LEURALLA: 43-69 Balmoral Road, Leura.
Garden courtesy of Victor Evatt
Victor’s great grandfather, Ehenriech Phillip (Harry) Andreas (1879 – 1955), purchased the property he named Leuralla in 1905. Harry set about establishing a European style garden across the 2.5 hectare holding and built a large dwelling for his growing family. In late 1909 an ember from a bushfire landed on the timber shingled roof and burned down the home. Much of the emerging garden was saved from the 1909 bushfire. The current home was completed in 1914 on the previous house site with the garden taking centre stage. The formal garden lay out was originally designed and created by Harry Andreas; then later on, Paul Sorensen worked with Harry to enhance the existing plan.
In 1954 Leuralla was purchased from the Andreas family by Clive R Evatt Snr (1900 – 1984), my paternal grandfather. Grandfather Clive married Marjorie Andreas (1903 – 1984) in 1928. Marjorie was the eldest child of Harry and Alice Andreas. Marjorie (Grandmother Evatt) was not a fan of introduced species and preferred the native flora which were a feature of her own garden located in Wahroonga. As a child, Marjorie must have looked beyond the fence of Leuralla across to the escarpment of the Jamieson Valley at the native plants and trees with wonder. Her childhood garden must have appeared a foreign world from the natural symphony of the surrounding native plants.
Following the change of ownership in 1955 the garden was largely left to run rogue when the pruning, weeding, raking, sweeping and mowing was paused for some 29 years. This was the garden of my childhood. An enchanted forest of incoherent and unruly trees and shrubs where children could vanish into a secret world of adventure. Cubby houses, forts and magical lands with tall trees to be climbed and conquered. Truly the stuff of any Enid Blyton novel. Many happy memories are held from that time.
In 1984 Leuralla began to transform into a museum with a growing collection of antique toys the feature exhibits. The property eventually became the NSW Toy and Railway Museum. The museum was a grand hobby of my late father Clive Evatt Jnr (1931 – 2018). The garden was partially tamed to its current state by his 2nd wife Elizabeth and became a feature of the museum. The museum closed in 2022.
As you wander through the garden try to get a sense of the magic it once held for the children who played there. Many of the large trees that inhabit the grounds were planted by Harry Andreas. You may pass beneath the 111 year old Blue Spruce that stands guard in the circular drive or marvel at the two 100 + year old Bunya pine trees. There are three infant Sequoias toward the end of the driveway; also planted by Harry Andreas that are around 100 years old. Venture off the path into the still wild areas dominated by some 100 plus unruly 100 year old Radiata pine trees. There too is no shortage of azaleas and rhododendrons that are like cloisters that adorn the paths. Head to the meadow beyond the old stables where the horses rested in the shadows. You may be lucky enough to catch the blue bells flowing. Find a seat, be still and add your solace to the past.