definitely the British Royal events memorabilia. Each and every item was a donation to the Museum from the public or a voluntary organisation. A closer analysis of this uncurated collection reveals itself as largely related to the history of early migrants and free settlers from the United Kingdom and Ireland and their Australian descendants, whereas just a few artefacts can be attributed to Aboriginal culture. Since the majority of donations were received from members of the public, the Lydham Hall Museum may be considered as authentically a ‘people’s’ museum turning its “brick-and-bracks” into the story of an individual, a family or a place.
Description[]
Lydham Hall was built after 1860 by Swedish stonemason Sven Bengtson. A homestead is decorated by the elements of the Georgian colonial style of architecture and by the patterns of the mid-Victorian era. Basically the house contained four large rooms, each 14x20' with a 10' wide centrally placed hall. A narrow staircase at the southern side of the hall reaches two upper rooms, each 18' 6" square lit by near dormer windows. Full length French windows face north, east and south to take advantage of the cool sea breezes whilst those facing west are conventionally smaller to keep the hot westerlies at bay. Two storeys with attic. Constructed from stone quarried locally and stands on the highest point of land between the Cooks and Georges Rivers.[1]
A 9' verandah once extended around all four sides of the house and its iron roof is unsupported except for bearers in each corner and open work cast iron columns at 10' intervals. The red and stone colour scheme is original. The hip roof of the house is covered with blue slates and there are a series of small decorated brackets beneath the narrow eaves. The two wide chimneys are of unusual design and each has a drip skirt placed above the flashing.[1]
The kitchen, stables and servants quarters were originally detached and stood to the south-east of the house. The kitchen was demolished in 1958 when the last of the land was subdivided.[1]
Modifications and dates[]
- 1822: Original Bexley land grant (1200 acres)[1]
- 1859: Subdivision and acquisition of 67 acres by Davis.
- 1860: Construction of Lydham (house). A 9' verandah once extended around all four sides of the house. The original kitchen, stables and servants quarters were detached and stood to the south-east of the house.[1]
- 1884: Subdivision of all but 18 acres of the estate.
- 1889: Second subdivision creating Stanley, Oswald and Joseph Streets.
- 1890-1917: Tenanted out.[1]
- 1919: The detached kitchen was demolished and attached to the main house for convenience.[1]
- 1958: The kitchen and rest of outbuildings demolished and the last of the land was subdivided.[1]
- 1970: Sold to Rockdale Council.[1]
Heritage listing[]
Lydham Hall is a free stone family home built after 1860 of materials quarried locally for wealthy master butcher Joseph Davis. It is one of the few substantial domestic buildings erected in Sydney during the period of the gold rushes.[1]
It stands on the highest point of land between the Cook's and Georges River where it commands extensive views over Botany Bay. The house is an outstanding instance of an early pioneer home, faithfully restored.[1]
At one time it was the residence of David Stead, internationally known fisheries expert and naturalist who gave the suburb of Banksia its name and the childhood home of the distinguished Australian authoress Christina Stead.[1]
Lydham Hall was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]
References[]
Bibliography[]
- Lydham Hall House. 1995. Reprinted in 2005, 2007, 2016
- (unstated: assumed to be Rockdale Council). Historic Lydham Hall - built 1860 - 18 Lydham Avenue, Rockdale - childhood home of the authoress Christina Stead.
- Attraction Homepage (2007). "Lydham Hall House Museum".
- 'Lydham Hall. Bricks and Mortar', The Golden Jubilee Edition, 2021 Compiled by Olga Sedneva, Edited by Wesley Fairhall, Consultant Anne Field. ISBN 978-0-909878-12-2
- 'Lydham Hall, Beyond Bricks and Mortar. From Colonial Times to 2000'. Ms Olga Sedneva, editor Mr Wesley Fairhall. Submission to 2021 Ron Rathbone Local History Prize. ISBN 978-0-6487449-6-2
Attribution[]
External links[]
- New South Wales State Heritage Register
- Rockdale, New South Wales
- Houses in Sydney
- Museums in Sydney
- 1860 establishments in Australia