Property: <\/strong>Yaralla is a highly unusual large rural estate in the Sydney metropolitan area. It comprises an Italianate mansion designed by Edmund Blacket in 1857 with later additions by Sir John Sulman, the cottage of Australia\u2019s first postmaster Isaac Nichols, a squash court, workers\u2019 residences, a stables and coach house complex, a dairy and the remains of an early 19th century farmhouse.<\/p>\n Occupying the entire peninsula between Majors Bay and Yaralla Bay, its 37 ha of grounds contain significant and largely intact or traceable Victorian \/ Edwardian gardens, paddocks, remnant eucalypt woodland, mangrove stands and natural harbour frontage on the shores of the Parramatta River. Original garden elements included inner and outer drives, carriage sweep, foreshore drive, orchard and market gardens, carpet beds, rose and picking gardens, sunken garden, Italianate balustrade lawn terrace, lawns, tennis and croquet courts, swimming pool, grotto and pet cemetery.<\/p>\n In its heyday Yaralla was a major focus of Sydney\u2019s Edwardian society, and the scene of lavish charity functions and children\u2019s parties. Established by Concord\u2019s philanthropic Walker family, the estate was bequeathed by them to the state government in 1937 for its present use as a convalescent hospital.<\/p>\n It is classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW), listed on the Register of the National Estate and protected by a Permanent Conservation Order under the NSW Heritage Act.<\/p>\n For statement of significance click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Project: <\/strong>Research of the site\u2019s landscape history, and documentation drawings for restoration of the grotto, sunken garden and driveway turning circle. For further details Yaralla<\/a>.<\/p>\n Clients:<\/strong> Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Concord Council, with a grant from the Bicentennial Authority<\/p>\n Date:<\/strong> 1987<\/p>\n (Project undertaken with Knox & Tanner, Sydney NSW, while concurrently completing a thesis on the estate\u2019s historical evolution; heritage significance, depletion, and restoration works to support its future conservation).<\/em>
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