Reussdale is a heritage-listed home in Bridge Road, Glebe, Sydney. It was long neglected, but has since been restored as a home. It is regarded as possible the earliest example of "High Victorian" architecture in Glebe, with a mixture of Gothic and Italianate influences. It has heritage listings at both federal and state level.
History
Reussdale is part of a significant heritage group that originally comprised four buildings. They were constructed by Ferdinand Reuss (pronounced Royce), a British civil engineer. After leaving Britain, Reuss (1821–1896) spent some time in the US but came to Australia in 1851, attracted by the Victorian gold rush. Before long, he moved to Sydney and set up an architectural practice in Pitt Street. By 1863 he was living in Hereford Street, Glebe (Glebe was by this time known as the architects' suburb because a number of successful architects found it an attractive area.) He became prolific as an architect and builder, constructing a group of houses in Bridge Road during the 1860s and 1870s. The group consisted of The Hermitage, a two-storey dwelling which became Reuss's own home, where he lived from 1866–1896; a cottage known as Hamilton, after Sir William Hamilton; a next-door house called Alma Villa; and Reussdale itself, constructed in 1868. He may also have built Mon Repos, the large, two-storey house directly opposite Reussdale.
In 1927, the Presbyterian Church demolished Alma Villa to make way for a church. The latter had originally been located at the junction of Glebe Point Road and Parramatta Road. It had been designed by Thomas Rowe and built circa 1881, but by 1927 it had to be moved to a new site. It was taken down stone by stone and transported to the former site of Alma Villa. Reussdale was then used as the church manse, while Hamilton was adapted by the church as a community hall and school. Much later, the church was deconsecrated and then acquired in 1977 by the De Carlo brothers, who converted it to a restaurant and function centre. This business ended circa 2003; the church, Reussdale and Hamilton all went into decline and became derelict.
By circa 2010, however, other parties had taken an interest in this notable group. Reussdale was restored and sold as residential accommodation; the abandoned church, which had been used by squatters, was also restored and offered for sale. Hamilton, which had deteriorated badly, was demolished.