Darling Point is a tongue, jutting into Sydney Harbour, wreathed by its glistening, sapphire blue waters on all three sides.

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19A Eastbourne Road was designed in the 1930s in the Mediterranean style although its individual architect is currently unknown.

This environmental-friendly style was introduced to Sydney by Professsor Leslie Wilkinson, OBE, Hon. D. Litt., founding Dean of the architecture faculty in the University of Sydney in 1918 and the darling of the eastern suburbs set for whom he designed over 30 buildings.

He dressed in tailcoat and top hat for his interview for the new chair of architecture in the University of Sydney. He emphasised philosophy, theory and practice of design, aesthetics,  attractive rendering, water-colour drawing, and the history of architecture. For him, architecture was art and those who practised it were discriminating gentlemen to whom good manners were all important.

Exceptionally tall (6 ft 5 ins, 196 cm), fair-complexioned and pink-cheeked, with a clipped moustache the patrician and highly-influential Wilkinson made such pronouncements as “It is not so important to be in style as to have style” and “Aspect [the view from a site] is more important  than prospect [the view looking towards the site].”

One of his staff, observed that an ‘Olympian peace’ surrounded him. Wilkinson had soon come to appreciate the quality of Australia’s colonial heritage which, with Mediterranean architecture, became the main influence on his work, both as teacher and architect.

He disliked modern buildings.

He was a public intellectual with his articles featuring prominently in the stylish “The Home” and popularly ubiquitous ”Australian Women’s Weekly”.

He was the first president of New South Wales state chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1933. Wilkinson won the first gold medal in 1961. In that year the coveted award was named the Wilkinson Award in his honour.

Mediterranean influences abound at 19A Eastbourne Road including bougainvillea, blue and turquoise tiles, a Juliette balcony, a belvedere tower, exterior floor tiling, courtyard fountain and Spanish baroque curved pediments.

Its prospect from and aspect to the water offer up its cooling zephyrs, and are a natural cross-flow ventilation.

Darling Point is named after Governor Darling’s’ wife, Elizabeth Darling, after whom Elizabeth Bay is also named. General Sir Ralph Darling was overnor of the colony of New South Wales, from 1825-1831.

What is now the Darling Point area was first established 1833, shortly after Potts Point, and was originally known as either Eurambi, Yarranabbi, Yarrandabbi and Yaranabe by the local Aboriginals, occupants for over 40,000 years. Yarranabbe Park (current spelling) fronting Rushscutters Bay is named in honour of its unique provenance.

By Andrew Woodhouse, Heritage Solutions