Seven-storey Darnley Hall, 12 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, was built in the 1930s by architects, Rosenthal and Day. Its name derives from an ancient fifteenth century Scottish title, the Earl of Darnley. The title still continues today in the UK. It was not uncommon for local, large prestigious apartment blocks and houses of the 1930s to add some grandeur by adopting ancient names: heritage gives caché.

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Constructed in the popular neo-Georgian style it was one of several popular styles of the period including Art Déco and Mediterranean Style, previously known as Spanish Mission Style.

Roman arches, a marble tiled entrance foyer, lion head spouts and classically proportioned windows are all tell-tale signs of Darnley Hall’s neo-Georgian origins. Ionic columns, from the ancient Greek island of Iona with their literary scroll-shaped capitals, support the two entrance porches. The building faces both east and west to capture cross breezes.

The site was once part of the Macleay Estate, granted to Alexander Macleay in 1826, who built Elizabeth Bay House with extravagant, botanical gardens.

Subdivisions of the Macleay Estate occurred in 1865, 1924 and 1934 and saw the area bisected and then dissected. After 1901 the site was sold to James Onslow, after whom nearby Onslow Avenue is named. In 1924 Richardson and Wrench, established since 1860 and today the oldest continuing real estate agency in NSW, sold the last remaining allotments, including the Darnley Hall site.

Rosenthal and Day also built nearby Clanricarde in Billyard Avenue. The firm was responsible for many war memorials in the blue mountains, churches and public buildings. Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, KCB,CMG,DSO,VD (1875-1954) was a World War I war veteran also known with affection as “Rosie” by his men because of his kindness to them at the battlefront. He was described as “tremendously massive and powerful … there was nobody who could hold him in a single-man ‘tug-o’-war’.”

He led many careers simultaneously. He was an organist and choirmaster and opera singer, but above all, a military man. He fought at Gallipoli and was highly decorated.

His actions on 25^th April 1915 established his reputation. He was twice wounded at Gallipoli. Yet, lying amid a crowd of suffering men on a hospital ship, he sang them  Handel’s operatic aria and battle-cry, “Arm, Arm Ye Brave” to reviee their spirits!

He was described as being “energy personified; he had the physique of a gladiator and the heart of a lion”.

He initially became a draughtsman in the architectural division of the Department of Railways and Public Works in Perth and was involved in plans for the Perth law courts, the Public Library and Royal Mint, revealing his energy and wide interests. As organist and choirmaster of Coolgardie Wesley Church he won the esteem of the congregation: his fine bass voice also made him a popular local concert artist. The church’s organ still exists in the local museum.

He decided to return to Melbourne after his health was threatened by typhoid – he was also bankrupt – Rosenthal sent his wife by ship and he set off on his bicycle in November 1898 to cross the Nullabor Plain! He rejoined her in January 1899. He then joined G.C. Inskip and W. Butler, architects and surveyors, who sent him to manage their Sydney office in 1900. Here Rosenthal blossomed, becoming involved in the affairs of his profession and the musical life of Sydney and in the army.

He was also a Sydney Councillor and state parliamentarian He led many ANZAC parades and was made Administrator of Norfolk Island during World War II.

He died on 11 May 1954 at Green Point, survived by his wife and his sons, of whom Captain A. S. Rosenthal, D.S.O. and Bar, OBE., was a regular officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

Rosenthal was cremated with full military honours after a service at St Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral, Sydney. His portrait by Sir John Longstaff is in the Australian War Memorial.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions