History and Family
Brief History
Brownlow Hill is a rare, substantially intact colonial farming estate, set amongst an idyllic country landscape where many of the early colonial structures and features still survive.
Brownlow Hill is one of the most prominent colonial estates in Australia. The majority of the estate is now heritage listed, including most of the homestead gardens and farmland.
The colonial history of the property starts in 1788 when the colony lost eight head of cattle in Parramatta. Governor Hunter later discovered the lost cattle had become forty, wandering the local area. Deciding they were healthier and happier where they were, by 1812 Governor Macquarie granted large tracts of land in the district to farmers, one of which was Brownlow Hill.
Brownlow Hill House
Alexander Macleay obtained a grant-by-purchase of 1,663 acres in 1827 when he began building Brownlow Hill house. The house was built atop a shale knoll that was levelled by convicts, and soil was brought up from a nearby creek for the garden.
The house is made up of three sections; the main house, the kitchen and the maid’s quarters.
John Verge, known for his outstanding architecture at Camden Park House, Elizabeth Bay House and Lyndhurst, is thought to have assisted with the renovation in 1834, as the house has similar design details.
The house has been updated to suit modern life, however the bones remain relatively unchanged.
Downes Family
Jeremiah Downes (pictured) immigrated to Australia in 1852 and leased Brownlow Hill in 1859 when George Macleay returned to England. In 1862 Jeremiah planned to leave the farm (and possibly Australia) when Macleay sold the property to Severin Salting. At Downes’ big farewell lunch, he decided he would stay living on and managing the property for Salting (Salting never ended up living at Brownlow Hill).
In 1875 Downes bought Brownlow Hill from Salting and since then the Downes family have been on Brownlow Hill for six generations; to this present day.
Brownlow Hill Garden
Macleay was a horticulturalist and established the gardens at both Brownlow Hill and Elizabeth Bay House. The garden at Elizabeth Bay House has long gone, but a great deal of his design and plantings survive at Brownlow Hill.
Macleay brought over 500 plants from his home in Surrey, England, of which 46 new species were planted in the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, including an iconic Sydney tree, the Jacaranda. Macleay also retained many of the native trees, which was unusual for the time.
The Garden begins at the front gate; bordering the western side is a low solid stone balustrade, now overgrown with dwarf creeping fig (Ficus pumila) surmounted with stone urns at either end. Approaching the house is a carriage loop, with a rare Chilean Wine Palm (Jubaea Chilensis) at the centre (five of the only fifty Jubaeas in Australia are at Brownlow Hill).
Advanced trees and early plantings surround the garden. Among many are Bunya Pines (Araucaria Bidwillii), Hoop Pines (Araucaria Cunninghamiana), and Himalayan Chir Pines (Pinus Roxburghi) and Rock Lillies(Dendrobium Speciosum). Of note to rosebush enthusiasts, the Brownlow Hill Rambler (pictured) is a climbing rose that originated on the property. It can still be found flourishing in the garden.
In the rose garden is a rain gauge used by the Downes family to record and send information to the Bureau of Meteorology since 1882. Another rare survival is the sandstone aviary, which has been well looked after through the generations.
Other Historic Buildings
The Stables
The Stables and Carriage House (pictured) is a brick building with 'Marulan' sandstone lintels; vaguely Palladian (i.e. tripartite facade with single storied sides, pedimented centre with loft). It was most likely built in the 1830s and remains in good condition.
Glendon House
Glendon House is a 19th century dwelling, near the northern boundary of the property. Built on a higher hill than Brownlow House, it has extensive views north, east and south over the property.
The Roundhouse
In the southern part of the property is an octagonal brick cottage known as The Roundhouse (pictured). It has been adapted and extended as a home. It is believed The Roundhouse was built as a Government station established by Macquarie in 1815. Sadly, similar buildings in the area have been demolished, making this a rare early structure of its type.