By Dorothy Davis, Guided Walks Coordinator. 

Pyrmont’s industrial waterfront

In the 19th and for much of the 20th century, Pyrmont, on the western edge of the city and Darling Harbour, was an important industrial waterfront for the port of Sydney. What began as a rural retreat for the city elite and popular picnic spot, was transformed from the mid-19th century into an industrial suburb. Quarries provided stone for the city building booms, while the arrival of large, polluting, industries like the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) came to define the suburb’s industrial character. Ship building, wool export and other maritime-based industries also dominated. This walk explored the rich history of the peninsula and pointed out some of the surviving hints of this industrial past. Mark Dunn, who lead the Walk, is a public historian who has worked for over 20 years in heritage and archaeology.  

 

 

Exploring Forest Lodge 

Forest Lodge, once a ward of the Glebe Municipal Council, which was formed in 1859 and merged into the City of Sydney Council in 1948, is named for the 1836 house built by chemist and druggist Ambrose Foss. Forest Lodge is multi-layered and complex, with its character constantly shifting and being remade. Max Solling led the first Glebe Society Walk in 1969 and is still keen to share his great knowledge of Glebe’s and Forest Lodge’s history and heritage. Max lead us through the suburb, explaining the history of Forest Lodge’s natural environment, civic role, industry, retail and residential development. 

 

 

 

The Villas of Glebe pre-1870

Similar to the large villas with their pleasure grounds that once graced Potts Point and Darlinghurst, a handsome line of marine villas took shape from the late 1820s on the escarpments of Glebe – a position ensuring good drainage, ample grounds for recreation, access to fresh water, cool breezes and pleasant views. Robert and Peter, who own – and have lovingly restored – the c.1847 Rothwell Lodge, will lead us on a tour of the magnificent remaining pre-1870 marine villas. The Walk began near Lyndhurst in Darghan Street, from where we wandered up St Johns Road into the grounds of St John’s Church and next door to Foley Park. From there, we headed down Glebe Point Road through the Toxteth Estate – Glebe’s first and largest estate – then on to the grounds of Margaretta Cottage in Leichhardt Street. Our last stop will be Rothwell Lodge in Ferry Road, where we learnt more about this beautiful and historic home during a guided tour led by Robert and Peter, whose extensive knowledge of Glebe’s 19th-century villas is unsurpassed.  The walk took place on Sunday 15 October. Read a full report.

Toxteth House and the Toxteth Estate

This was a special opportunity to see inside Toxteth House, places of interest in the Toxteth Estate and Jubilee Park and to learn more about the Toxteth Estate from historian, Max Solling, author of ‘Grandeur and Grit: A History of Glebe’. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan welcomed the Glebe Society to their historic villa designed by John Verge in 1831.  More about this walk.

 

 

Heritage architecture on Glebe’s doorstep

This was a guided walk of the heritage-listed precinct of the University of Sydney’s main Quadrangle and neighbouring buildings. This building group is possibly the most important group of Gothic Revival architecture in NSW. The Quadrangle took over 100 years to complete, and we marvelled at the design of the various buildings that form the Quadrangle, the workmanship involved, and the beauty of the rich decoration on the buildings. We explored some of the more hidden parts of the Quadrangle, including courtyards, gardens and passageways, as well as some of the Quadrangle’s more quirky decoration. Read a full report of this walk. 

 

Highlights of the Chau Chak Wing Museum

The Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney is on our doorstep, but have you ever been? Join a special one-hour tour for Glebe Society members and their friends. An expert guide from the Museum will take us through the exhibitions, from visual arts to natural history, Mediterranean antiquities to Indigenous culture and from scientific instruments to historic photography. Come and find the unexpected in one of Australia’s most diverse museum collections. Follow with coffee (at your expense) at the Sounds Café in the Museum.  Read a full report of this walk.

 

House visit: Award-winning contemporary private home in Glebe

A visit to an award-winning contemporary home and meeting with the owners and architects. This house, winner of the 2020 Australian Institute of Architects’ Wilkinson Award for residential architecture, was designed by Chenchowlittle. It is a stunning family home built on a small site and featuring a series of curved archways, curved walls and a curved staircase to create the impression of lots of space.  Glebe Society members only.  Read a full report of this walk.