61 Francis Street

With all the character and charm of a bygone era, is this magnificent Georgian style residence. Soaring 12 foot ornate ceilings with decorative cornices and feature windows. Quality cedar joinery throughout and wide, polished timber floors. Country-style timber eat-in kitchen with large walk-in pantry. Huge Reception Room and Formal Dining Room with feature marble open fireplaces. 4 spacious bedrooms upstairs, 3 with marble fireplaces - main opens to wide covered verandah. Separate Servants Quarters adjoining main home by private courtyard. Second dwelling consists of 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and sitting room with open fireplace. Subterranean cellar, old well and private gardens with extensive views of the Lowlands. Situated only a short, level stroll to all the conveniences of town on approx 2/3 acre (2585 square metres) with Victorian inspired gardens. History: The house was built about 1840 for the Benson family. Originally a single storey farmhouse of 4 main rooms plus a scullery (now a 'library') with servants' quarters and stables (now in adjoining property). Benson was a shipwright, building vessels to transport produce from the Hawkesbury to Sydney via Broken Bay and Port Jackson. The second storey was built by another family- probably the Ridges - about 1890? What was undoubtedly Nanny's room is now the kitchen, which was made smaller to accommodate the elegant staircase required by the second storey. Most of the joinery in the ground floor rooms and hallway is Australian Red Cedar of the best quality. All the bedroom windows facing Francis Street are of cedar and have narrow glazing bars similar to other downstairs windows, so it is almost certain that they were originally where the 'French' windows are now - in the dining room and reception room (originally 2 smaller rooms). The walls of the dining room were originally decorated with stencilled patterns and a signed remnant on one wall still remains. On an adjoining wall is a 3m x 7m mural of Sydney Heads (about 1830) based on the work of Lycett, the colonial artist. In the drawing room is a hand painted classical frieze copied from one done more than 2,000 years ago in a house on the Greek island of Delos. Social history: The enlargement of Benson House enabled entertainment on a grand scale and made it a house of distinction where a passing parade of writers, artists, musicians, farmers, local business people and equestrian folk enjoyed the hospitality of the owners. In 1892 the Governor of NSW, the Earl of Jersey and his wife were guests of Mr and Mrs Ridge at Benson House. The visit is commemorated by the naming of Jersey Street nearby. During the long residency of Dr and Mrs Blower last century, the house and garden was the setting for many wonderful parties. More recently, rowing crews from Victoria have stayed at the House while competing in interstate regattas at the Penrith Olympic Course. The bust of Queen Victoria in the garden has probably been there since her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. As it faces east there was no chance that she would ever see the sun setting on her Empire. Benson House is number 57 on the Heritage Walk around Richmond. The House is in demand as a location for the making of films set in the colonial era. The property has not changed hands very often and this is a rare opportunity for someone to join the small list of those who have enjoyed the peace, comfort and happiness of such an historic house of distinction.