Crossways – Centennial Park

The Crossways, 50 Martin Road, Centennial Park NSW

‘The Crossways’ – A Magnificent Parkside Estate

Update: TITLE TATTLE | 5 SEPTEMBER 2017

Crossways, Centennial Park finally sold

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Historic Crossways at Centennial Park has finally been sold reputedly for about $15 million, after being on and off the market for several years.

• The six-bedroom, five bathroom home on 1814sqm ranks as one of the finest examples of the Federation Arts & Crafts style in Australia.
• The buyer has been pinpointed as art collector Naomi Triguboff Travers, by the local paper, The Wentworth Courier.
• The sale, if confirmed, betters the previous record by $3 million.

• “An exceptionally rare offering within the exclusive enclave bordered by Centennial Park, this majestic three-storey 1908 Arts & Crafts residence has been transformed by renowned architect Espie Dods.

Magnificent in its stature and appeal, it’s set on a 1,814sqm parcel of prime parkside land with dual street access.

• “This classic home is nestled amid manicured Paul Bangay designed gardens, complete with expanses of level lawn, a hedge-framed pool, water feature and loggia.
• “Its highly versatile layout accommodates up to six or seven bedrooms and 5.5 marble bathrooms, including a lavish master wing with a dressing room, a private au pair quarters/teen retreat and an annexed self-contained guest wing with its own entry.
• “Its abundance of entertaining space includes a grand formal lounge room, a dining room/library with a bar area, study and casual entertaining space encompassing a solid timber La Cornue gas kitchen with a butler’s pantry. Devoted to recreation, the lower level contains a vast billiard room and a gym.”
• “The 1814-square-metre property was renovated extensively in the 1990s by architect Espie Dods for then owners, former McGuigan Wines director James Smiley and his wife, Jane, who set a suburb record in 2006 when they sold it for $10 million. Now owned by the Zavattaro family, the seven-bedroom residence, has impressive drawing, reception and billiard rooms, loggia, library, self-contained quarters, gym, master suite and a swimming pool, all surrounded by a Paul Bangay garden.^[1]
• Gallery and listing:

$11m-$13m Crossways at crossroads:$11m-$13m Crossways at crossroads: The Centennial Park mansion was built in 1908 for surgeon Gordon Craig.

The Crossways– Centennial Park

Google Map – 50 Martin Road

One of Sydney’s grand stately homes nestled amongst half an acre of Paul Bangay designed walled gardens.

The Crossways before renovation – from Domestic architecture in Australia

A notable residence in one of Sydney’s most coveted parkside locations, with Espie Dods adaptations, features grand drawing room, formal dining room, library, billiard room, flowing / outdoor entertainment areas, guest wing plus separate staff quarters.

A massive, part 2, part 3 storey mansion with 2 hipped slate roofed pavilions (one three storey, one two storey) linked by a 2 storey parapeted section with a triangular parapet over its centre.

• • Walls are cement rendered.
  • The pavilion on the north side of the facade is an addition, however the designer has blended this addition into the original building with matching detailing.

  • Renovated Crossways looking South West

    Timber framed casement windows feature square paned leadlights.

  • There is a 2 storey bay window to the centre of the Martin Road facade,
    and 4 massive tapering chimneys.
  • Sandstone base to the two ground floor pavilions.

This notable estate Sold for $10 million in 2005

• The 1814-square-metre property was renovated extensively in the 1990s by architect Espie Dods for then owners, former McGuigan Wines director James Smiley and his wife, Jane, who set a suburb record in 2006 when they sold it for $10 million. Now owned by the Zavattaro family, the seven-bedroom residence, has impressive drawing, reception and billiard rooms, loggia, library, self-contained quarters, gym, master suite and a swimming pool, all surrounded by a Paul Bangay garden. Bill Malouf, of LJ Hooker Double Bay, has the listing.^[2]

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The suburb of Centennial Park sits on the western fringe of the parkland and features quality houses on large blocks as well as large multi-unit buildings developed in the 1960s to 1980s on Robertson Road.

The suburb developed as a result of a decision to sell off land adjacent to the park to raise money for the park development. One hundred and one acres of land were subdivided in 1904.

• To ensure high standards of residential development, certain requirements were imposed.
• Brick or stone were mandated, with tile or slate roofs. Between 1905 and 1925, a wide range of substantial, quality homes were built, featuring a mixture of Federation, Arts and Crafts, Victorian and Old English styles. Homes are centred mainly on Martin Road, Robertson Road, Lang Road and Cook Road.[11]

The Crossways from Martin Road – Heritage Listing NSW

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The Crossways built in 1908

The Crossways is a fine example of the international design ‘Arts and Crafts Movement style’ , a house of historical significance that was designed by Waterhouse and Lake and built in 1908.[12]

• The Crossways was built as part of the subdivision of 1904 that created the suburb, and was the home of physician/surgeon Dr Craig Gordon.
• It is one of the finest examples of the Federation Arts & Crafts style in Australia, and one of the finest works of architect B.J. Waterhouse of Waterhouse & Lake.
• It includes recognisable Arts and Crafts elements such as the roughcast walls and irregular windows, but its style is broad and there is even a castellated section of wall at the side.

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A Sydney Queen

From Forbes Magazine: http://www.forbes.com/2005/04/25:

• This Martin Road estate, built in 1908 and known as The Crossways, was on the market for about $10.5 million.
• The Crossways physically represents the 1905 subdivision of Centennial Park lands, intended to fund the landscaping and development of Centennial Park, and subsequent development phase.
• It is also significant as the house of physician and surgeon Dr. Craig Gordon.
• The Crossways features parquet floors taken from a French chateau, English chandeliers and Italian marble mantles.
• The previous owners, James and Jane Smiley, bought it 12 years prior, undertaking a multi-million dollar renovation led by noted local architect Espie Dods in the 1990s[2
  

Crossways,extension looking South West

Renovated Crossways – view from the North

The seven-bedroom home is known as one of Sydney’s finest estates and is filled with luxurious details: 

• The floors in the drawing room, dining room, entrance hall and library are antique parquet taken from a French chateau.
• The fireplaces are made of Sienna marble.
• The drapes, curtain and carpets are French and English imports, and the La Cornue gas stove in the kitchen is the only one ever brought to Australia from France for residential use.
• The chandeliers are from a home in England, and the bathrooms are clad in marble.
• The private, half-acre property has a secret garden and a swimming pool shielded with high hedges.
  The property has a secret garden, swimming pool and sandstone-flagged terraces.
• It is within walking distance of the city’s equestrian center, central business district, top private schools and the Fox Studiosentertainment complex.

Elegant. Grand. Extraordinary.

“Rarely does a property of this calibre come onto the market. Situated in one of Sydney’s most keenly sought and exclusive enclaves is a property that could easily be at home in London’s Knightsbridge.

• Built around the turn of the 19th century by renowned architects of the time Waterhouse and Lake, this elegant baronial home, over three levels, was recently sympathetically restored and extended by Sydney architect Espie Dodds.
• A barrel vaulted ceiling in the entrance creates a grand first, and lasting, impression. As you enter the property, it’s not at all hard to imagine a lifestyle so very different from today, with French parquetry floors and marble fireplaces, leaded bay windows and a graceful curved staircase leading to the first floor.

On a scale out of proportion with today.

• “Proportions on such a grand scale confronts us with the fact that homes simply aren’t built like this anymore. A library provides a very private retreat, while a lift provides access to all three levels.
• The formal dining room is both grand and intimate. Nearby is the drawing room, which is over 30 feet in length and features a period Sienna marble fireplace is centrepiece.
• French doors open onto private north facing gardens, which cover half an acre of level ground. The master bedroom suite has an intimate balcony and exquisite marble bathroom. The property includes a separate two bedroom self-contained flat. On the lower ground floor, a self-contained office currently occupies rooms that could easily be converted for private use.

Street View 50 Martin Road

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  The Crossways, Sydney Date 11 2 08 Source Own work Author Sardaka 07:31, 18 March 2008

The Crossways looking East, Sydney Date 1 1 08 Source Own work Author Sardaka (talk) 10:04, 12 July 2008

References

• The Crossways From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crossways

• Centennial Park, New South Wales – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Park,_New_South_Wales
• NSW Heritage Database –http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=2420235
• http://toptenpk.com/top-ten-list-of-most-expensive-houses-in-australia/
• Properties Sold By Sutton Place Realty – http://www.suttonplacerealty.com.au/projects.htm
• Domestic architecture in Australia / original photographs by H. Cazneaux, [J.] Paton, J. Kauffmann and J. [i.e. A.] Wilkinson [Album view] –
  http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/album/albumView.aspx?acmsID=80142&itemID=823821
• A Sydney Queen by http://www.forbes.com/2005/04/25/cx_sc_0425how.html

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1. ^ http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/celebrity-chef-takes-a-shine-to-malabar-20140515-38bc8.html
2. ^ http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/celebrity-chef-takes-a-shine-to-malabar-20140515-38bc8.html