Hastings

About

Hastings is a heritage-listed residence at 2 Hayes Street, Neutral Bay, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. The 1913 house was reputedly designed by Edward Jeaffreson Jackson and built from 1830 to 1913. It is also known as Thrupp's Cottage; Craignathan; The Hastings; Milton. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The site of Hastings, including earlier (remains of) houses, has important historical associations with a range of maritime industries, in particular whaling and also with pioneers such as Alfred Thrupp, John McLaren and Benjamin Boyd. The Hastings boarding house is indicative of the building boom of the early 1900s, which resulted in the creation of a coherent architectural styled suburb, the Federation Neutral Bay, for which, to this date, the suburb is well known. Being on the waterfront, Hastings formed a gateway to this important suburb and it would appear that it was probably one of the first large Federation period houses to have been erected on the northern foreshores of Sydney Harbour.

The site includes a stone wall which may be associated with "Thrupps Cottage" or "Craignathan" (1830s), both important early houses.

Within the grounds are several notable archaeological remains, including stone stairs which once lead to Thrupp's Cottage (possibly the earliest building on the North Shore ), remains of a woolstore (built around 1831 and demolished 1884), remains of a reservoir and associated conduits constructed prior to 1842 and the cellar walls of Craignathan, one of the earliest of the more formal houses of the North Shore.

The following historic relics, located on the Hastings site, determine its cultural significance:

- the relics associated with whaling and other maritime activities, e.g. shipping of produce for storage in the woolstore.

The building "Hastings" is attributed to the architect E. Jefferson Jackson. Constructed in 1904 it was used primarily as a boarding house under various proprietors until 1956 when it was purchased by the Commonwealth of Australia. The Department of Defence purchased the property for use by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a headquarters for its support units.

Hastings was substantially altered to accommodate the new military uses, with a considerable amount of structural alteration in the area now corresponding to Unit 3. A new porch and entry was added on the south side for the RAAF Chiefs of Staff and many internal changes were undertaken: removal of walls and parts of walls; blocking doors; and making new door openings. At this time the first floor did not extend as far west as it does now and there was no second floor on the western side of the building. It appears that the early ground floor additions of the late Federation period in this area were demolished during the period of occupation by the RAAF.

In the late 1980s the Australian Government disposed of the property. In October 1988 North Sydney Council approved a building application to convert Hastings into three apartments. The plans, prepared by Gary Rothwell, architect, show that the most significant changes occurring at the western part of the building to create Unit No. 3. Hastings the house was built between 1904–13, a large, dramatically designed Federation Arts and Crafts style house on an important harbourside site. Its design is attributed to noted architect E. Jeaffreson Jackson.

In 1989 approval was given for restoration works to Hastings and for landscaping works around it. Altered plans for landscaping work were approved in 1990. In 1995 approval was given for a new verandah. Craignathan manor was later replaced by an boutique block of six executive apartments. Approval was given in 2008 for alterations to 1st and 2nd floor including installation of lift, new balcony and extension of dining/living room. The same year approval was granted to extend dining and living space, enclose veranda, install lift, reconfigure stair, juliet balcony over extension, extend external retaining wall, landscape element relocations and addition to conservatory.

The site includes a stone wall which may be associated with "Thrupps Cottage" or "Craignathan" (1830s), both important early houses.

Within the grounds are several notable archaeological remains, including stone stairs which once lead to Thrupp's Cottage (possibly the earliest building on the North Shore ), remains of a woolstore (built around 1831 and demolished 1884), remains of a reservoir and associated conduits constructed prior to 1842 and the cellar walls of Craignathan, one of the earliest of the more formal houses of the North Shore.

The following historic relics, located on the Hastings site, determine its cultural significance:

- the relics associated with whaling and other maritime activities, e.g. shipping of produce for storage in the woolstore.

The building "Hastings" is attributed to the architect E. Jefferson Jackson. Constructed in 1904 it was used primarily as a boarding house under various proprietors until 1956 when it was purchased by the Commonwealth of Australia. The Department of Defence purchased the property for use by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a headquarters for its support units.

Hastings was substantially altered to accommodate the new military uses, with a considerable amount of structural alteration in the area now corresponding to Unit 3. A new porch and entry was added on the south side for the RAAF Chiefs of Staff and many internal changes were undertaken: removal of walls and parts of walls; blocking doors; and making new door openings. At this time the first floor did not extend as far west as it does now and there was no second floor on the western side of the building. It appears that the early ground floor additions of the late Federation period in this area were demolished during the period of occupation by the RAAF.

In the late 1980s the Australian Government disposed of the property. In October 1988 North Sydney Council approved a building application to convert Hastings into three apartments. The plans, prepared by Gary Rothwell, architect, show that the most significant changes occurring at the western part of the building to create Unit No. 3. Hastings the house was built between 1904–13, a large, dramatically designed Federation Arts and Crafts style house on an important harbourside site. Its design is attributed to noted architect E. Jeaffreson Jackson.

In 1989 approval was given for restoration works to Hastings and for landscaping works around it. Altered plans for landscaping work were approved in 1990. In 1995 approval was given for a new verandah. Craignathan manor was later replaced by an boutique block of six executive apartments. Approval was given in 2008 for alterations to 1st and 2nd floor including installation of lift, new balcony and extension of dining/living room. The same year approval was granted to extend dining and living space, enclose veranda, install lift, reconfigure stair, juliet balcony over extension, extend external retaining wall, landscape element relocations and addition to conservatory.

This is an important harbourside site, part of the collection of large fine houses in the vicinity.

Occupying a prominent position on the northern foreshores of Sydney Harbour, Hastings is a conspicuous building, greeting ferry passengers arriving at Hayes Street Wharf and providing a pleasant backdrop to the harbourside reserve, shopping centre and ferry wharf. The site of Hastings, including earlier (remains of) houses, has important historical associations with a range of maritime industries, in particular whaling and also with pioneers such as Alfred Thrupp, John McLaren and Benjamin Boyd. The Hastings boarding house is indicative of the building boom of the early 1900s, which resulted in the creation of a coherent architectural styled suburb, the Federation Neutral Bay, for which, to this date, the suburb is well known. Being on the waterfront, Hastings formed a gateway to this important suburb and it would appear that it was probably one of the first large Federation period houses to have been erected on the northern foreshores of Sydney Harbour.