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Item
Name of Item:	Bronte House
Type of Item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Primary Address:	470 Bronte Road, Bronte, NSW 2024
Local Govt. Area:	Waverley
Property Description: Lot/Volume Code Lot/Volume Number Section Number Plan/Folio Code Plan/Folio Number
All Addresses
Street Address Suburb/Town LGA Parish County Type 470 Bronte Road  Bronte  Waverley  Alexandria  Cumberland  Primary
Statement of Significance	Oldest known residence in the Waverley Council area. Always magnificent and still one of Waverley's best. Especially notable stylistically. An individual Mid-Victorian design reflecting a Romantic and Picturesque interpretation of the medieval past. Appears to be substantially intact and retains its outstanding original setting. Special social and historical interest for its associations with Mortimer Lewis, the Lowes, and other prominent local citizens. State significance. Sources: Dowd, pp. 154-161. Kerr J, Broadbent J, Gothic Taste in the Colony of New South Wales, p. 107. Date Significance Updated: 24 Oct 99 Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.
Description
Construction Years:	1890 - 1890
Physical Description:	Magnificent, Mid-Victorian mansion overlooking Bronte Park. Towers and form are reminiscent of a medieval French chateau. Described as "stylistically confused" by Kerr and Broadbent (p. 107), "an amusing mongrel "Gothic-Italianate" design". All slate roofing. Main roof consists of repeated hipped form. Central gabled projection to front (facing park). Verandah on each side, returning around house. Simple timber posts with large span brackets. Round tower on corners to Bronte Road, with conical roofs. Two storey rear extension comes right up to road alignment. Ashlar coursed render with unusual ground floor openings. Difficult to see from park or roadway due to high fence. Excellent grounds and reconstructed period gardens (described on accompanying landscape inventory form).
Further Information:	Reasons for listing: Historical; cultural; social; architectural; aesthetic; rarity value; streetscape/landscape.
Current Use:	Dwelling house
Former Use:	Dwelling house
History
Historical Notes:	Land, which includes the present day park, was originally granted to Mortimer Lewis, the Colonial Architect. He laid foundations but was forced to sell in 1840's recession. House completed by Barrister Robert Lowe, and his wife, in 1845 or early 1846. Little altered since then. (Dowd, pp. 154-161).
Historic Themes
Australian Theme (abbrev) New South Wales Theme Local Theme 4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Accommodation - Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities. (none) -
Assessment of Significance
SHR Criteria a) [Historical Significance]	Oldest known residence in the Waverley Council area. Always magnificent and still one of Waverley's best. Especially notable stylistically. An individual Mid-Victorian design reflecting a Romantic and Picturesque interpretation of the medieval past. Appears to be substantially intact and retains its outstanding original setting. Special social and historical interest for its associations with Mortimer Lewis, the Lowes, and other prominent local citizens. State significance. Sources: Dowd, pp. 154-161. Kerr J, Broadbent J, Gothic Taste in the Colony of New South Wales, p. 107.
Integrity/Intactness:	Substantially intact.
Assessment Criteria	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.
Listings
Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number Gazette Date Gazette Number Gazette Page Local Environmental Plan      06 Dec 96       Heritage study  Waverley Heritage Study  1990
Study Details
Title Year Number Author Inspected by Guidelines Used Waverley Heritage Study  1990    Perumal Murphy Pty Limited    No
References, Internet links & Images
None
Note: Internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.
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Data Source
The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database Number:	2620087
Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager. All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of the Heritage Branch or respective copyright owners.