Cranbrook as the residence of James White Cranbrook, Bellevue Hill

james white, circa 1880

james white pastoralist , racehorse owner. born in 1828 in new south wales relatively wealthy parents. in 1853 in partnership 2 brothers bought belltrees near scone , expanded it. in 1860 james bought matindale near muswellbrook lived wife emily (née arndell) until 1873. during time member of new south wales legislative assembly representing upper hunter. resigned parliament in 1868.

in 1873 bought cranbrook , employed john horbury hunt, prominent architect, carry out large extensions on property. moved in wife emily , brought house expensive art treasures including pictures italian german , english painters. in 1874 appointed new south wales legislative council , on next decade held many important posts in societies of day.

white s art treasures described in detail in publication of time follows;

interior posses<1-- sic? --> many costly art treasures - rare china of dresden, meissen, sevres, , vienna manufacture, worcester , potteries of england. in drawing room there may seen magnificent specimen of ivory carving - female figure carved block of ivory 2 feet long. pictures italian, german , english artists decorate walls.

these art treasures shown below in photos of hallway , drawing room.

john horbury hunt outside

cranbrook cottage wife , daughter

one of white s main interests horseracing , shortly after bought cranbrook purchased kirkham near camden developed horse stud. john horbury hunt commissioned build 2 houses him on property.

one of buildings constructed horbury hunt while employed @ cranbrook stone house called cranbrook cottage . appears on white s land , owned him because when cranbrook put on market in 1898 advertisement stated there 2 lots sold. lot 2 described follows:

@ intersection of new south head road , victoria road stone built cottage residence @ present occupied horbury hunt esq. containing hall dining , drawing rooms, 2 bedrooms, servant s room, kitchen, bathroom, boy s room , library.

some time after horbury hunt must have purchased property sold in own name in 1902.

while james , emily white owned cranbrook gardens , grounds developed. horbury hunt built tennis pavilion (see photo below left , below in section on garden fete) still exists today. rotunda @ cranbrook school.

a publication made following comments grounds.

terrace in front shuts out high road happy arrangement, , well-stocked glass , bush houses continuous supply of flowering plants maintained. gardens , grounds in fine order, , view water side charming.

some of these features shown in photos below.

james white died of heart disease @ cranbrook in 1890. had no children emily inherited both cranbrook , kirkham. 6 years later in 1896 emily 62 married captain william scott aged 37. veterinary surgeon in nsw defence forces. in following year emily , captain scott sailed scotland unfortunately emily died shortly after arriving , buried @ melrose, roxburghshire in scotland. scott inherited property , following year 1898 put both cranbrook , kirkham on market. sold kirkham in same year did not sell cranbrook.