Halliday House

Statement of Significance

This place is significant for its association with the Halliday family, who were influential to the development of Bayswater. It is a representative example of the Federation Queen Anne
architectural style. This landmark building has important social and cultural associations, which continues today through its use by the Bayswater Historical Society.

Physical Description

Halliday House is a large well constructed brick house with a double hipped roof over a summetrical square plan and with a small, half timbered gable and ventilator over the central front entrance. A separate low pitched iron roof supported on full length timber posts extends across the front verandahs from the corner bay and continues down the right hand (northern) side verandah. The external brick walls are tuck-pointed up to the mid-level of the double hung sash windows with cement render above this height and on the window sills. The roof is
crowed at the ridge corners with prominent brick chimneys each with two terracotta pots and there is a flight of six cement steps up to the entrance from the central cement pathway though a well kept and extensively formal garden.

Halliday House is an unusually elaborate residence for this area. The interior includes a decorative niched oval dome housing the chandelier and ornate masonry in the passageways. The front boundary is marked by a decorative wrought iron fence and gate decorated with a clipped hedge.

History

The land on which "Leighton" is built was originally acquired from James Alexander Halliday by Henry Halliday in 1894. However, it would appear that Halliday started building the house in 1892 and, with his wife Edith, took up residence in 1893.

During the early 1890s, a small settlement on the Bayswater estate was growing and the Hallidays, though not one of the first land purchasers of 1885, were part of this development. Thus, the house has a connection with the pioneering phase of Bayswater.

Most houses in the 1880s and 1890s were hastily built from corrugated iron but "Leighton House" was constructed in a much more substantial manner. One of the most elaborate houses in the district, it reflects not only the Halliday's resources, but also their faith in the future of Bayswater. It was a 'dream home' of the time. It is also significant as a self built house of an early master builder.

The Bapitist congregation was inaugurated at "Leighton" in 1895. Those in attendance included the Halliday family and four others. Until the building of a Baptist Church, it no doubt continued to provide a meeting place for the small congregation.

In recent years, the house has been restored and was transferred to the Bayswater Historical Society who maintain the house as a museum and headquarters of the historical society.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High
Authenticity - High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.