Newlyn House, Bronte
Newlyn House, located in Bronte on Bidjigal and Gadigal Country, responds to its heritage context with the renovation of the locally listed Victorian terrace. The garden is sympathetic both to the history of the site alongside the influence of the nearby coastline and the re-occuring themes of sandstone and salt.
The project carefully balances heritage and it’s contemporary coastal location for the young family, with Downie North sensitively restoring the original 1890’s facade. Minimal landscape intervention in the front garden allows the existing Tree fern, Bangalow palms and Camellias to celebrate the sites past heritage and frame the facade.
The meaningful yet enduring addition to the rear focuses on a light filled kitchen and dining area that open into an intimate North east facing courtyard and terraced garden. Reclaimed sandstone steps and retaining walls celebrate the material legacy of the site with the house stepping away from a significant heritage sandstone boundary wall and the well established climbing jasmine trained along its length. Retaining the existing canopy of Bangalow Palms, Lilly Pilly and Native Hibiscus allows the garden to feel established. The landscape intervention focused on creating a colourful and whimsical planting understory of sculptural exotic species and local natives to encourage biodiversity and pollination whilst framing the view towards the pool in the rear of the garden.
