Fairlight Homestead


Fairlight Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead complex located at 377-429 Fairlight Road in the western Sydney suburb of Mulgoa in the City of Penrith local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1821 to 1890. It is also known as Fairlight Homestead & Barn. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

History

The Norton family have a history over many centuries in the County of Sussex, England, as owners of considerable landed property. James Norton was born in the mid 1700s at Hurstpierpont in County Sussex, England on the family estate Northend. He resided on that estate marrying Rebecca Steel, of Newtimber, by whom he had one son and two daughters. His only son John and his wife Mary had 10 children. Nathaniel, their second son, like eldest brother, John.
Snakes, bushfires and poor road access made the property less desirable than one would imagine and eventually Mr Helleyer sold out to Mr W. Jarret, who overdeveloped the estate. He built a new homestead, large stables, meat-curing rooms, fruit-drying lofts and a large building of four-storeys to store wine. Overcapitalised, he was forced to sell up.
William Jarret was a gentleman well known in Sydney business circles during the last years of the past century. When he took up the property he appears to have seen its great value as a wine making place, and all the improvements about the place were the outcome of the 20,000 pounds he spent on it. When he took it over, in addition to the old homestead, there was an old stone wine cellar, a post windmill, which was almost intact five years ago, but only the post in the well now remains, and a wooden store for wine in casks, built up against a cutting in the side of a hill. This latter, in Jarret's time, was removed, and in its place a four-storied solid brick building was put up. Next to this, and also of brick, was a dairy and creamery, with men's' quarters and kitchens, and a large room overhead 70' x 30' for what purpose it is difficult to say, iron bars with running hooks from side to side, indicate some kind of industry on an extensive scale was carried on, which none of the villagers have now any knowledge of. Machinery of various sorts, some still standing, show that Fairlight, a quarter of a century ago, was a busy place. The structure described as a 'dairy and creamery, with men's' quarters and kitchens, and a large room overhead' is the subject of this report.
Davies says the current Fairlight house was built at the time of Jarrett's purchase in 1876.
the homestead was replaced by a substantial single storey brick dwelling, and the barn modified to provide a large workroom or dormitory on the upper level. In 1914 the owner was Mr A. G. Witts.
Hassall in his book "In Old Australia" says of his school days at Mulgoa rectory about 1837; "About two miles from the school lived Nathaniel Norton, brother of James Norton senior, solicitor and uncle to the Oxleys. He was an old naval man, a good hearted sailor, whom boys were fond of visiting." The owners imagine he sat under the Port Jackson fig.
trees and took in the best views in the County of Cumberland. In 1821 Macquarie gave grants of land, to Nathaniel, James and John Norton. The original house stood beside the Port Jackson figs, remnants of the original garden including a row of cabbage palms and a clump of bamboo.
The present house and barn were built by Jarrett in the late 1860s and there are a number of trees that may have been part of his garden, such as the carob, kurrajong and turpentine.
Since the garden was last opened in 1993 the dry stone wall has been extended and now envelopes the westerly aspect of the garden. The wall was built by a local stonemason, George Progmelja.
The garden was severely disturbed on 25 December 2001 when strong, hot, westerly winds fanned fires in the Blue Mountains which leapt over the Nepean River and came swiftly to this area. Three houses were destroyed, fruit orchards and packing sheds felt the wrath but fortunately there were no fatalities. Fairlight was saved by the local fire brigade and the owner's sons. The garden on the western side near the pool was totally destroyed, as was the hedge on the fence line near the barn and other areas of hedging.
The ancient hedge of Cape Honeysuckle under the Angophora floribunda in front of the house, woody and always in need of a good prune, vanished and has given a new perspective now with glimpses down the paddock to the Blue Mountains. It is taking time for the Angophora floribundas to recover but has given the owners the chance to simplify the planting.
Following the fires, a severe wind storm came through in September 2003 and trees weakened by the fires came down as did huge limbs from the Port Jackson figs and Angophoras.

Description

The site is a very elevated one, with views across rolling landscapes to Sydney, the Nepean gorge and to Camden and Mittagong. Two articles by Captain J. H. Watson in the Nepean Times of 24 and 31 October 1914 provide an account of the property:
The original homestead was a single storeyed building not unlike Cox's Cottage, Mulgoa or Clarendon, Richmond. At its rear a large barn was constructed. the homestead was replaced by a substantial single storeyed brick dwelling, and the barn modified to provide a large workroom or dormitory on the upper level.
Hassall in his book "In Old Australia" says of his school days at Mulgoa rectory about 1837; "About two miles from the school lived Nathaniel Norton, brother of James Norton senior, solicitor and uncle to the Oxleys. He was an old naval man, a good hearted sailor, whom boys were fond of visiting." The owners imagine he sat under the Port Jackson fig
trees and took in the best views in the County of Cumberland. In 1821 Macquarie gave grants of land, to Nathaniel, James and John Norton. The original house stood beside the Port Jackson figs, remnants of the original garden including a row of cabbage palms and a clump of bamboo.
The present house and barn were built by Jarrett in the late 1860s and there are a number of trees that may have been part of his garden, such as the carob, kurrajong and turpentine.
The present garden has been grafted on to these remnants. The line of Chinese elms forming the drive to the east of the house mark part of the original driveway. To the west, a rose walk links the house with the tennis court and pool and incorporates an old Bougainvillea and quince tree.
The majestic Port Jackson fig trees frame the south vista. Adjacent is the orchard and vegetable garden. Since the garden was last opened in 1993 the dry stone wall has been extended and now envelopes the westerly aspect of the garden. The wall was built by a local stonemason, George Progmelja, whose craft had been handed down by his father, brought up in Serbia, where houses and dry stone walls are common in rural areas.
The owners have planted Bunya Bunya trees in the paddocks, a tree they neglected to plant in bygone days, but somehow essential in this setting. Glimpses of the Blue Mountains and the Nepean Gorge can be seen through the rough barked apple gum.
This tranquil garden was severely disturbed on 25 December 2001 when strong, hot, westerly winds fanned fires in the Blue Mountains which leapt over the Nepean River and came swiftly to this area. Three houses were destroyed, fruit orchards and packing sheds felt the wrath but fortunately there were no fatalities. "Fairlight" was saved by the local fire brigade and the owner's sons. The garden on the western side near the pool was totally destroyed, as was the hedge on the fence line near the barn and other areas of hedging.
The ancient hedge of Cape honeysuckle under the Angophora floribunda in front of the house, woody and always in need of a good prune, vanished and has given a new perspective now with glimpses down the paddock to the Blue Mountains. It is taking time for the Angophora floribundas to recover but has given the owners the chance to simplify the planting.
Following the fires, a severe wind storm came through in September 2003 and trees weakened by the fires came down as did huge limbs from the Port Jackson figs and Angophoras. The property is now facing lack of rain - the last good rain was in February 2004. Currently dam levels are dropping so the owners are applying lots of mulch, being cautious with watering.

Condition

As at 28 November 2007, 1821 first house built. Of slabs, plastered with clay, whitewashed - originally shingle-rooved. It had 2 wings, each with 2 rooms. According to the style of the period the rooms were only 8' high, and the doors 6', a tall man having to stoop to enter.
fruit of all kinds being grown, 2 vineyards on the property and wine making occurring. Large stone wine cellar, but only the post in the well now remains, and a wooden store for wine in casks, built up against a cutting in the side of a hill. This latter, in Jarret's time was removed, and in its place a 4 storied solid brick building was put up. Next to this, and also of brick, was a dairy and creamery, with men's quarters and kitchens, and a large room overhead 70' x 30' for what purpose it is difficult to say, iron bars with running hooks from side to side, indicate some kind of industry on an extensive scale was carried on, which none of the villagers have now any knowledge of. Machinery of various sorts, some still standing.
- Underground tank, c.1821 - rendered sandstone possibly cellar of original house;
1821 first house built. Of slabs, plastered with clay, whitewashed - originally shingle-rooved. It had 2 wings, each with 2 rooms. According to the style of the period the rooms were only 8' high, and the doors 6', a tall man having to stoop to enter.
fruit of all kinds being grown, 2 vineyards on the property and wine making occurring. Large stone wine cellar, but only the post in the well now remains, and a wooden store for wine in casks, built up against a cutting in the side of a hill. This latter, in Jarret's time was removed, and in its place a 4 storied solid brick building was put up. Next to this, and also of brick, was a dairy and creamery, with men's quarters and kitchens, and a large room overhead 70' x 30' for what purpose it is difficult to say, iron bars with running hooks from side to side, indicate some kind of industry on an extensive scale was carried on, which none of the villagers have now any knowledge of. Machinery of various sorts, some still standing.
22/12/1969 a major 39 lot subdivision of Lot 30 DP237163 placing the house and barn on different lots.
1981 the owners bought the adjacent property to protect the historic barn of Fairlight from demolition. The barn was restored.
1990 photographs show a domed pig feeder structure, the winery and barn.

Further information

The Heritage Council undertook to review the area of land covered in the order, currently about 10 acres, if 2 hectare subdivisions were permitted on surrounding land in future.

Heritage listing

As at 11 October 2004, one of the few remaining substantial and well built Victorian houses within the Mulgoa Valley.
Fairlight is an historic property located on a very elevated site with views across rolling landscapes to Sydney, the Nepean River gorge and to Camden and Mittagong. In 1821 Macquarie gave grants of land, to Nathaniel, James and John Norton. The original homestead was a single storeyed building not unlike Cox's Cottage, Mulgoa or Clarendon, Richmond. It was built in 1821 by Nathaniel Norton who occupied it until his death. At its rear a large 2 storey barn was constructed. The ground floor of the barn was used as a dairy and creamery, with men's quarters and kitchens. The upper floor appears to have been used for industry of some type. Both the barn and homestead exhibit open-roofed iron roof trusses of great architectural interest.
The property is also associated with later owners William Helleyer, Sydney solicitor, William Jarret, Sydney businessman for grape growing, wine making, fruit growing and drying and meat curing.
The original 1821 house stood beside the Port Jackson figs, remnants of the original garden including a row of cabbage palms and a clump of bamboo beside the driveway. The present house and barn were built by Jarret in the late 1860s and there are a number of trees that may have been part of his garden, such as the carob, kurrajong and turpentine. The line of Chinese elms forming the drive to the east of the house mark part of the original driveway.
Fairlight Homestead was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Attribution