Caerleon, a red-brick mansion nestled in Bellevue Hill, quietly holds the title of being Australia’s first home built in the Queen Anne style, a design that would later shape much of the country’s Federation architecture.
A New Look for 1880s Sydney
Caerleon was completed in the mid-1880s for Charles B. Fairfax, a member of the well-known Fairfax family. At a time when most Sydney homes were built in the Gothic or Italianate styles, Caerleon marked a significant shift in taste and ambition. The house was one of the earliest signs that Australia was developing its own take on European design movements.
The Bellevue Hill home was named after the small town of Caerleon in Wales, a place famed for its Roman fortress and rich historical legacy. Its Welsh name (Caerllion) literally means “fortress of the legion”—an apt moniker given the town’s significance as a Roman military base. According to heritage records, Fairfax chose this name for his new Sydney home, likely to evoke the grandeur and historical weight associated with its Welsh namesake.
While Sydney architect Harry Kent created the first plans, they were later reworked in London by British architect Maurice Adams. The redesign caused some quiet tension. Kent’s contributions were overlooked in an exhibition in England, even though he remained the one who supervised its actual construction. This behind-the-scenes dispute never became a public scandal, but it shaped how the project was remembered within architecture circles.
A Home with a Distinct Personality
Unlike the uniform facades of other grand homes of its time, Caerleon stood out with its red brick walls, terracotta tiles, and timber detailing. It featured elements such as steep gables, tall chimneys, stained-glass windows and verandahs trimmed in timber, features that were then considered new and even risky. Over time, these would influence a whole generation of domestic architecture in New South Wales.
The home sits on a slope above the harbour, offering views that were rare when it was first built. Its Queen Anne style became widely admired and set a pattern followed by many other homes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Protected for Generations
Recognised for its cultural and architectural significance, Caerleon is listed on both the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the former Register of the National Estate. These listings ensure that key elements of the home are preserved, not just for its owners but for the community and future generations to learn from.
While private, the house remains a quiet part of Bellevue Hill’s local identity. It reminds residents of the suburb’s place in the story of Sydney’s development, especially as heritage protections become increasingly important amid modern redevelopment pressures.
A Quiet Return to the Headlines
Caerleon drew national attention in early 2008 when it sold for $22 million, one of the highest private home sales at the time. The buyer was media executive Lachlan Murdoch, whose purchase added a modern chapter to the home’s long story. The sale confirmed Caerleon’s status not just as an architectural icon but also as a major property of interest in Sydney’s competitive high-end market.
Despite its celebrity connection, Caerleon has remained out of the spotlight. Neighbours know it not for the headlines but for its long-standing presence—unchanged, dignified, and steeped in the area’s local memory.
Published 21-July-2025
