The good go to Heaven
Sermon two in a series entitled 'Answering Wrong Assumptions' delivered by Simon Manchester at St…
Bishopscourt
Since 1910 Bishopscourt has been the home of the Archbishop of Sydney and his family. In more recent times, considerable use has also been made of the property for hospitality and conferences hosted by the Archbishop. The Standing Committee of the Diocese is keen to explore options for the use of Bishopscourt, and options for housing the Archbishop.
The house was purchased by the Church of England for Archbishop Wright in December 1910.
The original house was a three roomed cottage built in 1835. The first of many extensions was in 1840 when a second floor was added. The house was known as “Percyville”. The owner at that time was Thomas Woolley, a prosperous ironmonger in the colony.
Thomas Sutcliffe Mort had arrived in Australia in 1838 at the age of 21. In 1846 he purchased the house and land and changed its name to “Greenoaks”. Land was acquired until the property finally covered about 13 acres. He soon rose to prominence in the colony through his many commercial ventures and pastoral enterprises. He was a strong Anglican Churchman, a benefactor of Christ Church St Laurence, St Mark’s Darling Point, and St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Additions were made in 1853-55 to the plans of Architect J F Hilly. Further alterations and additions by Edmund Blacket were begun in 1860. The three storey South wing was added, a picture gallery, nursery, the port cochere, new staircase and stairhall plus much of the embellishment and decoration of the interior of the current home.
Mort died in 1878. In 1910 the property was purchased by Mr Campbell Langtree who subdivided and sold the house and two acres surrounding it to the Anglican Church as a residence for the Archbishop of Sydney for ?6,750.
Further renovations were carried out from 1911-13 and in 1927. The Chapel was added in 1935 (supervising Architect was R Lindsay Little). In 1965 further alterations and additions by Fowell, Mansfield and Maclurcan, in conjunction with Professor L Wilkinson, included private accommodation for the Archbishop (Gough) and extensive garden remodelling.
Recent refurbishment has resulted in the Staff quarters being relocated, and the upstairs of the South and West wings being furnished for guest accommodation.
what's new on Sydneyanglicans.net »
Nineteen needed for ministry training
Friday, Nov 21
Sell-out nears for KYLC relaunch
Thursday, Nov 20
-
1 day, 10 hours ago
Get the latest Sydney stories, Culture and Indepth on your mobile device. Visit sydang.mobi
