Nugal Hall, Gothic Mansion in Randwick NSW

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Nugal Hall, 16-18 Milford Street, Randwick, NSW 2031

Nugal Hall, NSW Heritage photo by Stewart Watters

Construction of the southern portion of Nugal Hall was commenced around 1854 by Judge Thomas Callaghan.
The northern portion was completed by Dr Fred Tidswell, the owner of the Coogee Bay Hotel, who occupied the house from about 1883 until 1903.

Description:

Huge stone mansion in Picturesque Gothic style. A very fine example of the style with some outstanding decoration.
Complex, steep pitched roof, now in terra cotta (slate originally?).
Elaborately carved barge boards on gables and gablets. Tall chimneys.
Magnificent rounded balcony feature on one side (with views towards sea) and conical roof.
Large grounds,extensively planted, with stone retaining wall.
Hard to see bottom half of building due to planting but no major alterations apparent. Partly covered in vines.
The twelve principal rooms retain their original forms
of special interest is a stairwell/staircase of balanced proportion above which is an exceptional stained glass skylight dome.
Stonework, joinery and copper turrets in good repair interior fireplaces and ceiling rose.
Continental ceramic tileware is immaculate.
The original coach house also survives. Excellent stone fence.

The house sits well in its grounds and is visually important locally. (AHC, 1997).

Although its grounds have been subdivided from their original 200 acres, resulting in the house's entry being now from its original rear side, the house's original front address facing the ocean and wide views remain nonetheless.

An established garden surrounds the house which includes palms such as the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) and Californian desert fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) as well as pollarded plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia), sandstone retaining walls and shrubberies (Stuart Read, 20/1/12).

House: Impressive Gothic Revival sandstone, two storey mansion completed in 1853.

Despite some 1920s and 1930s decorative additions, the twelve principal rooms retain their original forms. Of special interest is a stairwell/staircase of balanced proportion, above which is an exceptional stained glass skylight. Stonework good. Copper turrets and domes. (AHC, 1997) Elegantly shaped windows, fireplaces and interior columns of marble. (Pollen, 1996). Although not of the very high quality of a few Sydney Gothic Revival houses, Nugal Hall is nevertheless impressive. It is of particular importance in Coogee/Randwick where increasing high rise development has deprived the area of much of its architectural history (AHC, 1997).

Original estate 200 acres. Subdivided (resulting in the entry now being from the house's original rear: its front door faces the sea, with attendent wide views / outlook. 1920s and 1930s decorative additions, but the twelve principal rooms retain their original forms. C.1960 stables block demolished (on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart school site, subdivided off)

**History**:
1994 house and roof severley damaged by hailstorm Stonework is in good condition. (AHC, 1997)

"Nugal Hall" prior to having a new slate roof fitted by All-Dry Roofing

In 1918, Nugal Hall became a Red Cross convalescent home for Australian military personnel returning from World War I. The house returned to private ownership in 1921 and was eventually purchased in 1952 by Mr J R Pillars, the owner of a successful engineering firm

Slate Roof Refurbishment Sydney

In 1957, Nell Pillars founded the Randwick Historical Society while living at Nugal Hall and as such it became the Society’s first headquarters.

The land on which Nugal Hall was built was originally part of a land grant to Alexander Arthur, in 1851 by Governor Fitzroy, of 200 acres.

Nugal Hall Spire prior to restoration by All-Dry Roofing of Sydney.

Nugal Hall was designed by the Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis who came to Australia and worked from 1830 to 1861. This would have been one of his last buildings. Ticket of leave men were most probably employed in the building of the house, the stone being quarried on the spot.

The house was completed in 1853 to the design of architect Mortimer Lewis in the Gothic Revival style for politician and businessman Alexander McArthur. Alexander McArthur was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales during two Parliaments and Magistrate of the Territory until he returned to England in 1863.

Famous residents of Nugal Hall include Sir John Pendent, who was born there. His father Magnus J. Penden was Mayor in 1869 and resided there from 1865 to 1872. Cousins Spencer, the first person to show films in the Lyceum Theatre lived there until 1911. Two Mayors of Randwick and two consults were also residents of Nugal Hall.

It is believed that the construction of the southern portion of Nugal Hall was commenced around 1854 by Judge Thomas external image 5045442b4.jpg

Callaghan.

The northern portion was completed by Dr Fred Tidswell, the owner of the Coogee Bay Hotel, who occupied the house from about 1883 until 1903.

The architect is thought to have been Oswald H Lewis, who carried out work for the Callaghan family in Randwick and who practised as an architect with his father, the former Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis.

In 1981 an application for a Permanent Conservation Order over Nugal Hall was made by the then owner Mr F.J. Campion. When Mr Campion purchased Nugal Hall is was divided into 5 flats and he subsequently returned it to a single dwelling. To offset the restoration costs rating and taxation concessions were sought under the Heritage Act. In addition to this the building was considered to be of significance to the State to make a Permanent Conservation Order.

It was transferred to the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. (Randwick and District Historical Society) Heritage Branch files)