The Hermitage, Ryde, Sydney

The Hermitage in Denistone, Sydney, is an Australian colonial house of the Victorian era. It is listed by the New South Wales Heritage Council as a place of historical significance. It was built between 1838 and 1842 by John Blaxland who was a member of a prominent Australian family.

John Blaxland was born in 1799 in Kent, England. His father was Gregory Blaxland, the famous explorer who conducted expeditions into the interior of New South Wales. His mother was Elizabeth Spurdon. John’s family immigrated to Australia in 1805 and his father Gregory bought land in Ryde and built Brush Farm which still exists and is also a heritage building.

In 1845 John married Ellen Falkner. Ellen was born in 1818 and was the daughter of Francis Henry Falkner of Bath in England who owned a successful wine business and was a member of the Town Council. Her mother was Sarah Stringer. John and Ellen Blaxland had six sons and three daughters all of whom were born at the Hermitage. Unfortunately two of their daughters Edith and Florence who were twins died in 1857 at the age of two within a week of each other.

John Blaxland held several important positions during his life. He was a merchant of independent means. For some years he was the Director of the and also the Auditor of the City Bank. In 1863 he became a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and held this position for over 20 years. He was a strong advocate for the erection of the Parramatta and Iron Cove bridges

Some of John’s children obtained prominent positions in the community. Frederick Blaxland qualified for the Bar in 1870 and became the senior partner in the legal firm Messrs Blaxland Mawson and Rose in Cooma. He was also for some years, the Mayor of Cooma. Herbert Blaxland became a doctor and was appointed Medical Superintendent of the Gladesville Hospital.

During their lives John and Ellen had a strong association with St Anne’s Church, Ryde (see photograph below) and today there still exists a Communion table in the Church with the following inscription.

John died in 1884 and Ellen continued to live at the Hermitage for three more years. An advertisement appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1887 for the sale of the furniture at the Hermitage by order of “Mrs Blaxland" (see picture below). At that time her only daughter Lucy married Sydney Levick and Ellen went to live with her. She died in 1903 at the age of 85 at her daughter’s house. An obituary appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald at the time of her death outlining some details of her life and noting that she was “an old and respected resident of Ryde where she lived for over 40 years". In 1905 The Hermitage was subdivided and put on the market. A large advertisement was put in the newspaper giving a colourful description of the property. Professor James Pollock bought the house in 1910.

...
Wikipedia