Commissioned in 1940, Evatt House stands as a testament to a family’s influence. This house is located at 69 Junction Road in Wahroonga. It represents a blend of political prominence and cultural patronage. Here, history whispers from every corner of this heritage-listed home.
Evatt House was built for Clive Raleigh Evatt and his wife Marjorie. Clive was a significant figure in NSW Labor politics. He served as the MLA for Hurstville from 1939 to 1959. Stuart Traill designed this Georgian Revival house. Marjorie Evatt also significantly influenced the design.
Originally, the land was part of a larger grant to John Terry Hughes in 1842. Later, a consortium acquired the acreage and subdivided it. Clive Evatt Snr purchased three blocks in 1937. The family decided to keep much of the native vegetation. This choice was progressive for the time.
The Evatt family held a deep appreciation for the arts. Their home became a hub for artistic, academic, legal and Labor figures. Clive Evatt was described as a patron of the arts. He entertained guests widely at Evatt House. Famous visitors included Clive’s brother H. V. Evatt, artist Sidney Nolan and actors Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
Clive’s brother Herbert Vere Evatt was a famous Labor politician. He was also a jurist known as H. V. Evatt or Doc Evatt. Clive’s career was distinguished though it lacked his brother’s extraordinary achievement. Clive graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon. He became a barrister and a King’s Counsel by 1935.
Clive Evatt served as the NSW Minister for Education. He later became Minister for Housing. He was an effective speaker. However he did not conform to the traditional Labor type. He was a middle-class Protestant radical.
Evatt’s support extended beyond politics and into architecture. As Minister for Housing in the early 1950s, Clive Evatt supported Harry Seidler. He overturned Willoughby Council’s rejection of Seidler’s design for Meller House. Seidler cited Evatt’s support as crucial to his decision to stay and work in Australia.
The Evatt children also achieved prominence. Elizabeth Evatt became the first woman Chief Justice of the Family Court. Penelope Seidler married Harry Seidler and became a noted architect. Clive Evatt Jnr became a well-known Sydney art dealer.
The house itself reflects Georgian Revival architecture. It sits on a large block with many trees. The native species create a bush garden setting. This was an early attempt to maintain indigenous vegetation in suburbia. The garden and house together fostered Australian cultural nationalism.
Evatt House stands as a symbol of its time. It represents a progressive family and their commitment to Australian culture. The house remained in the Evatt family until 1986. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2004.
Today, Evatt House is a reminder of the Evatt family’s legacy. It highlights their contributions to law, politics and the arts in Australia. Its heritage listing ensures its preservation for future generations. It is a physical reminder of a family who helped shape Australia’s cultural identity.