Located in Leura in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Everglades House and Gardens is a 1930s house surrounded by 5.2 Hectares of gardens. Designed by the Danish horticulturalist and landscape designer, Paul Sorensen, the gardens incorporate winding paths and European Terraces.
Parking is available outside the entrance, and we had no problems finding a spot. Managed by the National Trust, there is an entrance fee of $16.59 per adult (in October 2022) or free for National Trust members.
Views over the Jamison Valley provide a magnificent backdrop to the gardens. On the lowest level, a small hidden grotto contains a pool and waterfall.
We spent time walking through the gardens, which contain some interesting statues. On one level, brickwork frames the mountain views, making it a favourite spot to have photos taken.
This was an interesting garden to visit, being situated on a steep ridge. The terraces and winding path make great use of the sloping land, allowing you to move from garden setting to another. We found lots to see here, well worth the entrance fee.
Brickwork used to frame the surrounding landscapeBackdrop to the Garden TheatreBacchus FountainOwl Sculpture in the GardensThe Wrestler Bronze Sculpture in the GardensBoy Removing ThornFlowers in BloomGrotto Pool and Waterfall
Completed between 1803 and 1839 in the Gothic Revival style, Vaucluse House is one of the few remaining colonial mansions in Sydney still surrounded by its original gardens and wooded grounds. Purchased by colonial explorer, barrister and politician William Charles Wentworth in 1827, it was expanded from a simple cottage to a grand mansion. Wentworth also extended the grounds and surrounding gardens which originally covered most of what is now the suburb of Vaucluse.
Operated by Historic Houses Trust of NSW, part of the NSW State Government, Vaucluse House became Australia’s first house museum in 1915.
Getting There
A large carpark on site provides ample parking if you are driving yourself. The closest bus stop is for bus 325 on Wentworth Road. Bus 325 connects to both the Edgecliff train station and Watsons Bay Ferry.
Entry to the house is through the rear, via the gift shop. Large backpacks are not permitted inside the house and are stored in a cabinet behind the service desk. Entry is free and you get a map which has descriptions of each room.
Vaucluse HouseThe rear of Vaucluse House
The Kitchen
The first major room is the kitchen, which contains some original items including the food safe, dresser and cast iron cooking range. When we visited, the range was lit, so the kitchen had a great wood smoke smell. Arranged around the room pots and pans and other cooking utensils give a sense of what the room would have looked like.
Entry to the KitchenKitchenKitchen
Housekeeper’s Room
Furnished as it would have been in the 1800s, the housekeeper’s room is a small room where the housekeeper lived and performed her duties.
Housekeeper’s Room
Drawing Room
Decorated extravagantly, the drawing room is furnished in the period style of the 1800’s. This room was where potential suitors could meet the Wentworth’s daughters. This room projects how rich and influential family was.
Drawing RoomThe Drawing RoomDrawing Room
Breakfast Room
This room was an informal family dining area, but still nicely furnished and decorated.
Breakfast Room
Bedrooms
Upstairs Bedroom
Wine Cellar
Accessed via external stairs, the wine cellar still contains the arched alcoves for the storage of wine bottles. Despite being warm outside, the cellar was cool, showing how it helped keep the wine in good condition. Next to the wine cellar is the cool store with hooks on the ceiling for hanging cured meats.
Wine Cellar
Stables
Although no longer housing horses, the stables are in excellent condition, with the wooden stalls still showing the marks of horses from 100 years ago.
The Stables
What Did We Think?
The house is in great condition along with all of the period furnishings. We loved walking through the house, seeing how the wealthy lived in mid-nineteenth century Australia.
Located in Maitland opposite St Mary’s Anglican Church, Grossmann House is a heritage-listed former residence and Maitland Girls’ High School premises and now house museum. Built in 1870 by local businessman Isaac Beckett, the house represents the success of his business with Samuel Owen. The adjacent Brough House built by Owen is an identical but mirror image design.
In 1893 the first Maitland Girls’ high School was established when both Brough and Grossmann House were purchased and converted to a school. The name is derived from the first headmistress, Jeanette Grossmann who was principal at the school from 1890-1913.
Managed by the National Trust since the mid-1960s and decorated with artefacts from the 1860s.
With the interior restored to 1870s Victorian Grossmann House is open for tours on Sundays, with tickets available online.
We enjoyed our tour, finding the guides friendly and very knowledgeable on the house, which was great when we asked questions.
Hallway
Decorated with period furniture, the hallway leads to the main living area of the house, but its most interesting feature is the restored gas lights. Although stored to working order, they were not operating during our visit.
Hallway
Gas Light Chandelier
Internal Staircase
Dining Room
Furnished with a set-dining table, the dining room looks just like it would in the 1870s. The decorations are great, although the portraits on the walls are not of the original owners, but contemporary paintings.
Dining Room
Dining Table
Wallpaper
As part of the restoration undertaken by the National Trust, the original wallpaper was recreated from fragments discovered in the house. This has added to the presentation of the house, as it looks authentic.
Reproduced Wallpaper
Ladies’ Sewing Room
Containing the furnishings expected in a ladies’ drawing room, the windows overlook the garden, giving the room a relaxed atmosphere. The wallpaper here is also recreated from fragments found during the restoration.
Chair With Footstool and Window View
Sofa in the Ladies Room
Georgian Crystal Exhibition
Several rooms had an exhibition of Georgian crystal, which although not related to the house, made an interesting addition to the tour.
Georgian Crystal Display
Georgian Crystal Display
Old School Room
One room was furnished as an old school room to show how the building looked during this period. The photo on the wall is of Jeanette Grossmann the first headmistress.
Old School Room
Kitchen
The kitchen contains an old oven and other nineteenth century fittings, which suit the age of the house.
The Oven
Grossmann House Garden
Wet weather during our visit prevented a good look around the gardens, but they look nice and would be great to walk around, if it wasn’t raining.
Back Garden and Laundry Building
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
