Bellevue was constructed c.1896 and designed
by local architect Ambrose Thornley and is a compromised example of a
modest late Victorian dwelling with some characteristics of the
Italianate style. It is one of the few surviving examples of mid-late
Victorian dwellings that characterised Jarrett's Point on the
Blackwattle Bay foreshore. The dwelling's form and general aesthetic
character is representative of its architectural style, the late 19th
century period of construction and the phase of residential development
in the local area at the time. However the comprehensive loss of
detailing, joinery and ornamentation in association with its dilapidated
state has eroded the representative formal aesthetic values of the
place.
Bellevue is significant to the local area for its landmark aesthetic
values associated with its prominent siting on Jarrett's Point in the
open space setting of Blackwattle Bay Park. The dwelling is highly
visible from a number of significant vantage points in the area and is a
significant and characteristic feature of the Glebe foreshore area.
Bellevue was also the focus of the ocal community during the mid-1970s
when it was saved from demolition by developers through the actions of
ardent local residents (City Plan Heritage, 2005)
The growth of industry in Glebe, especially
along the foreshores, had been encouraged by the development of wharfage
in Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays. By 1945 there
were 158 factories in Glebe, and they employed 4,496 workers. Bellevue is
now derelict. The City of Sydney’s 2004 Glebe Foreshore Plan provides
for its restoration.
History
Alexander Brodie Spark (of Tusculum and
Tempe House) purchased this site as part of his 20 acre lot in the
Church subdivision of 1828.
In the 1840s depression Spark became bankrupt and his land was sold.
By 1870 Mary Chisholm owned large portions of the original grant, and she
commenced the subdivision and sale of the remaining lots in 1873.
Ambrose Thornley owned a house near the point at this time (west of the
Bellevue & Venetia lots), and a bathing house (later known as Homecroft)
had been built c.1858 on the foreshore of the land owned by James
Rothwell, immediately west of lot 45/Venetia). A second bathing house
was built in the shallows of the adjacent (to Lot 45) foreshore.
Lots 45 & 46 adjacent to Rothwell's land were bought by William Jarrett in
1873, with a mortgage from the Industrial & Provident Permanent Benefit
Building Society, of which Jarrett was manager. Jarrett had arrived in
Sydney in 1853 and in 1860 became licensee for the Tradesmans Arms Hotel
in Leichhardt. He was a publican until 1870 when he started his
association with Industrial Buildings Societies.
William Jarrett is first listed in the 1876 Sands Directory as a resident
of Glebe Point, having previously resided in Glebe Road, suggesting he
built Venetia (on lots 45 & 46) in 1875).
Ambrose Thornley Senior, who already owned the land and had built his
house Drayton Lodge to the west of Jarrett's land, bought lot 47 on the
point.(the site of Bellevue). In 1876 he sold lot 47 to William Jarrett.
Jarrett was a Glebe Alderman for 3 years from 1872 and gave evidence to
the Government's Select Committee on Immigration in 1880. Venetia was
known to be full of art pieces, many collected on the Jarrett's overseas
travels. A very strict father, his children and their spouses continued
to live at Venetia, even after their marriages.
By 1880 a row of 7 houses had been built in then Kennedy Street (renamed
in 1909 as an extension of Leichhardt Street). Jarrett also built a row
of 4 houses further west in Oxley Street. In 1890 a residence, The
Poplars, was built opposite Venetia.
Jarrett built a second house Bellevue, adjoining Venetia in 1896. It was
designed by Ambrose Thornley Junior, an architect who lived nearby in
Florence Villa, and is typical of Thornley's designs, which included the
Glebe Town Hall. Thornley was declared bankrupt in the 1890s and became
a publican.
Bellevue is reputed to have been built for Jarrett's daughter, although
the first occupant was Ewin Cecilia and J G Warden moved in a year
later. It was described in the family history as a 'multi-bedroom single
storey building with large entertaining areas and numerous basement
rooms'. Jarrett died in 1901, and it was not until 1913 that Bellevue
and Venetia were sold to solicitor William Archibold Windeyer, in July
1913. Extensive reclamation and sea walls had extended Jarrett's
original lots (viz. 1913 plan of Windeyer's purchase).
The 1905 Sands Directory shows Joseph Stinson (who owned the largest real
estate agency in Glebe at the time) occupying Venetia and Thomas Riley
occupying Bellevue. This was still the case in 1914, however from 1915
there are no further listings of Venetia, suggesting it was demolished
by Windeyer in 1914/5, soon after his purchase.
Bellevue was occupied by Mrs Lena Reilly in 1920, and from 1924 until 1925
by George Cavanagh. From 1925 the transition of the Point from
residential to industrial uses commenced. 53 Leichhardt Street for a
short time became a lighterage for McEnnally Bros. & Co. Ltd. While the
sites of Venetia and The Poplars, together with Bellevue were
incorporated into the Vanderfield & Reid Ltd. Timber Yards. 49-53
Leichhardt Street became Sylvester Stride's shipbreaking yards. The
crane which remains on the foreshore today (2004) to the rear of numbers
49 & 51B was part of Stride's operation. Although Stride demolished
parts of the houses on his site, they remained relatively intact during
his ownership, number 49 becoming part of the offices for the salvage
and wrecking business.
Windeyer sold his land on the Point to Property Purchase P/L in 1939.
Vanderfield & Reid Ltd. Bought the property in 1948. The c.1950 survey
by the City of Sydney shows the extent of their timber yard holdings,
north and south of Leichhardt Street. They also extended their holdings
into the bay, as large numbers of logs were floated ready for
processing. A c1970 photo shows a building (now demolished) had been
attached to the rear of Bellevue (its south).
In 1970 the extensive Vanderfield & Reid holdings were sold to Korvette
Hardware P/L, with mortgage finance provided by Parkes Developments P/L
and CAGA Finance. Parkes became known as the developer of the sites. At
this time the foreshore land was zoned industrial, and described in the
"The Glebe" newspaper as "a disaster area - deserted timber yards, empty
fuel drums littered about, derelict houses and rusting hulks of barges
moored to rotting jetties". Only the Maritime Services Board opposed the
rezoning of the land to residential.
As part of the rezoning of the Parkes' Land, and the approval process for
a large apartment development for the site, the developer agreed to set
aside land on the foreshore for a park. This was assisted by community
activists and members of the Glebe Society who assisted in particular
opposing the demolition of Bellevue.
A condition of development approval was for the restoration of Bellevue
for community use, however Parkes commenced demolition. Insisting that
it was an unfortunate misunderstanding, Parkes halted demolition but
subsequently failed to restore Bellevue's fabric. Parkes also dumped
fill which was excavated from the apartment sites onto the Bellevue
site. Leichhardt Council subsequently purchased the foreshore parkland,
including Bellevue, at the end of 1981.
A section 130 Order was placed over Bellevue on 16 May 1980 to provide
time to investigate the retention and re-use of the building.
Blackwattle Bay Park to the south of Bellevue was designed by Stuart
Pittendrigh & Associates, who also designed the Reserves at Simmons
Point and Peacock Point in Balmain. It was opened in August 1983. Part
of the park was created to the west of the Strides site and in 1985 the
Strides site was purchased by the then Department of Environment &
Planning, for open space to link the two parts of Blackwattle Bay Park.
However after the original residences on the site were assessed as
having heritage significance, the foreshore was subdivided and retained
as a link, while the houses at 49, 51/51A, 51B and 53 had their
squatters evicted and were sold with caveats which ensure their
restoration and retention. The 5 houses were sold for $800,000.
The foreshore land was transferred to Leichhardt Council in 1987. Council
had limited funds to restore Bellevue.
After LEP listing as an item of state significance in 1984 it was
re-roofed with slate, assisted by a $17,000 $ for $ grant from the
Heritage Conservation fund administered by the Heritage Council. As one
of the conditions attached to the assistance the owner applied for the
making of a Permanent Conservation Order over the item. To ensure the
long term protection of the item the Heritage Council at its meeting of
6 February 1986 recommended to the Minister that a Permanent
Conservation Order be placed over Bellevue. The Permanent Conservation
Order was gazetted on 25 July 1986.
In 1984 the Glebe Society surveyed local residents and community
organisations on possible uses for Bellevue. Council prepared sketch
plans, allocating the upper storey for public use and a scheme of
funding was presented to Council - this plan did not proceed. In 1988
the Australian Society of Authors expressed interest in establishing its
headquarters in Bellevue, with a low level of use and some public
access. Changes in Council caused this proposal to lapse.
In 1991 Leichhardt Council called for tenders for the lease, restoration
and commercial use of Bellevue, and made a new wharf a condition of its
development. Successful tenderer Anthony Vick & Associates was to
restore Bellevue and establish a restaurant with water access from a new
wharf. The approval also allowed for a kiosk, caretaker's flat and 20
parking spaces. By 1993 the approval had lapsed. After extensive public
consultation, the Glebe Society favoured using Bellevue for a 'kiosk,
public toilets, park equipment storage and a local environment museum.'
In 1996 Anthony Vick lodged a new application for a large residence,
coffee shop/kiosk, gazebo and toilets, which was refused.
In the late 1990s Council also refused an application to use Bellevue as a
restaurant with part of the park area providing 22 parking spaces. In
1998 further community consultation occurred when EDAW P/L prepared a
Management Plan for Blackwattle Bay Park and Bellevue. Despite the many
proposals and community consultations, Bellevue remains derelict and
fenced to prevent public access. (City Plan Heritage, 2004)
In 1994 the heritage Council approved work for the conversion of the
building into a restaurant and caretakers flat and construction of a
kiosk, store and toilets within the courtyard of the property.(this did
not proceed).
Bellevue was listed on the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Special thanks to
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/
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