Bronte House, located on 470 Bronte Road, is a heritage-listed property with the Register of the National Estate. Although it is a historical house, it’s still home to private tenants chosen by the Waverley Municipal Council.
In October 2015, Bronte locals Wes and Anna van der Gardner were picked to move into the Gothic-Italian style house on a five-year lease. They were mainly chosen by the Council for their experience and expertise in town planning, home design, and heritage site restoration.
Part of the van der Gardners’ agreement as the private occupants of the Bronte House was to open the property to the public for at least five or six times a year. So, on the 23rd and 24th of March 2019, the couple and their two children welcomed visitors to their home during the Bronte House Open Day.
From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., visitors were allowed to have a peek at the living and dining rooms at the Bronte House. Guests were also encouraged to lounge and stroll at the botanic gardens, while the van der Gardners served coffee and cakes.
Plants from the gardens were also sold to the visitors who were interested in growing some greens in their own homes.
The Bronte House Open Day usually cost $2 per person. Keep tabs of the next event at the Waverley Council’s Facebook page for the announcements.
Bronte House’s History
The Bronte House was built from 1843 to 1845. Barrister Robert Lowe bought the property from architect William Mortimer Lewis, the original owner of the 42 acres of land.
Lowe and his wife Georgina lived in the Bronte House for four years only and several other families took residence at this site on Bronte Road. It was, however, the Ebsworth family who lived the longest in the Bronte House for three generations or from 1882 to 1948.
The Ebsworths eventually sold the property to the Waverley Council and was used as a Red Cross facility until 1969.
Photo Credit: State Library of New South Wales Foundation
Photo Credit: Bronte House/Facebook
In the 1980s, the Bronte House became a wedding and party venue despite its deteriorated condition as some parts of the house were altered and removed by its previous occupants. The Council eventuality decided it will lease the property for a fairly affordable price to private residents who might be willing to restore the house.
Photo Credit: Bronte House/Facebook
Some of the former residents of this property included:
- Christopher Selmes
- Mr and Mrs Peter Muller
- Leo Schofield
- Matt Handbury
Schofield was mostly responsible for restoring the gardens that Ms Lowe used to tend to when the property was first completed.
In 1999, the Bronte House was entered into the State Heritage Register.
