Manar apartments, 40A-42 Macleay Street Potts Point, is exclusive: it maintains its period charm and vistas in a contemporary setting.

Apartment 10, is for sale through Jason Boon and Geoff Cox.

https://www.rwebay.com.au/4898486/

The principal and most noticeable frontage of this suite of three buildings is building 1, with its arched windows on the Macleay Street side, the area’s main thoroughfare. It is not generally known that the whole site actually consists of three apartment buildings. Building 1, sits nobly behind the front fence. It is a former Victorian villa built circa 1881 and adapted for apartments in 1919.

Building 3 is to its left, was also built circa 1920. Building 2, at the rear of the site, was built circa 1927 and is unseen from Macleay Street. It is the most majestic, overlooking the harbour.

Apartment 10 is in building 2.

The exteriors of all buildings are fine examples of the Inter-war (1916-1938) Free Classical style, designed by prominent architects, Ernest A Scott and Green. Interiors of buildings 2 and 3, particularly in the public areas, contain fine intact finishes and detailing, evidence of conservative middle class taste during the early inter-war period.

The setting, which includes gardens, landscaped open space, and views to and from the site, are an important part of character of the group.

Interestingly, the site’s rear boundary incorporates a cliff face, part of a natural escarpment that was formed by the blasting of the Darlinghurst Ridge by convict labour in the 1830s to provide a level site for the construction of Elizabeth Bay House.

All three Manar buildings are set in carefully coiffured landscaped surrounds, with a number of mature trees, unusual for inter-war apartment sites in the area. At the rear towards the Onslow Place boundary is a free-standing, single storey brick garage, now a rarity.

This suite of three buildings has been home to some famous personalities including Scottish educationist and scholar, Sir William Mungo McCallum who lived there during 1929; influential publisher, Sydney Ure Smith (1931) as well as business identities, Arthur Hardy, of Hardy’s Jewellers and Mr Yates, of Yates Garden Supplies.

World-famous opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba, lived in apartment 5.

High Court judge Sir Garfield Barwick ,lived in apartment 8.

Prime Minister, Sir Jack McEwan, lived in apartment 23.

Sydney Lord Mayor Jack Armstrong, lived in apartment 1.

Lucy Turnbull, former Lord Mayor City of Sydney Council 2003 and wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, was born in apartment 3.

Others to have lived in the building have included the celebrity agent, Harry M. Miller, SBS presenter Jenny Brockie, and the former Channel 9 TV weatherman, Alan Wilkie.

General Douglas McArthur, Supreme Commander of the southwest pacific area during World War II, lived in apartment 1 with his girlfriend.

Building 2 includes a large “MANAR” medallion, Tuscan columns, a pond, fountain and sculpture, Carrera marble steps with a mosaic entrance in turquoise and sandstone, terrazzo entrance hall flooring, a striking foyer seat, original brass apartment numbers and door handles, and stained glass in the stairwell.

Apartment 10 contains original, handsome ceiling mouldings, period skirting boards, an ornate French stone fireplace, high ceilings and panoramic views over Elizabeth Bay and Sydney’s sapphire blue harbour.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions