'Amesbury' - Landmark c1888 Queen Anne Mansion on 1369 sqm Level Grounds
Ashfield's most significant historic home. 'Amesbury' is a grand 10-bedroom Queen Anne style mansion built in 1888 by Mr Norman Selfe (1839-1922), Australia's foremost engineer during the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Last traded 30 years ago, the landmark residence was designed and constructed by Selfe during an era when engineers were regarded far more highly than architects. Upon completion, 'Amesbury' was considered the ultimate modern showpiece; it was feted in 'Builder and Contractors News" as presenting "more novelties both externally and internally than any other house in the colony".
With an elite pedigree of timeless distinction and historic significance, 'Amesbury' is a magnificent example of a wealthy Victorian gentleman's family residence.
Distinguished by a four-storey Romanesque tower with north-easterly views to the harbour, 'Amesbury' retains a host of beautiful internal and external features, including white Canterbury stone window surrounds and a pair of terracotta lyrebird panels modelled by decorative artist, Lucien Henry.
Inside the house is in excellent original condition with grand formal sitting, living and dining rooms opening from an imposing entrance hall with a beautiful staircase (crafted from exotic timbers including American hickory and English oak) featuring and hand made stained glass windows.
Dividing the living and dining rooms is an extraordinary three-metre wide vertically sliding door panelled in New Guinea cedar and blackwood. Also in excellent condition in these rooms are oversized panel doors and wide architraves of oak and rosewood.
Also on the ground floor, in the main section of the house, are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an office, storeroom, kitchen and casual dining areas. A rear extension, with a separate entrance, has two more bedrooms, a sitting room and bathroom. At the top of the grand staircase, on the top floor, are five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a storeroom. Another staircase leads to the second floor which has an enormous entertainment room with expansive views (originally designed as a billiard room) and two storerooms, one with steep stairs leading up to the observation tower. There is also a huge basement and worship with extensive storage.
'Amesbury' stands on a vast 1369 square metre parcel of level land with luxuriant gardens, a separate studio/office and off-street parking for numerous cars in the front driveway leading off Alt Street.
Easy access to Ashfield train station and shopping centre
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