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Vaucluse House: one of the most beautiful mansions from the 19th-century in Sydney, Australia

Marija Georgievska

Vaucluse House is a historic estate from the 19th-century in Gothic Revival style which is still surrounded by its original 28 acres grounds and gardens.

It is located in Sydney in the suburb of Vaucluse in Australia. In 1802, the original house was built by Sir Henry Brown Hayes who was transported to New South Wales because he had committed a crime. Because of his crime, kidnapping the daughter of a wealthy Irish man, Governor King ordered Hayes to be 3km away from Sydney.

It is located in Sydney in the suburb of Vaucluse in Australia. In 1802, the original house was built by Sir Henry Brown Hayes who was transported to New South Wales because he had committed a crime. Because of his crime, kidnapping the daughter of a wealthy Irish man, Governor King ordered Hayes to be 3km away from Sydney.

The Vaucluse House  Photo Credit
The Vaucluse House  Photo Credit

 

The original house was built in 1802   Photo Credit
The original house was built in 1802   Photo Credit

 

The name of the house comes from Petrarch’s Fontaine de Vaucluse  Photo Credit
The name of the house comes from Petrarch’s Fontaine de Vaucluse  Photo Credit

The house that Hayes purchased in 1803 was previously granted to Thomas Laycock and Robert Cardell. When he got the permission to buy the house he gave named it Vaucluse. The name comes from Petrarch’s Fontaine de Vaucluse. Later, Hayes built several buildings around the house and a small cottage.

Inside the house, which has a ground floor, first floor and a second floor, there is a kitchen, a scullery where washing up was done, cellars, housekeeper’s room, butler’s pantry, breakfast room, a dining room which has some original furniture and copies of the Grand Masters purchased by the Wentworths on their numerous trips to Europe.

The Drawing Room  Photo Credit
The Drawing Room  Photo Credit

 

The entrance Photo Credit
The entrance Photo Credit

 

Part of the kitchen  Photo Credit
Part of the kitchen  Photo Credit

Also, there is a little tea room in Art Deco style, added in the 1930s, family history room which in 1900 was used as a library, and a drawing room which was completed in 1847 as a setting for potential suitors to meet the daughters of Wentworth. On the first floor are the Principal bedroom and the Second room which was a private family sitting room. Another room on this floor is the Fitzwilliam’s Room in the Hall.

On the second floor are the children’s room and Miss Wentworth’s room which was named after the eldest unmarried Wentworth daughter. William Charles Wentworth was a journalist and explorer who bought the house at an auction in 1827. He moved in the house with his family in 1828 and through the next 25 years he made a lot of changes to the estate by increasing his holdings to 515 acres.

The backyard  Photo Credit
The backyard  Photo Credit

The architect George Cookney worked with Wentworth when he started to transform many areas of the house and designed the stables, the coach-house and much more.

Read another story from us: Reconsidering early Australia: New discoveries show continent settled earlier than believed

When William died in England, his body was returned to the estate, nd he received the first State Funeral in New South Wales. In 1911, the estate was sold and 28 acres were acquired by the New South Wales Government for use as a public park in honor of Wentworth. In 1981, the whole property was restored by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. A significant restoration and conservation work was done to recreate the original Vaucluse House.

Marija Georgievska

Marija Georgievska is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News