The Gables is a Victorian Gothic Mansion built in the 1870’s. The original owners of the house were Donald and Frances McNab who first built the homestead known as “Glenlyon”. Donald and Frances came to the area known as Haslem’s Creek in 1867 after Donald was appointed the first manager-trustee of the Presbyterian section of the newly opened Necropolis, he was a monumental sculptor and mason. The land now known as The Gables was bounded by East Street, Eglington and Joseph
Streets and was purchased by the McNab’s in 1868 from the deceased estate of the late Father Joseph Therry . The architect for the House was Gordon McKerrran and the builder was Mr. Dawes.
The first wedding at The Gables seems to be one of Donald and Frances sons in 1889. The first grandchild, a son, was born later in the same year but we are not sure if this was the first birth at The Gables.
The Lidbury family were one of the subsequent owners and a portrait of Mrs Lidbury was given to the present owners and has pride of place in an upstairs anti room.
The whole of the area changed from Haslam’s Creek to Rookwood after the original 200 acre grant to the Necropolis and during the time of Mr. Lidbury’s Mayorship of the area it was decided by the living residents that a change of name would be appropriate. The new suburb was named Lidcombe after Mr. Lidbury and the previous Mayor Mr. Larcombe by joining their names. Mr. Larcombe was a prominent stonemason whose business is still on the corner of East Street at Lidcombe.
There are many stories about the House and it was widely believed that when the House was used for “gambling” early in the 1900’s the Widow’s Walk was the Look-out Area and if the police were seen coming down East Street, then a dirt road, all the men gambling inside The Gables would gather in the front parlour and escape through a tunnel that linked The Gables and Rookwood under East Street. Recently we had the carpet replaced at The Gables and a trapdoor was found in the floor. On opening the
Trapdoor we discovered the remnants of the tunnel; a seven foot deep area had been cut out of the stone and ran along the D’Arcy Street side of the front parlour and had been sealed off at the front of the House.
In the present garden on the Northern side of The Gables is a Waterfall, initially this area was the Well from which the water for the House was drawn, the Well is still there under the well-capping and under the fountain bowl that forms part of the water feature. Before this water feature was built and after the Well was capped there was a very large fishpond with a deck surrounding it. We can still see part of this original structure amongst the present plants.
The large Grevillia Tree is a focal point of the garden as are the “petticoat” palms and it is believed that the Lidbury Family had a very great friend who was a Sea Captain and most of the trees in East Street and on the present property were brought back by their friend on his travels and planted at The Gables.
The Gables is now a Reception House with many of the original fittings and fixtures i.e. the Pink Marble Fire place in the main Room and the Black Marble Fire Place in the front parlour where the tunnel is under the original floorboards. The original gaslight is above the front door and has been converted to electricity.
The Gables has undergone a major restoration for a lady of 130 years. The original colour was discovered in a little used cupboard and is the colour of the flowers on the Grevillia Tree. The garden though not as extensive as they once were is full of camellias, gardenias and roses together with the original plants that were found in weed covered garden beds and is boarded by a Victorian style metal fence in black.
The interior has been repainted and refurnished in the Victorian style while bearing in mind the comfort of the guests who now use The Gables to celebrate many occasions from Weddings to Christenings and Funeral gatherings. The house is well set up as a Conference Centre with “break out” rooms and electronic systems to make any Conference run smoothly. |
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