How did a Scottish novelist inspire a chocolate factory in Sydney? Abbotsford House, right here before us, holds the answer. This grand Victorian-style house, overlooking Abbotsford Bay, has a history richer than any bonbon. Abbotsford House was built in 1878 by Sir Arthur Renwick. He named it after Sir Walter Scott’s home in Scotland, a nod to the famous novelist. Renwick, a doctor, philanthropist, and politician, clearly admired Scott. The house itself reflects Renwick’s success. He spared no expense, costing a hefty £11,000 at the time. But fortune is fickle. Renwick faced financial hardship and had to sell the property in 1903. It was subdivided and sold again in 1905. Then, a surprising twist. In 1917, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, later known as Nestlé, purchased the estate. Their ambitious plan? To build the largest chocolate factory in the Southern Hemisphere. Abbotsford House became the administrative heart of this chocolate empire. The factory itself spread out around the house. Imagine the aroma of cocoa wafting through the air. The house even served as part of the chocolate production process in the early days. This sweet era lasted until 1991 when the factory closed. The area was then redeveloped into the Abbotsford Cove housing complex we see today. Abbotsford House, however, still stands, a reminder of a bygone era of literary inspiration and chocolate dreams. A testament to Renwick’s legacy, and a surprising chapter in Sydney’s industrial history.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to