Apartment 19 /129 Victoria Road Bellevue Hill is for sale through Jason Boon and Geoff Cox

Real Estate For Sale – 19/129 Victoria Road – Bellevue Hill , NSW (rwebay.com.au)

Cranleigh is a prominent apartment block built during the 1930s boom period of Bellevue Hill. Its interior design pays homage to its heritage with herringbone-design wooden floors and stratified skirting boards, both elegant Art Deco features.

It is owned by the former owner of the famous Jimmy Licks Cafe, Victoria Street, Potts Point, a well-known hotspot to locals in the 2011 postcode area.

Bellevue Hill is an upper echelon harbourside suburb about five kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the Woollahra Council area.

The area was originally part of the lands of the Cadigal people whose livelihood was composed of fishing and shellfish collecting.

In the early 19th century, Irish-Australian immigrants referred to the area as Vinegar Hill, after the Battle of Vinegar Hill, an engagement during the 1798 uprising of the United Irishmen in south-east Ireland. The NSW Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, took great exception to this and decided to name the suburb Bellevue Hill, the words belle vue meaning beautiful view.

The area became part of Daniel Cooper’s estate, who passed most of it on his death in 1853 to his nephew, Sir Daniel Cooper. From the mid-19th century, land along the ridges was released, leading to the construction of the first houses, such as Ginahgulla, owned by the famous Fairfax family, and Cranbrook. The lack of public transport but preponderance of scenic views led to the area being aimed at those without the need for the former but with the appreciation for the latter.

Further land was released along the heights and the western side of the hill overlooking Double Bay in the early 20th century. The extension of the tram line (closed 1959) began mass suburban development, with most housing ending up owner-occupied and built between 1910 and 1930, during which Cranleigh was built.

Later waves of redevelopment occurred especially in the 1990s.

At the 2021 census, there were 10,590 residents living in Bellevue Hill.

Bellevue Hill has 14 heritage-listed sites making it one the most interesting areas in Sydney with many notable residents such as:

Sir Charles Blackburn, a former chancellor of the University of Sydney

May Brahe composer, who spent her last years here and in Onslow Gardens, Potts Point

Edmund Capon, the former director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Dr Gordian Fulde, director of emergency medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital.

Helen Garner, writer, who lived in Bellevue Hill in the late 1990s.

Alan Kippax, the former Australian Test cricketer and captain of New South Wales.

Sir William McMahon and Lady McMahon, Prime Minister of Australia, Drumalbyn and Victoria Roads.

James Packer, son of Kerry Packer and a businessman who was Australia’s richest man from 2006 to 2008.

Kerry Packer, father of James Packer and a businessman who was Australia’s richest man at the time of his death in December 2005, Victoria Road.

Martin Sharp, artist, lived in Wirian in Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, from 1978 until his death in 2013

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions