Number 84 Elizabeth Bay Road is a nineteenth century two-storey brick home of grand proportions. For its time it was modern and, until recently, its provenance was unknown.

A recent, extensive search of the City of Sydney archives files reveals it was built circa 1880 and designed by the famous architect, John Bede Barlow (1860-1925), FRIBA. He was described as “a leading light in NSW Institute of Architects” and the foundation editor of its magazine. In 1890 he drew up its professional code of practice designed “to serve the …profession”. Its 24 clauses included a 5% charge based on the scope of works. It states” Architecture is a science among money sciences”.

Barlow was an outspoken critic of others’ works. In the 1919 edition of Sydney Architecture he deplored Sydney’s “ponderous” designs calling the desire to add extra storeys “confectionary”.

He deplored the lack of understanding of shadows and colour and window mouldings which he said, “look like disturbed caterpillars”.

He designed over 40 Catholic churches, chapels and convents including Lewisham Hospital (where his wife was volunteer), Lyndhurst Chambers in Elizabeth Street and St Canice’s Church, Elizabeth Bay .

By 1893 he had an international reputation and was editor of Art and Architecture magazine.

He designed Simpsons Hotel, Potts Point, previously known as “Killountan”, which featured in “Beautiful Homes of the Edwardian Age”.

Barlow said Victorian architecture “gave him indigestion … with hideous iron balconies and preposterous parapets, pitiful in their vulgarity.”

He built 84 Elizabeth Bay Road in brick with extremely fine and beautiful detailing with Tudor-style, chimneys reminiscent of an equally famous but eccentric brickmaster architect, John Horbury Hunt (1838-1904).

Barlow built up a strong client base using his strong Catholic church connections.

The entrance porch of number 84 resembles a church rectory or presbytery with its wide gothic arch and shaded stained glass windows. The main sitting room includes a church-style apse, or sound shell, possibly originally used for a string orchestra. A hand-carved stair balustrade, marble fireplaces and rich stained glass are evident throughout.

When Horbury Hunt died penniless Barlow, obviously a friend, contributed to his gravestone and burial.

Number 84, with no current house name, sits stoically and snugly on the south west corner of the Elizabeth Bay loop as it has done for the last 140 years.

By

Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions