Parramatta Park Gatehouse, O'Connell St, Parramatta, NSW, Australia
S 33° 48.769 E 151° 00.012
56H E 314904 N 6256800
A beautiful Gate, and Gatehouse, that was for entry to the Governor's house at Parramatta.
Waymark Code: WMXW4A
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 03/05/2018
Views: 0
Now this Gatehouse is the entry to Parramatta Park, whereas it was erected as an entry to the Governor's House, when he resided there. From this Australian Heritage Database listing, are the following excerpts:
It is …"Unusual Tudor style gatehouse in the form of massive arched gateways for carriages and pedestrians. The face brick and stuccoed structure was completed in 1885. The gatelodge is ingeniously arranged within the gate surrounds comprising side wall, castellated tower of two storeys and bay windowed room above the main gate. Further decoration is given by mock stone coursing and panels of carving complemented by two sets of fine ornamented iron gates."
It is …"A picturesque gate and gatelodge marking the site of the original entrance to the Governor's domain. Just inside the gates Lady Mary Fitzroy and Lieutenant Masters were killed in a carriage accident in 1847 [marked by an Obelisk waymark]. Completed in 1885 the building is a fine example of Victorian romantic architecture being in good condition and a distinguished piece of park architecture well suited to an urban park." Parramatta Park Gatehouse
There are three physical ways identifying this as being built in 1885.
The main Dated portion is in a sharply peaked segment above the bay window on the upper-storey of this cream painted, castellated, castle-looking building. It is within a 'shield', and the lettering is painted brown.
Above, and between the carriage gate and the pedestrian gate, on the left-hand side of the gatehouse, is a white marble, 'minaret-shaped' tablet, in a 'gold-painted' Gothic-arched surround. It lists the important people at the time of the building and opening of the Gatehouse. It reads:
Trustees
of the
Parramatta
Park
A.D. 1885
President
Hon Jas Byrnes
Treasurer
A. Payton
H. Taylor MP.
W. Goodwin
W. Fullagar
Also, in the carriage entry arch, on the wall behind the ornate green-painted wrought gate, is an oval bronze plaque highlighting the restoration work done on it in 1980. It reads:
THE TUDOR GATEHOUSE BUILDING ERECTED IN 1885
Restored and Refurbished in 1980
As a joint Project between the
Parramatta City Council and the Parramatta Trust
This plaque to Commemorate the Restoration
was Unveiled on
Saturday, 19th July, 1980
by
The Hon. E.L. Bedford, BA., MP.
Minister for Planning and Environment
C. Rapp, President Ald. K.J. McKinnon AM, Mayor
B. Barrie, Secretary R.G. Muddle, Town Clerk
ARCHITECT 1885 GORDON MACKINNON - ARCHITECT 1980 COX TANNER Pty Ltd
Visited: 0847-51, Sunday, 9 July, 2017