Bronte House Open Day

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Uncover the hidden treasure that is Bronte House located in one of Sydney's gems Bronte Beach.

On the weekend of November 20 and 21 the doors will be flung open welcoming visitors to explore the grounds and gardens of the romantic beach villa that is one of the Eastern Suburbs oldest buildings designed by colonial architect Mortimer William Lewis in 1836.

According to Bronte House's website the beachside villa has: "romantic circular and hexagonal corner turrets, deep bay windows and fanciful pierced wooden tracery on both the eastern and western fronts."

It is the only type of early Victorian architecture facing the ocean in Sydney.

The dwelling is described by Sydney Architecture as 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."

Since its inception Bronte House, currently 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.

Previous owner Mrs. Georgina Lowe, a watercolour artist, botanist and gardener, designed the the gardens with native and exotic plants with picturesque walks.

Notable amongst recent lessees was Leo Schofield, whose love of the gardens is explored in his book The Garden at Bronte .

Current gardeners 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.

Bronte House has a perennial garden – a method that has roots in Jacobean England where gardens are 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 fresh growth on all plants, the roses in bloom, our bank of ten thousand Clivia as a sea of orange, and the succulent collection in full flight."

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