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| Terrace Houses in Glebe |
In 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip granted 400 acres (162 hectares) to the Anglican Church for the new colony’s chaplain, the Rev Richard Johnson. The Glebe Point area became fashionable in the 19th century, while the southern part of Glebe became a working class district.
Glebe fell into decline in the early 20th century, but by the 1960s there was a renewed appreciation of its charms. Glebe became one of the first suburbs in Australia to experience “gentrification”, as its architectural heritage, combined with proximity to the city and Sydney University, made it fashionable again. This tour will explore a district which has not only a fascinating built environment but a long history of bohemian lifestyle, activism and intellectual pursuits.
Start your Glebe walk at the Glebe Library (1), 186 Glebe Point Road, on the opposite corner of The Haven Hotel, 196 Glebe Point Road. There is a bus stop right outside the library if you come by bus from George Street in the city.
1) Glebe Library
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| Glebe Library |
Glebe Library is located in Benledi House, which was built in the late 19th century and occupied by the Moore family. The Sydney Homoeopathic Hospital was founded in Redfern in 1902 to dispense homoeopathic treatment. This was a popular form of medicine in the 19th century, but its popularity declined with the introduction of antibiotics and improved surgical skills. The hospital moved to Benledi House in Glebe in 1915, where it was increasingly used as a general community hospital. Despite its name, it is believed that homoeopathy had effectively ended there by 1945.
The park on the corner of Wigram Road was previously the site of the Sydney Hospital for Sick Children, founded in 1880. It was renamed the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1904, and moved to Camperdown in 1907. The Sydney Homoeopathic Hospital later took over this building, which was demolished in 1968.
The Sydney Homoeopathic Hospital in Benledi House was abruptly closed in 1989. Benledi is now part of the Glebe Library.
Turn left into Wigram Road, past the Haven Hotel. Take the first right into Mansfield Street to reach Tranby (2), 13 Mansfield Street.
2) Tranby
Tranby cottage was built in 1858 before the subdivision of the Toxteth Estate. Since 1958 it has been the home of the Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative College, the oldest independent adult Aboriginal education centre in Australia. With an average of 150 students, it seeks to provide self- determination for Aboriginal Australians. Courses include Applied Aboriginal Studies, Community Development, National Indigenous Legal Advocacy and Business Studies. The Co-operative has also developed affiliate organisations such as Blackbooks, the Aboriginal Development Unit and the Aboriginal Homeless Persons Hostel.
Continue up Mansfield Street into Avenue Road to reach the site of Toxteth Park, now Saint Scholastica’s College (3), 4 Avenue Road.
3) St Scholastica’s College
George Allen (1800–1877) was the first solicitor to be trained in Australia. By 1831 he had acquired 96 acres (38.8 hectares) of Glebe land, which became the Toxteth Estate, and commissioned John Verge to build Toxteth Park. His son, George Wigram Allen (1824–1885) added a third storey, tower and ballroom. In 1901, it was sold to the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, a Benedictine Order, which founded today’s St Scholastica’s College, a Catholic school for girls. It has 700 students in years 7–12, including 80 boarders.
You may wish to explore nearby Arcadia Road, which contains some of the most attractive houses in the area. Alternatively, proceed downhill along Avenue Road, right into Victoria Road then left into Edward Street. On your left is the Sze Yup Chinese Temple (4).
4) Sze Yup Chinese Temple
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Sze Yup Chinese Temple
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The Sze Yup Temple was built by immigrants from the area known as Sze Yup in the province of Guangdong, China. It is dedicated to Kwun Ti, a warrior and patriot in the era of the Three Kingdoms 220–265 AD, who was famous for his loyalty, physical prowess and masculinity. In Australia, immigrant Chinese worshipped him as a wise judge, a guide and a protector. There are only four temples of this type in Australia, and the Sze Yup temple is the most renowned. The central temple was built in 1898. Principles of Feng Shui are seen in its location on land that sloped from the temple to the waters of Rozelle Bay. In 1904 the central temple was flanked by two chapels, the Chapel of Departed Friends and the Chapel of Good Fortune.
Retrace your steps along Edward Street and Victoria Road, then turn right into Alexandra Road to reach Jubilee Park and Bicentennial Park. You can then take the foreshore walk to Bellevue (5), a Victorian villa on the Point.
5) Bellevue
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| Bellevue |
Built in 1883, the Victorian house with Italianate features was designed by Ambrose Thornley Junior, who was responsible for many houses and shops around Glebe. Overlooking Blackwattle Bay, it was one of many mansions around Glebe Point. They gradually disappeared as industry took over the area in the 20th century. The growth of industry in Glebe, especially along the foreshores, had been encouraged by the development of wharfage in Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays. By 1945 there were 158 factories in Glebe, and they employed 4,496 workers. Bellevue has now been restored for community use and houses the Blackwattle Cafe.
Continue along the foreshore walk to the Burley Griffin Incinerator (6) at the rear of the park near Forsyth Street.
6) Burley Griffin Incinerator
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Burley Griffin Incinerator
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Built in 1933, this was the smallest of 13 incinerators in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia designed by Walter Burley Griffin, designer of Canberra, and his partner Eric Nicholls. Others included those at Pyrmont (now demolished) and Willoughby. Before building the incinerator, Glebe Council would load garbage onto barges at the Council depot in Forsyth Street, tow it 10 kilometres out to sea and dump it. This resulted in beaches being polluted by refuse carried in by the currents. Griffin and Nicholls promoted their incinerators as hygienic, efficient and aesthetically pleasing. The incinerator building has been preserved for community uses and forms a striking architectural feature along the Glebe foreshore walk. Look out for the interpretive signs.
Continue up Forsyth Street and turn left along Glebe Point Road. On your left is Bidura (7), 357 Glebe Point Road.
7) Bidura
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| Bidura |
Bidura built about 1860. Blacket is believed to have lived here while he was designing the Great Hall of the University of Sydney. Bidura served for many years as a residence for the merchant Fred Perks, and has a fine ballroom. Bidura House has a long association with the Community Services Department and from 1920 until the mid-1960s was used as a residence for state wards, including many Aboriginal children separated from their families. Bidura Children’s Court is situated directly behind Bidura House.
Continue walking along Glebe Point Road until you reach your starting point at the Haven Hotel and Glebe Library (1). Reward yourself with a coffee or snack at one of the local cafes before boarding the bus to go back to George street in the city.
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