The name Kellett is entrenched into the landscape of Rushcutters Bay. The name stems from the 19^th century Kellett Estate. Kellett Street, Kellett Way and Kellett Plaza nearby are all names eventually derived from the Kellett Estate which was occupied by Kellett House.

A flyer dated 16^th February 1864 states the Kellet Estate, spelt originally with one t in Kellett, was for sale by Richardson and Wrench.

The site occupied a whole block bounded on its south by Upper William Street North, now known as Bayswater Road and Princes Street to its east, now known as Ward Avenue and “Kellet Lane”, spelt with one t, to its north, now known as Kellett Way.

Kellett House, Sydney, originally called Bona Vista, meaning good view, was built in the 1830s for Deputy Surveyor-General Samuel Augustus Perry (1792-1854). An original sepia-toned photo shows it was an impressive stone two-storey villa with a capacious verandah, shingled roof and upper storey shutters. A family of five poses under the verandah.

It was later the home of Sir Stuart Donaldson (1812-1867), the first Premier of New South Wales and then, in 1864, became the city residence of pastoralist William Frederick Buchanan (1824-1911). Buchanan had the house demolished in 1885, building in its place the Hotel Mansions. This was an imposing Italianate style building with luxurious interiors.

Part of the original hotel’s facade at 1 Kellett Street remains facing Kellett Street (see image above).

This hotel remnant has elaborate cast iron balconies and a handsome facade.

In the 1930s its exterior was altered in the fashionable Art Deco style. And then in 2012 the building was adaptively repurposed into residential apartments for commercial and retail uses, its current uses.

It is believed the original well, shown on the 1864 Richardson and Wrench site plan of the 1830s Estate, still remains in situ under the entrance of a terrace house now facing Bayswater Road.

It’s a fascinating piece of our local heritage incorporated into our modern present urban landscape.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions