Horsley Complex

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Collection SummaryThe Horsley complex is listed in the State Heritage Register and Fairfield City Council's Local Environmental Plan. This includes the homestead, outbuildings, garden and farm.DescriptionSTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
A substantially intact core of a colonial farm estate with its original 1830s bungalow, outbuildings, plantings, layout and entry within a remnant rural landscape setting which is now rare in the Fairfield LGA and on the Cumberland Plain. Horsley is integral to the history of Fairfield and the history of New South Wales, from its initial granting to Colonel Johnston as reward for his role in suppressing the Castle Hill rebellion. It has been associated with major elements in the colony's development, particularly the pastoral and racing industries, and trade with India.

Horsley makes a major contribution to the local townscape through its visual prominence, size and character, for instance its prominent Bunya pine avenue climbing the hill to the house is similar in effect to those of Bella Vista Farm, Seven Hills, and Winbourne, Mulgoa. It retains some important traditional views to features beyond the estate.

The place has individual components of heritage signifcance, eg:
- the homestead as a rare (perhaps unique) surviving early Australian version of an Indian Bungalow style residence;
- its outbuildings both individually and as a "street" which is rare;
- its early plantings such as the prominent Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) entry avenue;
- the garden as a substantially intact 19th century landscape, with carriage loop, garden beds and early plantings; and
- for its unusual individual plants such as the Kei apple (Carissa grandiflora).

The place has important associations with various notable people - Colonel George Johnston, Governor King, the Weston family), and as a celebrated influence on the major colonial revival movement in architecture in the 1920s and 1930s, through architect William Hardy Wilson (Macquarie Cottage, Pymble; Eryldene, Gordon; Purulia, Wahroonga; Tiana (old name, no longer used, Cronulla) and others .

The place has considerable capacity to demonstrate development of the estate from its initial phase to the present, and is of considerable scientific interest on account of its archaeological research potential (National Trust, 2000)

A colonial garden of major historic and aesthetic importance. An intact mid-19th century gardenesque style garden whose layout and planting splendidly compliment the siting of the house. It is one of the finest landscapes in NSW despite the loss of some minor planting and detail. It is a garden whose importance relies on its layout (driveway up a hill to the house, carriage loop etc) and the impact of its large scale planting (African olives, Bunya pine avenue up driveway etc). A large curtilage is essential. These (Cowpasture gardens including Horsley) were NSW's major contribution to gardening, and were the first gardens in NSW to attract the 20th century artist's and the historican's attention (National Trust (NSW), 1981)

The Horsley complex is historically significant as an unusually intact example of a self contained country estate of the early nineteenth century and for its associations with the prominent early Johnston family. It has architectural significance for demonstrating many of the characteristic features of Old Colonial Regency style and the links with the architecture of British India of the same period. The garden is historically significant in its own right. (RNE, 1978)

Horsley is the only Australian colonial house that can be directly related to Ango-Indian architecture. Not only the design, but also details and even certain fittings like the folding casement doors, and louvred jhilmils (of teak) came from India.

Also significant is the siting of the house and its outbuildings. Horsley can claim to be the only colonial homestead in NSW to have what amounts to a village street of outbuildings in close proximity to the house.

It is also significant for the influence it had on the colonial revivial school of architects in the 20th century, following the publication in 1924 of Hardy Wilson's "Old Colonial Architecture of NSW & Tasmania". Wilson named it his favourite house and its influence can be seen in his work and that of his contemporaries. Even the architect, C. Bruce Dellit, though not of the colonial revivial school, can be said to have been inspired by Horsley in his country house, Karoo at Meadow Flat, built in c.1935 (Lucas, C., 1982)

Horsley is unique in that the house and outbuildings have been designed as an entity...the strong sense of style points to an architect... On this point there is no documentary evidence, but the tomb of the original owner, Colonel Johnston, who died in 1823, was designed by Francis Greenway (Roxburgh, 1978)

Photograph

Sitting room, Horsley NSW

Entrance road lined with Bunya pines, Horsley NSW

Tree on the grounds of Horsley NSW

Bedroom at Horsley NSW

Horsley buildings and garden beds, Horsley NSW

Eucalypts around a dam, Horsley NSW

Dining room with a punkah, Horsley NSW

Horsley Homestead, Horsley Park NSW

Eucalypt on the bank of a creek, Horsley NSW

Horsley Homestead and buildings, Horsley NSW

Eucalypts on the bank of a dam, Horsley NSW

Blanche Weston at Horsley NSW

Farm buildings and pastures, Horsley NSW

Tree on the grounds of Horsley NSW

Two tall eucalypts at Horsley NSW

Dining room with a punkah, Horsley NSW

Drawing room, Horsley NSW

Slab hut with timber shingles, Horsley NSW

Carriage driveway loop, Horsley NSW

Man with a single horse-drawn buggy, Horsley NSW

Tree on the grounds of Horsley NSW

Horsley Vineyard, Horsley Park NSW, c. 1900

Collection

Henry King, Horsley Photo Album, c.1900

Details

DisclaimerStatement of Significance has been sourced from the State Heritage InventoryExternal linkHorsley Complex - State Heritage Inventory

Connections

SuburbHorsley ParkPlace^[1]1900-1908 The Horsley Dr, Horsley ParkCollectionHeritage Listed Sites

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