Bronte House is a hidden treasure located in one of Sydney's gems
Bronte Beach.
The romantic beachside villa is one of the Eastern Suburbs oldest buildings designed by colonial architect Mortimer William Lewis in 1836.
Up to six
open days are held throughout the year at the historic home, giving the public an opportunity to wander through the 19th century gothic cottage and garden.
It is the only type of early Victorian architecture facing the ocean in Sydney. According to Bronte House's website it has: "romantic circular and hexagonal corner turrets, deep bay windows and fanciful pierced wooden tracery on both the eastern and western fronts."
Myles Baldwin and Chris Owen will be on hand at the open days to answer gardening questions, give horticultural advice and information about the Bronte House garden they love and maintain.
The perennial garden – a method that has roots in Jacobean England, is cut down each winter to enable fresh growth on all plants in spring.
According to Bronte House's website: "This open day expect to see the roses in bloom, our bank of ten thousand Clivia as a sea of orange, and the succulent collection in full flight."
Since its inception Bronte House which is now owned by
Waverley Council, has had a series of interesting owners and tenants that have put their signature style on the showcase home and garden.
Tenants included the Bronte branch of the Red Cross who occupied two small rooms and the kitchen at the rear of the property in the 1960's.
According to the Bronte House website the Red Cross had: "an evening card party held by them each week to raise money for their rent."
Notable amongst recent lessees was Leo Schofield, whose love of the gardens is explored in his book
The Garden at Bronte.
