Yaralla a matter of trust
Fiona Brady
09Apr08
Concord Heritage Society secretary Lois Michel outside historic Yaralla in Concord. Picture: DAMIAN SHAW ALD20796
PLANS to move a health unit from the historic Yaralla estate have raised hopes the site can become more accessible to the public.
The mansion in Concord is only open to the public twice a year but there are calls for regular markets and open-air concerts to be allowed on the site.
The house is currently used as a dialysis unit by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital but the unit is to be relocated to Camperdown later this year.
"We would like to know what the (Sydney South West Area) health service intend to do with it afterwards," Concord Heritage Society secretary Lois Michel said.
"This is the perfect opportunity to see an updated conservation management plan put in place so that Yaralla is looked after for the people of NSW."
The estate is historically significant because it incorporates an entire 1790s grant within its boundaries.
The land was originally granted to Isaac Nichols, a convict-turned-businessman, who became the colony's first postmaster in 1797.
The estate was also home to one of Concord's most important families, the Walkers, for almost a century.
After Dame Eadith Walker's death in 1937, the estate became vested in the Crown under the Walker Trusts Act 1938 which gives the health service responsibility for the control, management and administration of the estate.
The terms of the Act mean the site is to be used for benevolent purposes. Because of the expensive dialysis equipment, the house is only open twice a year but crowds of more than 400 regularly turn up to these open days.
"People are very interested in Yaralla and more and more people turn up every year," Mrs Michel said.
"All the money raised goes towards the upkeep of Yaralla.
"If the health service is not going to make use of the property, the proper thing to do would be to set up a trust.
"Over the years we have tossed around ideas of ways we could make it pay for itself such as holding concerts or markets."
Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas said he would support moves to open up the site and he praised the Concord Heritage Society for their efforts to preserve Yaralla.
He said he would be willing to act as an intermediary between the health service and the Heritage Society to discuss future plans for the site.
A spokesman for the Sydney South West Area Health Service said the dialysis unit would be moved to RPA Hospital in Camperdown.
"Due to the heritage listing of the Dame Eadith Walker building the haemodialysis unit cannot be refurbished to meet appropriate building standards and safety requirements needed in a modern acute dialysis unit," he said.
"It is yet to be decided how Sydney South West Area Health Service will use the Dame Eadith Walker building in the future."
Take a trip back in time
SEE the unique house and grounds of Yaralla for yourself this Sunday at an open day organised by the Concord Heritage Society.
The society will be running 45-minute tours of the house from 10am.
Bookings are essential.
Tours of the grounds will also be running throughout the day, but there is no need to pre-book.
For the first time in more than 30 years, sections of the India Room have been returned to the estate for people to see.
A large selection of old photographs of the estate will be on display in the old stables complex.
Devonshire teas will be for sale in the 1870s dairy, which was refurbished last year by a team of volunteers.
House tours cost $15 for adults, $10 concessions and children are admitted free.
Phone 9744 8528 or visit www.concordheritage.asn.au to find out more about the estate and the day.
