Ewenton, Historic mansion in Balmain, Australia

Ewenton is a four-storey stone residence at 1 Blake Street, Balmain, built in stages from 1854 to 1872. The original 1854–55 single-storey colonial house, Blake Vale, was incorporated into James McDonald's 1860 upper storey with an entrance portico and bayed, pedimented windows, and his 1872 three-storey stone wing. The exterior is heavily articulated with flat bas-relief decoration around windows with continuous sills and rare centre-holed top knots.

Robert Blake, a former military quartermaster sergeant, built the original single-story residence in 1854 before the property changed hands to Major Cameron. The 1872 addition significantly expanded the house to meet changing household needs.

The house name honours Major Ewen Wallace Cameron, who bought Blake Vale in 1856 and gave the nearby street its name. Nine of his twelve children with Sophia Usher were born here; her Mauritian background may explain the unusual upper-floor bay window. The stonework's curious window tops possibly reflect the family's overseas travels in 1886–8.

Ewenton stands at 1 Blake Street, Balmain, entered originally through gates at the end of the street; carriages turned south onto a high-level driveway past the south side of the house to stables and coach house below, while pedestrians descended steps in line with the main gate to a curving path and the entrance portico. The site slopes down toward Johnston's Bay, so the approach from Blake Street is the practical orientation point.

The stone window architraves and centre-holed "top knots" at Ewenton are extremely rare in Australian architecture. The detailing is unlike anything else by architect James McDonald, and may reflect the Cameron family's overseas travels in 1886–8.