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THE GLEBE LANDS OF
Fix this textBISHOPTHORPE AND ST. PHILLIP'S
Fix this textTHE CASE FOR PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION
Fix this textINTRQWCTIQN:
Fix this textThe Glebe lands of Bishopthorpe and St. Phillips
Fix this textform the easternmost areas of the Sydney suburb of
Fix this textGlebe and are bounded mainly by Parramatta Road, St.
Fix this textJohns Road and Cowper Street. This preliminary
Fix this textreport seeks to establish these areas as being of
Fix this textoutstanding historical and architectural value and
Fix this textadvocates the substantial preservation of the his-
Fix this texttoric townscapes, the rehabilitation of most buildings
Fix this textand the careful and sympathetic construction of some
Fix this textnew buildings.
Fix this textIt is based on the assumptions that -
Fix this text(a) the Western Expressway will not be built
Fix this textin this area;
Fix this text(b) Leichhardt Municipal Council's planning
Fix this textproposals, now being prepared, will
Fix this textencourage substantial preservation
Fix this textwithin the density codes proposed for
Fix this textthe various areas of Glebe, and
Fix this text(c) the areas bordering Broadway, Parramatta
Fix this textRoad and Arundel Street will be zoned
Fix this textfor complete re-development.
Fix this textARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE:
Fix this textThe architectural importance of the area is of
Fix this texta special kind. It does not consist of great houses
Fix this textor buildings of intrinsic architectural merit.
Fix this textBecause of their unusual history as church property
Fix this textBishopthorpe and St. Phillips have preserved, within
Fix this textan area large enough to continue to serve changing
Fix this textcontemporary needs, the character of Australian town
Fix this textarchitecture of the third quarter of the nineteenth
Fix this textcentury - that important but yet insufficiently under-
Fix this textstood period, between the gold rush of the 1850's and
Fix this textthe building boom of the 1880's.
Fix this textWithin the area, cottage types and terrace types
Fix this textof great importance for an understanding of the
Fix this textdevelopment of architecture in Australia have sur-
Fix this textvived. Set among them, in spacious, tree-lined
Fix this textstreets, will be found, some larger houses, corner
Fix this textshops, former hotels and stores, together with an
Fix this textimportant group of church and public buildings in the
Fix this textvicinity of the corner of Glebe Point Road and St.
Fix this textJohns Road. Altogether the areas provide a
Fix this texttraditional community precinct unique to Sydney,
Fix this textwhich still possess a vital community life today.
Fix this textWith appropriate preservation, and some sympathetic
Fix this textdevelopment to increase the density of the areas,
Fix this textthey could be made to serve the needs of the present
Fix this textday whilst retaining their traditional character as
Fix this textpart of the nation's heritage.
Fix this textCHARACTER AND TOWNSCAPE VALUES:
Fix this textThe distinctive character of Bishopthorpe and
Fix this textSt. Phillips derives from their development mainly
Fix this textduring the twenty years between 1855 and 1875. Due
Fix this textto the fact that the areas, including the streets,
Fix this texthave remained under the control of a single owner,
Fix this textthey are still in substantially original condition.
Fix this textFor this reason they are unique in Sydney and even in
Fix this textAustralia.
Fix this textMore important still, this architectural profile
Fix this textof a past Sydney suggests even earlier periods in the
Fix this textnineteenth century. Building styles changed little in
Fix this textthe thirty years before the building boom of the
Fix this text1880's and consequently many styles of the 1820's,
Fix this text30's and 40's were extensively used in the 1850's to
Fix this text1870's. Thus Bishopthorpe and St. Phillips contain
Fix this textnot only the architecture of their time but also
Fix this textreflect the building styles existing in the city in
Fix this textthe 1820's to 1840's, a part of our heritage that has
Fix this textall but disappeared from the central city area. This
Fix this textfact can be substantiated by a comparison of
Fix this textbuildings in Joseph Fowles' "Sydney in 1848" (1) with
Fix this textclose cousins still standing in The Glebe.
Fix this textThis substantial reminder of our past history
Fix this textis thus valuable for several reasons and when viewed
Fix this textin relation to the mainly later development in the
Fix this textrest of Glebe, forms as complete a picture of
Fix this textnineteenth century urban Australian architecture as
Fix this textcan be found.
Fix this textEven when looked upon merely as townscape these
Fix this textglebe lands are, however, visually and architect-
Fix this texturally interesting. The strong grid pattern of its
Fix this textwide streets, its lanes and tree plantings combine
Fix this textwith the low and regular profile of the buildings
Fix this textto form a unity. The atmosphere is similar to that
Fix this textfound in some of our older and better-preserved
Fix this textcountry towns and should be regarded as especially
Fix this textvaluable in keeping a sense of diversity within a
Fix this textlarge, modern city.
Fix this textIt should be noted that restoration of many
Fix this textmissing architectural details would, of course,
Fix this textassist in more clearly delineating the historic image
Fix this textof these areas.
Fix this textAlthough Glebe was sub-divided into 28 allotments
Fix this textfor the first public auction of land in Glebe in 1828,
Fix this textthree contiguous lots nos. 7, 8 and 28 were not
Fix this textoffered for sale. Lots 7 and 8 were later handed over
Fix this textto the trustees of St. Phillip's Church, the income
Fix this textderived to be used for diocesan purposes. Lot 28 was
Fix this textset apart for the residence of the Archdeacon and all
Fix this textrevenue derived from the area retained for the Church
Fix this textand School Corporation 'to and for the personal use
Fix this textand occupation of the Archdeacon of New South Wales
Fix this textand his successors forever'. It was first known as
Fix this textthe Archdeaconry.
Fix this textWhen in 1836 Dr. W.G. Broughton was consecrated
Fix this textBishop of Australia, the Archdeaconry became known as
Fix this textthe Bishopthorpe Estate. In 1856 it was divided into
Fix this text238 allotments and offered on 99 year leases. Lots
Fix this textwere retained for St. John's School and St. Barnabas'
Fix this textparsonage.
Fix this textThe Bishopthorpe leases required all buildings
Fix this textto be constructed either of stone or brick. Other
Fix this textconditions prohibited the erection of more than two
Fix this textdwellings on an allotment and required buildings to
Fix this textface the main roads. No restrictions, however, were
Fix this textplaced on the use to which buildings could be put.
Fix this textThe subsequent erection of a number of hotels resulted
Fix this textin later years in questions at Sydnod as to the
Fix this textpropriety of the Church deriving income from such a
Fix this textsource. As a result of the conditions imposed, the
Fix this textbuildings erected were generally of good standard.
Fix this textA contemporary description runs:
Fix this text"The sub-division has been on the most liberal
Fix this textscale - the Streets being of the full proclaimed
Fix this textwidth of 66 ft. with lanes of 16*j ft. wide. The
Fix this textallotments have all 40 ft. frontages by depths
Fix this text(1) Joseph Fowles lived in Glebe Point Road
Fix this textfrom 1866 to 1871.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3416643318
Glebe Society (N.S.W.) & National Library of Australia. (1973). The Glebe lands of Bishopthorpe and St. Phillips the case for preservation and restoration Retrieved March 4, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3416643318
Glebe Society (N.S.W.) and National Library of Australia. The Glebe lands of Bishopthorpe and St. Phillips the case for preservation and restoration Glebe, N.S.W: The Glebe Society, 1973. Web. 4 March 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3416643318>
Glebe Society (N.S.W.) & National Library of Australia. 1973, The Glebe lands of Bishopthorpe and St. Phillips the case for preservation and restoration The Glebe Society, Glebe, N.S.W viewed 4 March 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3416643318
{{Citation
| author1=Glebe Society (N.S.W.).
| author2=National Library of Australia.
| title=Glebe lands of Bishopthorpe and St. Phillips : the case for preservation and restoration
| year=1973
| section=[2] p. ; 28 cm.
| issue=559
| location=Glebe, N.S.W
| publisher=The Glebe Society
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3416643318
| id=nla.obj-3416643318
| access-date=4 March 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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