Hubbry Logo
search
logo
894574

Bishopscourt, Darling Point

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
894574

Bishopscourt, Darling Point

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Bishopscourt, Darling Point

Bishopscourt, Darling Point is a heritage-listed residence and former archbishop's residence at 11A Greenoaks Avenue, Darling Point, Sydney, Australia. It was designed by J. F. Hilly (1846), Edmund Blacket (1859) and Leslie Wilkinson (1935) and built from 1846 to 1849 by Thomas Woolley (1841); Thomas Sutcliffe Mort. It is also known as Bishopscourt and Greenoaks. Up until December 2015, the property was owned by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney; and is now privately owned. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Originally known by its Aboriginal name Yarranabbee, Darling Point was called Mrs Darling's Point by Ralph Darling (1825–31 Governor) in honour of his wife. At that time the area was open forest, but after New South Head Road was built in 1831 timber cutters felled most of the trees, and the land was subdivided. Most of the plots, covering 3.6 to 6.1 hectares (9 to 15 acres) in this area, were taken up between 1833 and 1838. The suburb became known as Darling Point.

Several notable people bought land and built homes here, including surveyor-general Sir Thomas Mitchell's Carthona and one-time home Lindesay. Around the middle of the 1800s residents included the Reverend George Fairfowl Macarthur, one time rector at St Mark's Church, Darling Point, members of the Tooth family, brewers, at Swifts, and Samuel Hordern, retail king.

The land (of what became Percyville/Greenoaks/Bishopscourt) (then allotment 11) was purchased by Elizabeth Pike and Thomas Smith (Elizabeth Pike's "grant" passed to Richard Jones and Joseph Hyde Potts in between June 1835 and July 1836. By 1835–6 a small residence was built by Richard Jones – presumably s three roomed single storey cottage with an entrance porch. c. 1840 the house was extended – presumably made two storeys – its architect is unknown. A window was removed from the west facade space G11 and an oriel window was installed.

By 1841, a portion of Jones & Potts' land and of Smith's grant (making up 4.5 hectares (11 acres)) was purchased by Thomas Woolley, ironmonger, who built a two-storey stone cottage "Percyville" on the site with John Frederick Hilly as architect. Most of the front of the present house is this original Percyville design.

Originally known as Greenoaks, Bishopscourt was designed by Edmund Blacket. A cottage originally occupied the site, and the owner, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, built the sandstone Gothic Revival mansion around this building, circa 1850–1860. Further extensions were made in 1935 after being designed by Leslie Wilkinson. The exterior features Tudor windows and carved doors and crests. The interior was based on the Palace of Westminster and is considered to be an outstanding example of Blacket's work, with stained-glass windows, tiled floors, an elaborate staircase and panelled library.

In 1845 Thomas Sutcliffe Mort leased the land, purchasing it in 1846 for 2,500, and then in the late 1850s/60s commenced work on a house he called Greenoaks. c. 1853-55 alterations were made by architect J. F. Hilly and Mr Page was the builder. These included stables, bays to the morning room (G11), the drawing room (G9), a staircase (the position of Hilly's staircase is uncertain – it may have been in rooms G6 and F11). The position of a label mould indicates an early stair in that area but its date and origin are unclear), stained glass windows to the stairhall and old study (G14 and G13), and an extension to the south (G5, G4B). In 1853 Hilly called for tenders for a new stables and coach house for premises at Darling Point. Stained glass for Greenoakes was ordered from Hardman's of Birmingham. A further tender notice by Hill which may relate to Greenoaks (11/7/1854) was for "additions to residence, Darling Point". Tender notice for plasterers of January 1855 may relate to Greenoakes. An estimate for papier mache or carton pierre celining ornament was received (12/1858) from George Jackson & Son of London.

Mort, businessman and horticulturist, was born in Bolton, England and worked as a clerk, seizing the chance to migrate to Sydney in 1838 to bolster the family fortunes. In 1843 he set up as an auctioneer, becoming an innovator in wool sales. His pastoral interests included Franklyn Vale, in the Darling Downs, Queensland and Bodalla at the mouth of the Tuross River, South Coast, NSW. By the end of the 1840s his fortune was made, but he restlessly pursued other projects, some ill-starred. In 1841 he married Therese, daughter of Commissary-General James Laidley. Mort pioneered weekly wool auctions and the refrigeration of food, was involved in moves for the first railway in NSW, and was a founder of the AMP Society. He was instrumental in construction of Mort's Dock at Balmain in 1854, which gave Sydney a dry dock for repairing ships.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.