| Graythwaite's Values
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Graythwaite is one of Sydney's hidden treasures. It is a magnificent three storey sandstone mansion, built in stages between 1832 and 1875. The three things that make it unique are: it is the only grand Victorian mansion on the North Shore to still have all of its original Nineteenth Century gardens intact; it is a direct link to the suffering and pride of the Gallipoli campaign and represents a pivotal moment in history in the formation of the Australian Identity; and the fact that it is less than 500m from the heart of the North Sydney Central Business district.
| Graythwaite was one of the very first significant homes built on the northern side of the harbour away from the waters edge. It sits on top of the hill at North Sydney and has absolutely fantastic views to the south to Royal National Park and to the west all the way to the Blue Mountains.
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You can sit on its sweeping lawns or in the rainforest underneath the canopies of the towering 130 year old fig trees that dominate the garden and it is almost impossible to believe that you are just a stone's throw away from the office towers of the North Sydney CBD.
In fact, in terms of the size of the property and its proximity to the CBD, the only similar property in Sydney is Government House.
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No one would think of building medium density housing and allowing commercial development in the grounds of Government House, but that is precisely what the Health Department envisages for Graythwaite.
Graythwaite is currently listed on the State Heritage Register, the Register of the National Estate and the National Trust of Australia (NSW). It was recently nominated for inclusion on the new National Heritage Register. Some of the information below is drawn from nomination document for the NHR.
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Should Graythwaite be sold and developed these are some of the values we could lose.
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| Parkland
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The North Sydney CBD welcomes tens of thousands of commuters every working day, but was planned without provision for parkland. Whereas Sydney City has Hyde Park, the Domain and the Botanic Gardens, the workers of North Sydney have pavement, noise and car exhaust.
Both the North and South entrances of Graythwaite, in Edward and Union Streets respectively, are an easy five minute walk from the North Sydney CBD. The space, seclusion and peace of the heritage parklands of Graythwaite are unique within such an easy walk of the CBD.
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| The Australian Identity
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Graythwaite only exists today because of Sir Thomas Dibbs's incredible gift back in June 1915. That gift was announced just one month after the first news of Gallipoli reached our shores. The reporting of Gallipoli was done in such a way as to emphasise the great heroism and courage of the Australian troops in the face of the most terrible casualties. Australians were brought together by both their horror at the casualties and great pride at the courage of their troops. This was an absolutely seminal moment in the formation of the Australian Identity. Everyone wanted to do what they could to help. For Sir Thomas Dibbs it was the donation of his magnificent home. Graythwaite stands as a lasting monument to Gallipoli and its impact on our identity as Australians.
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| The History of Settlement on the North Shore
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Graythwaite's history is one of 170 years of continuous occupation. From being one of the very first houses to be built on the North Shore it went on to being a mansion of wealth and affluence.
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The early subdivision of its distant pastures contributed to the rising urbanisation of the north side of the harbour, while it played a key role in two world wars. Moreover, with the neighbouring Holtermann's Tower and the widows walk at Graythwaite being the two most used camera positions for Nineteenth Century panoramic photographs of Sydney, Graythwaite's grounds and nearby buildings are unusually well documented. Properties with such a long and rich history are rare, not just in New South Wales, but in Australia.
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| Edwin Sayers and Australia's first Parliament
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Edwin Sayers bought Euroka, as the property was then known, in 1853. While living in the house he was elected as member for St Leonards in the first New South Wales Parliament, which was Australia's first Parliament.
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| George Dibbs, the sale of crown land, State Premier and Federation
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George Dibbs lived in Euroka from 1872 to 1881. His residency in the house was cut short when he was jailed for failing to pay a fine for defamation. Upon his release from jail he almost immediately became State Treasurer. In this role he stopped the then practice of selling off crown land to balance the State's books. He went on to serve several terms as Premier of New South Wales.
George Dibbs was a pivotal figure in the debates leading up to the Federation of the States to create Australia. However, Dibbs was a vigorous opponent of Federation. It was not that he opposed the creation of a united Australia, quite the opposite. Dibbs was a unionist and wanted one Australia with one Government. He was strongly opposed to the Federal model, with both State and Commonwealth Governments. His arguments contributed to New South Wales almost voting against Federation in the two referendums in the late 1890s.
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| A rare example of an intact grand Victorian estate
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Graythwaite has outstanding heritage value because of its fine and now rare aesthetic qualities as an early colonial and Victorian period estate. The grand Victorian Italianate villa set in extensive grounds with commanding views is typical of upper echelon estates of the time but very few are left and even fewer with their grounds intact. The adjacent residence Kailoa adds to its aesthetic qualities.
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