Gledswood

Gledswood is set on 65 hectares (160 acres) of pastoral land. The Gledswood estate is located off Camden Valley Way south of Raby Road, Catherine Field, across from Raby homestead.[9] Its rear (the south) of Gledswood abuts the Upper Canal water supply for Sydney.[10] Gledswood is the first of such early farming properties visible when travelling from Sydney along Camden Valley Way (the former Hume Highway and former Cow Pasture Road).[1]

The estate was developed by James Chisholm c. 1830 on land granted to him in 1829. Located in the centre of the property is a selection of Georgian farm buildings. The homestead was built by James Chisholm c. 1830 on land granted in 1829 and later renovated, probably in the 1870s, to include the Gothic verandas and porches; the kitchen has been separated forming a courtyard. The house has a long stone flagged front veranda on the north side with two gables breaking the eavesline and marking the entrances. Decorative features include bargeboards in a rustic pattern, shuttered french doors and a front door with fanlight and side lights. The walls are rendered brick.[1]

The current access drive winds through open cleared paddocks and remnant advanced and regrowth woodland. Old woodland remnants such as a group of broad leaved apple trees (Angophora subvelutina) frame entry views to the homestead and the distant araucarias. Old trees in paddocks are in decline and remnants of original woodland are a prominent feature of its landscape.[1]

A group of mature Araucarias/ hoop pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) distant from the road identify the location of the homestead long before any buildings are in view and are definitive of the 19th century landscape character, occurring in association with other typical plant species found throughout the district.[1]

The kitchen has been separated from the house and forms the courtyard. The outbuildings within the estate include: large cellars; an administration wing; a fine two storey stable building now used as a restaurant'; machinery shed; and other farm buildings such as the decorative wooden hen house.[1]

Gledswood contains an outstanding "wilderness" garden, a large formal garden area and many typical 19th century ornamental plantings. Together these combine to create an interesting and intimate series of spaces with views over the surrounding rural landscape. Gledswood's signature plantings of tall Bunya pines remain a landmark from roads and sites in the area.[1]

A highly maintained lawn and formal garden in front and adjacent to the house along with pockets of bushland dominated by vines and shrubs now considered weeds, are common thematic elements of 19th century landscapes. Close to the homestead is a variety of wild hedgerow and the front of the administration building, south of the wilderness is dominated by a grove of pepper trees (Schinus molle var.areira), two of which may possibly date from the mid to late 19th century. This species is also scattered throughout the livestock yard and is around the outbuildings and have the same evocative character as the plantings of Belgenny Farm Homestead at Camden South. Further plantings in this area include an old stunted Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla). To the south of the building is a black locust /false acacia tree (Robinia pseudoacacia).[1]

The northern front to the homestead is in the shape of an expansive ellipse, bounded by a formal gravel driveway with a remnant planting of a lone large white cedar (Melia azedarach var.australasica) on the edge of the driveway.[1]

The eastern garden, set out in the gardenesque style, continues this more formal thematic planting. The trees and shrubs in this area are an eclectic mix of species is typical of late 19th century and early 20th century botanical collections. A rose garden has been established east of the homestead and adjacent to this older formal garden. The eastern lawn contains further planting of jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and other associated species. The old stunted macadamia nut tree (Macadamia integrifolia) is located south-east of the homestead and is a rare specimen planting in this district.[1][11][12][13]

As at 29 July 2003, Gledswood has been left largely unaltered in design. It has archaeological potential to reviewal evidence of early European farming practices and an understanding of early gardening practices.[1]

Gledswood has been left largely unaltered in design although adaptive re-use of the buildings and new plant material has been introduced.[1]

• 1810 – 162 hectares (400 acres) grant to de Kerilleau (former 'Buckingham').
• 1815 – 202 hectares (500 acres) to north added (acquired by and granted to James Chisholm).
• 1816 – extension of Kerilleau grant land to the east and south (acquired by and granted to James Chisholm).
• 1818 – extension of land to the south again (former 'Horatio Park') (acquired by and granted to James Chisholm).[1]
• 1861 – two acres set up for erection of a school building (closed 1888)
• c. 1870s – Major modifications /renovations to Gledswood homestead with the addition of Gothic verandas and porches and the expansion of existing gardens under James Kinghorne Chisholm.
• 1881-8 – land resumed for construction of The Upper Canal across the estate. Bridges built across the canal to allow access.
• 1907 – land exchange with George Molle of Molles Marnes to south, of land south of The Upper Canal. Molle's former land north of the canal (and facing Camden Valley Way) became part of Gledswood.[1]
• 1959 – subdivision of Gledswood into three lots (east, east-of east, and west of the canal)
• 1968-71 – Horderns running cattle on estate, much repairs to buildings.[1]
• 1971 – Testoni brothers ('Camden Vineyards') bought Gledswood, hoping to revive the vineyards, begin promoting the estate as a tourist attraction.
• 1972 – 15 hectares (38 acres) between Raby Road and the Upper Canal divided from the estate,
• 1973 – subdivision roughly divided Gledswood estate in half - over 100ha to the north and east of the house transferred to the NSW Planning & Environment Commission. Another 10 ha transferred to Camden Council in 1976. In 1978 land on which Gledswood is situated took its present form when over 400ha were subdivided for the El Caballo Blanco enterprise under the ownership of Andalusia Entertainment Centres P/L (for horse shows, tourist attraction).
• 1970s – subdivision of eastern section (1972, 3, 6, 8) of sections facing Camden Valley Way in eastern part (non-1959 lots).

Other modifications have been the adaptive re-use of buildings such as the two storey stables now used as a restaurant.[1]

HO held discussions with a number of interested parties in 2001 concerning this site. Some of these involved retirement village style development proposals. The property was placed on the market in 2003 and sold around March 2003. Any development proposals would require a heritage impact statement which focuses on how the heritage significance of Gledswood can be retained and conserved while allowing appropriate changes.[1]

• Attraction Homepage (2012). "Gledswood".
• Carroll, Brian (1983). The Hume - Australia's Highway of History - a Heritage Field Guide.
• Carroll, Brian (1983). The Hume - Australia's Highway of History - a heritage field guide.
• Clive Lucas Stapleton & Partners (2005). Landscape Conservation Management Plan: Former Gledswood Estate, Catherine Field.
• Colleen Morris & Geoffrey Britton (2000). Colonial Landscapes of the Cumberland Plain and Camden - Volume 2.
• Eco Logical Australia (2016). Gledswood, El Caballo Blanco & Camden Lakeside Final Aboriginal Test Excavation Report.
• Eco Logical Australia (2015). Gledswood South Residential and Sewer Carrier – Draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment report.
• Everett, David (2004). Frere's Vineyard - Vine Pedigree X in Macarthur (News).
• Everett, David (2003). 'Vine Pedigree VI: Gledswood - the estate'.
• GML Heritage (2017). Gledswood, Lot 1203 - Interpretation Plan.
• GML Heritage (2017). Lot 1203 Subdivision, Gledswood - Photographic Archival Recording.
• GML Heritage (2017). Lot 1203 Subdivision, Gledswood - Archaeological Research Design & Excavation Methodology.
• Godden Mackay Logan, in association with Geoffrey Britton (2011). Gledswood Conservation Management Plan.
• Godden Mackay Logan, in association with Geoffrey Britton (2011). Gledswood - Conservation Management Plan.
• Hughes Trueman P/L (2008). Gledswood Homestead, Stables and Convict House - Structural Condition Report.
• Landarc Landscape Architects (1993). Camden Significant trees and Landscape Study.
• Sheedy, David (1977). Listing Proposal for National Trust.
• Tropman & Tropman Architects (2003). Conservation Management Plan: Gledswood, Camden Valley Way, Catherine Field, SSW.
• Tropman & Tropman Architects (2003). Draft Master Plan Strategy: Gledswood, Camden Valley Way, Catherine Field, NSW.
• Morris, C., & Britton, G./NSW National Trust (for the Heritage Council of NSW) (2000). Colonial Landscapes of the Cumberland Plain and Camden, NSW.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Landarc Landscape Architects (1993). Camden Significant Trees and Vegetated Landscape Study.
• Howard Tanner and Associates (1989). Camden Park Estate Conservation Plan.

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Gledswood, entry number 01692 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.