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Allambie House

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Collection SummaryAllambie House was a grand guesthouse that was once located beside a bend in Kangaroo Creek at Audley in the Royal National Park.HistoryIn 1975, local historian M. Hutton Neve wrote that the history of the Royal National Park’s ‘Accommodation House’ dated back to 1886; the camp at Audley then consisting of just a ‘rude shed with some 20 bunks and blankets for the accommodation of travellers’. Around this time too, stated Hutton Neve, a small ‘Trustees Cottage’ was erected; it was later destroyed by fire in suspicious circumstances.

In the coming years – as a response to the growing popularity of the Audley Pleasure Grounds – the ‘rude shed’ (then known as The Pavilion) was renovated and expanded upon. In 1893, the premises was described as containing ‘a large general dining room, two suites of well-furnished apartments for the use of families or semi-private parties and sleeping accommodation for twenty-two guests.’ Then in 1916, new buildings at what was now called ‘The Rest’ were officially opened by the Minister for Works, Mr Cann. These structures were built in a bungalow style, had verandahs all around and a frontage of about 90ft to the river. There were 16 bedrooms available, all said to be: ‘furnished in good style, besides sitting-rooms, dining-rooms and conveniences. Telephone communication is provided and motor launches and fishing boats [are] always available.’ The accommodation proved especially popular amongst Sydneysiders (particularly honeymooners) seeking a secluded location for a weekend away.

Around two decades later, in 1938, the National Park Trust took over full control of The Rest. The site was renamed ‘Allambie House’ (which was said to mean ‘a quiet place to rest a while’) and it underwent yet another extensive general renovation. On 4 August 1938, the Propeller newspaper reported:

‘Structural alterations which are proposed will make ‘Allambie House’ one of the finest guest residentials in the State. Verandahs will be widened, the existing ballroom will be improved, new kitchens will be constructed, and modern furnishings installed. On what was hitherto swampy land a bowling green is being built, while where once stood a disused tennis court new courts are being laid out. The area around Audley, where the guest house is situated, and where the picnic crowds congregate, is being turfed, and ornamental rock gardens will add to the natural beauty of the area.’

Over time, improvements to roads and transport meant that people became progressively more mobile. Consequently, visitor numbers to the Royal National Park swelled; by the mid-1970s park attendances were up to 20,000 a day. The downside of all this increased ease of access was that Allambie House inevitably lost its ‘away-from-it-all’ charm. By 1967 the building was only occasionally used as a guesthouse, and by 1972 not at all. It wasn’t long before the once glorious venue found itself transformed into both an easy target for vandals (who removed all useable building materials) and a fire hazard.

As the cost of repairing Allambie House was considered prohibitive (more than $100,000 was quoted just to fix the roof), the National Parks and Wildlife Service decided to demolish the old building – by fire. Burning was chosen as it was deemed ‘the cheapest and most efficient method because it would cost only about half as much as normal demolition procedures.’

At 12:15am on Sunday 23rd February 1975, contractors pushed pieces of timber up against Allambie House, doused the derelict guesthouse with dieseline, then set it alight. The Grays Point, Loftus, Bundeena and Maianbar Bushfire Brigades, led by Sutherland Shire fire control officer Ray Watchorn, kept a watchful eye to ensure that the blaze did not spread. By 3:30am the job was done.

The place where Allambie House once stood is now Allambie Flat Picnic Area and Car Park.

Photograph

Boating party on Kangaroo Creek, Royal National Park, ca. 1910s

Group of people enjoying tea on the verandah of The Rest, Royal National Park, 1905

Allambie House, Audley

Royal National Park, Audley, Lady Carrington Drive, ca. 1890s- 1930

Royal National Park, scenic view looking from the boarding house, ca. early 1900s

The Rest accommodation house at Audley, with high- sided automobile out front, ca. 1920s

Audley, view of hotel, The Pavilion background left and footbridge in the foreground, ca. 1902

The Rest accommodation house overlooking the river at Audley, ca. 1900

The Rest accommodation house at Audley with visitors sitting on the verandah, 1909

The Rest accommodation house at Audley, with group of people near the front doorway, ca. 1918

Road approach to The Rest accommodation house at Audley, ca. 1918

The Rest accommodation house at Audley in the Royal National Park, ca. 1880

Allambie House with picnickers in the foreground, ca. 1930s

Oral History

Ted Mutch Oral History

James Toyer Oral History

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CategoryHouseGeolocation^[1]

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PlacesRoyal National ParkSubjectsAllambie House (Audley, N.S.W.)Boardinghouses -- New South Wales -- AudleyAudley (N.S.W.) -- HistoryAudley (N.S.W.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.Audley (N.S.W.)Royal National Park (N.S.W.) -- HistoryHacking River (N.S.W.)Rest, The (House: Audley, N.S.W.)

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