Bronte House

John McCaskie and Bronte House

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	Bronte House
	Situated in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney overlooking Bronte Beach
John McCaskie and Catherine Haliburton- Nealings met at Bronte House when it was owned by Robert & Georgina Lowe. John was Head Groomsman and Catherine was Personal Maid to Mrs Lowe. Bronte House, an Italian style villa, (which stands in 54 acres) was designed by Mortimer Lewis. The building was purchased by Robert Lowe in 1842 and completed in 1845
	Robert Lowe was a member of the NSW. Legislative Assembly in the 1840's. During his seven years in New South Wales he entertained many prominent people at Bronte House, which was described as being built in Swiss style, with light and airy verandahs.
The eastern side had a majestic view of the ocean, while the western verandah looked over the surrounding valley. The Lowes lived there for five years before returning to England where he became Lord Sherbrooke and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mrs. Georgina Lowe, a skilled watercolour artist, botanist and gardener, was responsible for landscaping the grounds with native and exotic plants and designing picturesque walks.

In 1948 Bronte House was bought by Waverley Council and later leased as a private residence. It is open to the public 6 times a year.

Leo Schofield
Since taking on the lease of historic 'Bronte House' in 1995, Leo Schofield has transformed the 150 year old garden into a breathtaking mix of bold colour and form.

Trade A Plant
'Bronte House' - Sydney.
Open Garden Day - 24th November 2001.

Leo Schofield - Media Release - 2 October 2001

Sydney's arbiter of taste, Leo Schofield AM, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (Faculty of Commerce and Economics) from the University of New South Wales.

In awarding the degree UNSW acknowledges Mr Schofield's significant contribution to the cultural life of Australia.

As the inaugural Chairman of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Board, Mr Schofield has been credited with establishing its extensive network of individual benefactions and corporate sponsorship. In 1997 he assumed responsibility for the Sydney Festival with the aim of making it work financially and artistically. In this role he generated extensive public interest in arts festivals, formerly the province of a cultural elite. Mr Schofield was also responsible for the Olympic "Harbour of Light" Festival

Bronte House garden today,
as transformed by Leo Schofield

Dame Mary Gilmore and Bronte House		Her grandfather was Hugh Beattie - bailiff to Robert & Georgina Lowe at Bronte House
	Dame Mary
Waratahs Dame Mary Gilmore as told to the Sunday Sun - November 13, 1938.
“The first waratahs grown in Sydney were grown at Bronte House by my grandfather (Hugh Beattie) for Mrs. Lowe at Bronte House. They were, I think, the first successfully grown in a Sydney garden. My grandfather brought a dray load of their native earth to plant them in so that they would grow. Over fifty years ago I saw the remains of them and 'a maze' he had made for Mrs. Lowe. Mrs. Lowe knew botany and loved flowers. My grandfather was their manager, as then called 'bailiff'."

The floral emblem of New South Wales is the Waratah (Telopea speciosissima), a large (10-12cm across) and spectacular scarlet flower, growing in the bush in clumps of tall stems.

See previous pages for Catherine Haliburton-Nealings' story & John McCaskie's story

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