The Eryldene Trust

The Eryldene Trust

Eryldene is a charming house and garden situated in the heart of Ku-ring-gai on Sydney's North Shore. The Georgian Revival style house was designed by distinguished Australian Architect William Hardy Wilson in 1913 for Professor E.G. Waterhouse and his wife Janet and named after her family home in Kilmarnock, Scotland. Both the house and the garden are protected by a permanent conservation order issued by the NSW Heritage Council in 1979. It is recognised as the finest example of Hardy Wilson's work.

Prof. Waterhouse, a world authority on camellias, designed the unique garden renowned for its landscape design and camellia collection. Linking the house and the garden is an Eastern philosophy evident in the trees and shrubs, the oriental tea-house, moongate, gilded flag poles, ceramic drums, water bowls and porcelain figures. Oriental art and artefacts in the house and garden date from the Northern Wei period (AD 386-535) and are mixed with more contemporary art works.

Eryldrene is owned and cared for the Eryldene Trust which was established in 1979 as an independent non-profit company to preserve, restore and maintain the house and garden. The Trust relies mainly on donations and proceeds from functions and inspections organized by the voluntary group, The friends of Erydene, for the upkeep of the house and garden.

Address: 
17 McIntosh Street, Gordon, NSW
Tel: 
0294982271
Hours: 
Weekend inspections (10am - 4pm) as programmed mostly from April to October or by appointment
Admission: 
Adults $7, Concessions $5, Family $14, Children (6-15) $3
Facilities: 
Garden Café, Gift Shop, Reference Library, Plant Stall, Guided tours by arrangement. Brochures and Program of Events available on request.
Collection: 
Original furniture in entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, bedroom and garden study. Collection of Chinese watercolour paintings on silk. Original paintings by artist Paul Jones and Adrian Feint.

Items

Oriental Tea House

Creator:
William Hardy Wilson
Description:
The Tea House, originally the tennis pavilion, is et between a pair of ornamental flag poles. It is unique in the composition of eastern and western cultures.
Date:
1927 - Present

House

Eryldene

Eryldene
Creator:
William Hardy Wilson
Description:
The house of Professor Waterhouse and his wife Janet
Date:
1913 - Present

Camellia Collection

Creator:
Professor Eben Gowrie Waterhouse and his wife Janet
Description:
Over 700 Camellias, many photographed by Prof Waterhouse
Date:
1914 - 1977

Garden Study

Creator:
William Hardy Wilson
Description:
This beautifully proportioned building was designed for Prof Waterhouse so that he could pursue his studies free from the interruption of a young family. It looks onto a semi-circular sandstone walled fountain enhanced with Chinese porcelain kylins.
Date:
1927

White fantail pigeons

Description:
A small flock of pigeons live in the heritage pigeon house designed by Hardy Wilson.