Richmond Villa, Gothic Revival villa in Millers Point, Sydney, Australia
Richmond Villa is a Gothic Revival house designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis, now standing on an artificial rock shelf on the east side of Kent Street, Millers Point. Its asymmetrical plan and fenestration contrast with the zig-zag lattice detailing of the ground-floor veranda. The building was dismantled and re-erected here in 1977.
Mortimer Lewis bought three plots behind Macquarie Street facing The Domain in 1849 and built Richmond Villa there as his own home, one of the few residential works by the colonial architect. Leased to tenants including George Neville Griffiths from 1876 to 1893, it later served as an annex to NSW Parliament House until 1975. Dismantled for Parliament House extensions, it was re-erected on Kent Street, Millers Point, in 1977.
Richmond Villa is the office of the Society of Australian Genealogists, which moved in after the house was rebuilt on Kent Street. The name comes from Mortimer Lewis's own naming of his home, built on land he bought behind Macquarie Street in 1849. From 1876 to 1893 the house was leased to George Neville Griffiths, member for East Sydney from 1882 to 1885.
The building currently houses a genealogy society that offers historical research materials and documentation services. Visitors should be aware that access depends on the operating hours and activities of the organization based there.
Richmond Villa was dismantled in 1977 to clear the way for extensions to Parliament House, then re-erected on Kent Street in Millers Point. Its heritage listing cites it as a rare example of careful dismantling, re-erection and adaptive re-use of a state-significant building.
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