Studley Park House to be restored
One of Camden’s historical treasures may soon be restored, with the owners of Studley Park House preparing to breathe new life into the heritage gem.
One of Camden’s historical treasures may soon be restored, with the owners of Studley Park House preparing to breathe new life into the heritage gem.
The Moran family, which bought the 5.5ha property for $1.6 million in 2008, has begun discussions to reinvigorate the historic homestead.
Moran Group managing director Peter Moran told the Chronicle he would like to see the NSW heritage-listed site restored “sooner rather than later”.
“It’s a property which is very special to Camden,” Mr Moran said.
“The house is in desperate need of a use and we would like to see it happen sooner rather than later.
“We are working with the (Camden) Golf Club and (Camden) Council as to what they would like to see done.
“The house has to be restored to a good standard and we are very good at doing that sort of thing.”
Mr Moran said an aged care licence had already been approved for the site.
“Aged care and seniors living could work there (on the Studley Park House site) quite well,” he said. “Obviously some of the adjoining land will need to be developed to assist in that restoration.
“We are just working through it with council, being mindful of all the requirements that need to be considered in such an important local property.”
Moran Group is currently in talks to buy land surrounding St John’s Camden Anglican Church, with a vision to also construct an aged care facility.
The Victorian-style Studley House was built in 1902. There has been little use of the homestead across the past two decades.
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History of Studley Park House
Starting as a site owned by a convict shoemaker, Studley Park was owned in the 1930s by Arthur Gregory, the sales manager of Twentieth Century Fox Australia, who refurbished the house in art deco style.
The property was also owned by the Camden Grammar School principal, and Gregory turned a classroom into a theatrette.
A keen golfer, Gregory built a nine-hole course around the house and converted the stables block into a club house.
In World War II, the Eastern Command used the property as a training school.
One of the first graduates was Lieutenant A.R. Cutler, who was awarded the Victoria Cross and who became Sir Roden, NSW governor from 1966 to 1981.
In 1984, the army sold the house to Charles Northern and Gabriel Olsen, who vacated it in 1994. The vacant house was bought by Camden Golf Club Ltd in 1996.
In 2008, Studley Park House was surplus to Camden Golf Club’s needs and sold to the Moran family.