Iona, Darlinghurst

Iona is a heritage-listed residence and former private hospital located at 2 Darley Street in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia. The property was built from 1880 to 1888 and is also known as Iona Cottage, while the private hospital was variously known as Wootton, Winchester and Hughlings. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The site was originally part of a land grant to William Long in August 1835. James Wright leased the land in early 1836, and after subdivision in 1845 part was purchased by Elizabeth Grose. From 1872 the house was listed as "Iona Cottage". Robert Carter extended the house and replaced the shingled roof with iron, living there until 1884. In October 1888 Edward Chisholm, a wealthy Sydney merchant and pastoralist, purchased the property and built a new home on the site, also called "Iona". The Chisholm family resided there until Edward's death in 1898, after which the property passed to the Perpetual Trustee Company. In March 1908 Adela Taylor, wife of Sir Allen Taylor, purchased the property and renamed the house "Wootton". From 1912 to 1977 the building operated as a private hospital, known successively as Wootton Private Hospital (1912–1949), Winchester Private Hospital (1949–1968) and Hughlings Private Hospital (1968–1977). The use of Iona as a hospital saved it from the fate of many Darlinghurst mansions demolished between 1920 and 1940. In 1973 the site was purchased by developers Cascais, Westport Holdings and Inciti Developments, who sought approval for high-rise development; consent granted in May 1977 included a lesser-scale development and conversion of Iona into 13 strata units. The National Trust of Australia classified Iona as part of the Darley Street Group in 1976, and the group was also listed on the Register of the National Estate. In December 1979 the site was purchased from Home Units of Australia by Jesseme P/L, owned by John Rutherford, who renamed the building Iona and planned conversion into 15 flats. That proposal did not proceed, and in October 1980 South Sydney Council approved restoration as a single dwelling. Rutherford applied to the Heritage Council for funding assistance and received $20,000; he became owner in 1983 and continued restoration, including rewiring, replumbing and reguttering. The property remains a heritage-listed residence.

Iona is a heritage-listed residence and former private hospital located at 2 Darley Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1880 to 1888. It is also known as Iona Cottage, while the private hospital was variously known as Wootton, Winchester and Hughlings. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. Darlinghurst: With its elevated position over the city, the area has been called Woolloomooloo Heights, Eastern Hill and Henrietta Town. In the 1820s, Governor Ralph Darling renamed the suburb in honour of his wife, Eliza Darling. By 1800 several large windmills were situated on the heights of this area, using its stiff breezes to grind much-needed flour from grain. The area began its suburban life under the name "Henrietta Town", being called after Mrs Macquarie, whose second name was Henrietta. At that time it was an Aboriginal reserve. Loyalties changed with Governors when Darling took office, changing its name to Darlinghurst in honour of his popular wife. "Hurst" is an old English word for a wooded hill. Iona Cottage: Iona is on land which was once part of a grant of just over five acres to William Long in August 1835. James Wright leased the land from Long in early 1836 and when the land was subdivided in 1845, part of it was purchased by Elizabeth Grose. Mrs Grose's property was one of several in the very fashionable Darlinghurst Heights. From 1866 until 1869 Mrs Grose's house was occupied by Richard Jones and from 1872 the occupant of the house was Robert Carter. That year was also the first listing of the name of the house - "Iona Cottage". Mrs Grose sold her property in 1879 and the land was subdivided into 9 lots. Robert Carter extended the house, replaced the shingled roof with iron and continued to live at Iona Cottage until 1884. At the time he financed the sale, Iona was described as a five bedroom gentleman's residence. Second and current Iona (1888): Edward Chisholm, a wealthy Sydney merchant and pastoralist, purchased the property in October 1888. Edward built a new home on the site, also called "Iona". Chisholm and his family resided in the house until his death in 1898, and the property was transmitted to the Perpetual Trustee Company. In 1906 the name of the street was changed to Darley Street, possibly named after Sir Frederick Matthew Darley who at that time was the Chief Justice of New South Wales and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales. The site became known as 2 Darley Street. Adela Taylor, the wife of Sir Allen Taylor, purchased the property in March 1908 and renamed the house "Wootton". Allen Taylor founded his firm of timber growers, merchants and sawmill proprietors. He was at one time Lord Mayor of Sydney. Taylor Square is named after him. Private hospital: From 1912 to 1977, Iona/Wootton operated as a private hospital, variously known as Wootton Private Hospital (1912-1949), Winchester Private Hospital (1949-1968), Hughlings Private Hospital (1968-1977). The Taylors sold the property in December 1912 to Eliza Hyem, wife of Alexander Hyem. Mrs Hyem leased the site to Jessie Robertson, Elizabeth Robertson and Annie Ellie McAndrew, spinsters, who converted the house to "Wootten Private Hospital", a psychiatric facility. Jessie Robertson became the owner of the property in 1918. Before 1919 an operating theatre block was added on the southern side of the house. Jessie leased the hospital to Florence Inglis, Elizabeth Fraser and Annie Paton, spinsters and nurses, in February 1920. They then purchased the property in June 1927. In 1935 an additional two-storey wing was built next to the operating theatre. In 1936 there were some minor alterations and additions to the 1935 rear wing and a seven bedroom nurses' residence was built in the grounds to the north of the house. In 1939 the hospital had 27 bedrooms. The hospital was purchased in early 1948 by Lillian Ross West, the Matron, who lived at Randwick, and it was then purchased by Winchester Hospital in 1949 and they operated "Winchester Private Hospital" on the site. Hugo Holdings purchased the site in 1968 and operated "Hughlings Private Hospital" until 1977. Major alterations were made in 1969, including the enclosure of the verandahs, and the modification of most internal and external doors to comply with Board of Health requirements. Many mansions were demolished in Darlinghurst between 1920 and 1940 and replaced by terraced houses and flats. The use of Iona as a hospital saved it from this fate. In 1973 the site was purchased by developers, Cascais, Westport Holdings and Inciti Developments, who also purchased many surrounding houses. They sought approval for three 60 storey tower block home units in the area. Consent was granted in May 1977 which included a lesser scale development and the conversion of Iona into 13 strata units. The developers suffered financial problems and each property was sold to individual owners. The National Trust of Australia was against the loss of Iona and the property development of the area and in 1976 the National Trust classified Iona as part of the Darley Street Group. The Darley Street Group was also listed on the Register of the National Estate. Iona, post-1979: The subject site was purchased from Home Units of Australia by Jesseme P/L in December 1979. The company was owned by John Rutherford who renamed the building Iona, and he asked his architect to prepare plans for the conversion of the building into 15 flats. John and Gae Rutherford then lived there. The proposal did not proceed, and in October 1980 South Sydney Council approved an application for restoration of the building as a single dwelling. Rutherford applied to the Heritage Council for funding assistance for restoration works and $20,000 was granted. Rutherford himself became owner in 1983 and continued restoration. At this time the house was rewired, replumbed and reguttered and unsympathetic addit…

• 1979

  Site purchased from Home Units of Australia by Jesseme P/L in December; renamed Iona.

• 1977

  Consent granted in May for lesser-scale development and conversion of Iona into 13 strata units.

• 1976

  National Trust classified Iona as part of the Darley Street Group.

• 1973

  Site purchased by developers Cascais, Westport Holdings and Inciti Developments.

• 1969

  Major alterations including enclosure of verandahs and modification of doors.

• 1968

  Hugo Holdings purchased the site; operated Hughlings Private Hospital (1968-1977).

• 1949

  Purchased by Winchester Hospital; operated as Winchester Private Hospital (1949-1968).

• 1948

  Hospital purchased in early 1948 by Lillian Ross West, the Matron.

• 1939

  The hospital had 27 bedrooms.

• 1936

  Minor alterations to the 1935 rear wing; a seven-bedroom nurses' residence was built.

• 1935

  An additional two-storey wing was built next to the operating theatre.

• 1927

  Florence Inglis, Elizabeth Fraser and Annie Paton purchased the property in June.

• 1919

  Before 1919 an operating theatre block was added on the southern side.

• 1918

  Jessie Robertson became owner of the property.

• 1912

  Taylors sold the property in December; it began operating as Wootton Private Hospital (1912-1949).

• 1908

  Adela Taylor purchased the property in March and renamed the house "Wootton".

• 1906

  Street name changed to Darley Street; site became 2 Darley Street.

• 1898

  Edward Chisholm died; property transmitted to Perpetual Trustee Company.

• 1888

  Edward Chisholm purchased the property in October and built a new home called "Iona".

• 1879

  Mrs Grose sold her property; land subdivided into 9 lots.

• 1872

  First listing of the name "Iona Cottage"; Robert Carter occupant.

• 1845

  Land subdivided; part purchased by Elizabeth Grose.

• 1836

  James Wright leased the land from Long in early 1836.

• 1835

  Land grant of just over five acres to William Long in August.

1. 1Iona, Darlinghurst - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Iona, Darlinghurst - Wikidatawikidata.org