The Hermitage
living private°
The Hermitage is a private residence located in Vaucluse, Sydney. Built in the 1840s, it is listed on the Australian Register of the National Estate. Commissioned by Justin Hemmes, with a brief to completely reimagine the garden, the Hermitage was completed in 2016
Size: 0.5ha
Scope: Masterplan, Concept Design, Tender Documentation, Construction, Post-Construction
The Hermitage has been recognised with the following awards:
2017 AILA National Award - Garden Category
2017 AILA NSW Award - Garden Category
1. Pool Garden and Balcony Terrace
2. Pool Garden and daybeds
3. Poolside dining and amenities
Wild garden of natives and exotics
Kitchen and Entertainment Terrace
Wild garden at the pool
Pool Deck
Pool Steps and Outdoor Shower
Pool Garden and Balcony Terrace
The Hermitage is a plant collector’s dream within a harbour setting..
- Jury citation
Pool Garden and Main Lawn
1. Palms and Perennial Garden (top left)
2. Pond Garden and Main Lawn (bottom left)
3. Wild Garden and Main Lawn (right) YELLOW CACTUS
Sunset in the Bath Garden
An avant-garde approach reimagines the rules of planting
- The New Australian Garden
1. Small table setting in the Petanque Garden (top left)
2. Petanque Garden (bottom left)
3. Harper’s Bazaar May 2018 (right)
A ‘new’ pathway of heritage sandstone steps to the Kitchen Courtyard
Kitchen Courtyard, Heritage Well and garden path to the Main Lawn
Kitchen Courtyard
Courtyard detail
Communal dining under the old olive
1. Kitchen and Entertainment Terrace (above left)
2. Harbour Pond and Main Lawn (below left)
3. Pond to the Kitchen Terrace (above)
Petanque Garden
Palms perennials and succulents surround the infinity lawn (TOO SIM?)
Chickens in the orchard
The former tennis court is now a food garden
1. The ‘new’ driveway of heritage cobblestones (above left)
2. The herb garden with relocated heritage sundial (below left)
3. Abundant produce on a former tennis court (right)
Pond garden (??)
The old olive tree transplanted to the Kitchen Terrace (??)
‘New’ recycled Belgian cobble drive (??)
A garden that is both intimate for the family and enchanting for Sydney’s social set
- The New Australian Garden
National Award Jury Citation
A striking garden that is compelling from both horticultural and spatial points of view. There is a respect for the garden’s lengthy history but also an embrace of a more contemporary sensibility.
Despite the enormity of this project, including the diversity of microclimates and the wide range of ages, styles and origins of its plants, the resulting garden reads as one. The different areas and landscape treatments all tie well together. The transformation of the tennis court into what is effectively an edible roof garden (the garage is below) stood out for its focus on urban food production, seasonality and sustainability.
NSW State Award Jury Citation
The Hermitage is a plant collector’s dream within a harbour setting. The sophisticated planting design combines native and exotic species in lush, bold arrangements that clearly evoke the character of their owner. Views are expertly framed around a range of gathering spaces. Subtle lighting and high quality materials complete the refurbishment of this signature garden.
Design Statement
Built in the 1840s as a small sandstone cottage by Alexander Dick, the building was extended in the 1870’s by Edward Mason Hunt, to become The Hermitage, a Victorian Gothic Mansion, listed on the Australian Register of the National Estate.
The house was seriously damaged by fire in 1936 then restored by Emil Sodersten. It was purchased by the Woolworths Company in 1964 and used as a staff training centre, but later returned to its original role as a private home when bought by John and Merivale Hemmes in 1974.
In 2011, Justin Hemmes, CEO of Merivale Group, took over custodianship of the family’s heritage-listed estate, and began renovations on the house, including a complete reimagining of the garden. The works conceived from Masterplan included: significant tree and palm installations, new garden plantings throughout; stone driveway; heritage sandstone steps, paths, paving and walls; conversion of the rooftop tennis court into a working food garden; a large pond; pétanque garden; balcony terraces; courtyards and a new swimming pool garden.
Over its lifetime, The Hermitage garden has undertaken many evolutions, guided by the minds and hands of its various owners, their designers and skilled gardeners. The current garden builds, with respect, on their legacy.
