Collection of architectural elements comprising
Object No. A10054
These architectural fittings, comprising a cast-iron fire place surround, ceiling panels, stained glass windows, stained glass panels, and sections of a mahogany staircase, were salvaged in 1983 from the large Gothic style Federation house, 'Canonbury', at 192 Darling Point, in the Sydney suburb of Darling Point prior to its demolition that year. The two-storey house, built of brick with a slate roof and extensive cellars, had been completed in 1905 for the vaudeville comedian and theatre proprietor, Harry Rickards (1843-1911) (Benjamin Leete). The mansion was designed by Clarence Backhouse, built by Porter and Green, with stained glass and decorative work by Lyon, Cottier and Co. Its outbuildings included a servants' wing, stables, carriage house, bathing and boathouse on Sydney Harbour. The house was only a home for a few years before being sold by Rickards wife, Kate, to the Australian Jockey Club in 1919 and leased as a hospital for returned World War I servicemen suffering from mustard gas and later to treat children inflicted with polio. It operated as a hospital throughout most of the twentieth century, eventually as an extension of Crown Street Women's Hospital. Gradually additions were added to the site and it ceased being used as hospital in 1981. Following a study in 1983 by architects and conservation planners, Howard Tanner and Associates, the additions and main house itself were recommended to be demolished. The harbourside site was transferred to Woollahra Council, was landscaped and opened as McKell Park in 1985 though some of the house's foundations remain. These architectural elements were donated to the Museum in 1983 by the Department of Health as examples of fine local manufacturing, particularly the section of staircase said to be one of the main features of the house and the stained-glass windows by Lyon, Cottier and Co. By the late 1870s and 1880s this firm had become Sydney's best-known decorating business, providing decorative schemes and stained glass for Government House, Parliament House, and the new General Post Office. This house suffered from the post-World War I social changes in housing which at the time saw many large homes either demolished or reused largely as hospitals for returned servicemen or as private schools and colleges. This was mainly because of the expense of ongoing maintenance and the unavailability of appropriate staff necessary for their upkeep. Margaret Simpson, Curator October 2015
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Summary
Object Statement
Collection of architectural elements from 'Canonbury', 159 Darling Point, Darling Point, designed by Clarence Backhouse, built by Porter and Green, New South Wales, Australia, 1904-1905
Physical Description
Collection of architectural elements comprising 1 cast-iron fire surround, 4 plaster ceiling panels, pair stained glass windows, 10 stained glass panels with pointed arch surrounds, 2 rectangular staircase panels, section of staircase, metal / ceramic / plaster / glass / wood , salvaged from Gothic style Federation house, 'Canonbury', 159 Darling Point, Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia, designed by Clarence Backhouse, built by Porter and Green, with stained glass and decorative work by Lyon, Cottier and Co., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1904-1905
HISTORY
Notes
'The Sydney Morning Herald' of 28 February 1905 described 'Canonbury' in some detail as 'A Palatial Residence': "This building has been recently erected from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Clarence Backhouse, architect, and in working out the scheme for a complete and up-to-date residence no detail has been omitted. The drawing-room is a magnificent apartment nearly 30ft in length. The treatment is French Renaissance, with elaborately hand-carved over-doors, mantels, and overmantels. Upon one side of the room stands a large mirror framed in the beautiful carved wood of the above style. Combined with this, and forming a whole and complete design, are flower-stands and heavily upholstered seats. The ceiling is designed in the same style, as also are the dado and friezes. The general colour treatment is ivory and gold. The main hall is 30 feet in length and 15 feet wide. Rising from this to the floor above is the main staircase, one of the principal features of the house. The whole of this work is in mahogany of a deep rich colour, and finished with carved and moulded and panelled balustrading, handrails, and newels. Upon the tops of the newels are set handsome hammered iron and copper gas standards. The walls of the hall are finished in a deep red, with Spanish pigskin dado and frieze. Access to the billiard-room is from the hall, and all of those rooms are finished in a most artistic and quaint manner. The billiard-room fireplace is especially noticeable. It is built in red pressed bricks, with old-fashioned brick hobs and iron grate. From the mantel top to the ceiling extends the overmantel, fitted with cupboards and other conveniences necessary in such a room. The servants' quarters occupy a separate wing. They communicate with the kitchen offices below by a separate staircase. The stables stand at the back of the main building and give accommodation for six horses and six carriages. The boathouse and bathing-house, two separate buildings, have been erected on the foreshore in front of the house, and are in every way in keeping with the rest of the work. The whole of the work has been carried out by Messrs. Porter and Green, builders and contractors of Foveaux Street. The opalite tiling in special designs for the walls of all bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, pantries etc, has been supplied by and fixed by Mr. C. T. Cross. The Bagasse Company have supplied and fixed all of the ceilings in accordance with the architect's designs. The whole of the hammered iron and copper work, mantels, grates, range, and tilings are by Messrs. Holdsworth, Macpherson, and Co. Messrs. Lyon, Cottier, and Co. have carried out the decorative work and supplied all of the stained glass. It is now Mr. Rickards's Intention to call for tenders for the formation of the grounds in accordance with the plans prepared by the architect. These show the grounds, more than an aero in extent, terraced to the water's edge, and finishing at the foreshore with a seawall about 400 feet in length. When the whole of the grounds have been properly laid out and the undertaking complete in all detail the cost of the scheme, including land and buildings, will be somewhere about 20,000 pounds."
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Nsw Health Department, 1984
Acquisition Date
29 March 1984
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