Intriguing isn’t it this grand old house Leuralla? It stands before you a testament to a bygone era. Leuralla a magnificent Federation Free Classical style home in Leura. It was built between 1910 and 1914. Architect Edward Hewlett Hogben designed this beauty.
Imagine Harry Andreas a wealthy yachtsman and big-game fisherman. He built Leuralla for his family. They lived there until after World War II. The house survived a bushfire in 1909. The original house was destroyed. This one replaced it. The gardens though were mostly saved. They are magnificent 5 hectares of exotic plants. Andreas started the gardens. Paul Sorensen later improved them adding his touch. Today you see a formal layout. There is even an amphitheatre overlooking the Jamison Valley.
Leuralla hosted some very famous guests. In the 1930s it was home to the Katoomba Music Society. The Great Solomon Sir Eugene Goosens and Sir Neville Cardus all performed here. A remarkable legacy. Harry Andreas even guided the Duke and Duchess of York on a fishing trip in 1927. While the young Princess Elizabeth was at home in London.
From 1980 to 2022 Leuralla housed a toy museum. It showcased a vast collection. The museum held rare toys games and models. Think tinplate trains airplanes zeppelins. There were even lead and elastolin figures. Model train layouts were complete with train stations harbors farms and military scenes. Characters from Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter were all represented. It was quite a collection. Even Nazi-themed toys were on display. The museum disclaimed and condemned their use. They were shown only for public knowledge. After closing in 2022 those toys were not included in the collection sale.
The Evatt family acquired Leuralla through marriage. Clive Evatt QC married Marjorie Andreas. His grandson managed the property. The Evatt family connection began then. They founded the museum. They displayed memorabilia of H V Evatt. Herbert Vere Evatt was Clive Evatt senior’s brother. He had his own home in Leura however. Leuralla’s story is a rich tapestry. It weaves together family history grand architecture and a remarkable collection of toys. This historic house Leuralla truly deserves its place in history.