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Physical Description

Property/Garden
The house is set in a formal Victorian garden setting, with a circular carriage drive or loop immediately south of the main front door, large lawn areas and trees and shrubs set off to both sides and the rear. Large old tree specimens of evergreen magnolia (M.grandiflora), camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) flank it to the south-east, and a pair of symmetrically placed lemon scented gums (Corymbia maculata) frame the house's front gates to Military Road. (Read, S., pers.comm., 9/2006).

House
Victorian Filigree. Boronia is a two storeyed brick house with walls stuccoed and lined externally to simulate ashlar. Its main roof is hipped and slated and the verandah roof is corrugated metal painted in wide stripes. The double storey verandah is an ensemble of cast iron columns, friezes, brackets and balustrades, emphasised at the centre by a gable. The iron balustrading pattern was registered as NSW design No. 90 in 1881 by Fletcher, Bennett and Frew, Sydney Ironfounders. The front boundary is marked by an unusual assemblage of stone fence, cast iron fencing and impressive gates. Some origional elements survive internally

Modifications

1920s: front stone wall moved back (north) due to road widening works.

Sympathetic Minor Alterations Major alterations.

Condition

The building and its setting are in excellent condition.

History

Boronia is one of two almost identical neighbouring freestanding houses built in 1885 by two Newtown carriage builders, James and John Keary, as residences for themselves with a common garden and entrance. The other residence was 'Telopea', at 89B Cowles Road, which is now altered and built out by later development including a service station. Both houses are attributed to the well-known and prolific Sydney architectural firm of Sheerin & Hennessy.

The 1890's depression hit the Keary business so badly that all their assets had to be sold including 'Boronia'.

The house faces south, addressing Military Road, from which it is set well back in an open garden behind a stone fence capped with iron cresting. A substantial two-storey wing was added at the north-east corner, probably in the late 1890's and soon afterwards a glazed bay with Art Nouveau detailing was added to the drawing room in this wing.

The building remained virtually unaltered until it was acquired by Mosman Council in 1952, at which time it was considerably modified for occcupation by the Mosman Municpal Library.

Between 1978 and 1985 the building was used as offices and further altered. During 1985 Boronia was restored, reconstructed and adapted for use as a restaurant and funciton centre.

Internet links

Webpage	Source
Boronia	Attraction Homepage

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