Wallumetta

Style

Late Victorian Villa with Federation Arts and Craft features

Year started

Approximately 1890

Year modified

2007, 2024

About Wallumetta

This house stands on New Farm, land granted to convict James Stewart in 1794.

The early history of the land is not well known but there was probably a house in this location before the 1860s.

By about 1890, this part of Stewart’s grant was owned by Mary Elizabeth Bowden, daughter of lsaac Shepherd and widow of prominent Sydney solicitor, Thomas Kendall Bowden. From 1861 to 1879, the Bowdens lived in Addington. When her husband died, Mrs Bowden seems to have moved to another house on the same block of land and this building of stuccoed brick with Federation Arts and Crafts features was constructed as an additional residence or rental property.

From 1897 until 1902 it was occupied by Captain G. E. Bulmer and is listed in Sands' Sydney Directories as Gracemere.

In 1902, it became the property of William Edward Sparke of Elizabeth Bay and the residence of Frederick Sparke who changed the name to Glenora.

From 1922, it was owned by a succession of medical doctor - Dr Leslie Halse Rogers, Dr Arthur Ellis Blythman and Dr Robert Longfield Stephen. Between 1966 and 1996, the premises were used by the Wallumetta Ryde Business Men's Club.

It was sold in 1989 and in 2007 it was converted for use as an office for the local newspaper the Weekly Times.

Location

826 Victoria Road, Ryde 2112 View Map

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