Eric Pratten House

Robert Pymble, a settler and orchardist, was granted by the Crown in the parish (as later defined) of Gordon in 1823. Unlike many grantees of his time, Pymble became a permanent resident and pioneer of the region. He retained most of his estate for most of his life. It was not until 1882, when the district was beginning to expand to accommodate upper class dwellers from the city, that large-scale alienation of the Pymble properties took place. The projected building of the North Shore railway (begun in 1887 and opened from St Leonards to Hornsby in 1890) was a powerful incentive for development. Herbert Pratten and his half brother Frederick had migrated from England to Australia and started Pratten Brothers Printing. They were a successful firm, and were also involved in mining and manufacturing. Herbert Pratten became a leading national politician. He built a large house for his family in Telegraph Road. == Description ==

The house is set within a large corner site of on two titles. The Telegraph Road section of the site is fairly level, but Graham Avenue falls about from Telegraph Road. The house is sited near the western boundary on the highest part of the site. It is approached via a long gravel drive. The drive terminates at the stone and tile garage, which has similar detail to the main house. There is a secondary pedestrian entrance from Telegraph Road along a path behind the house to the kitchen and garage. The south-eastern part of the site drops off and a large pool is located there. It is not visually obvious from the house or the entrance. To the west of the pool and behind the garage is a private courtyard area defined by stone walls and largely screened from view due to the fall of the site. • 1960s-2000: some of the bathrooms and the kitchen were up-dated. The gardens were also amended somewhat • 2002: unapproved works undertaken: • a new (non) boundary fence built (potentially a new boundary fence); • new plants planted and established (altering current boundary structures); • new watering system installed; and • five bathrooms gutted. Further information Nominated by Ku-ring-gai Council with support of Walter Burley Griffin Society. == Heritage listing ==

As at 9 January 2008, the Eric Pratten house is important as Griffin's largest domestic commission in Australia. It was one of his last works before leaving Australia for India and completed by his associate, Nicholls. It is one of three large Griffin houses in Ku-ring-gai. The Eric Pratten house is important as a large Griffin designed residence, which includes the house within its garden setting. It is rare, as the majority of his residential commissions in Australia are relatively small houses, typically one storey. The house demonstrates a high level of technical competence and excellence, particularly related to stone construction in Australia during the 1930s. Eric Pratten House was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. The Eric Pratten house is important as Griffin's largest domestic commission in Australia. It was one of his last works before leaving Australia for India and completed by his associate, Nicholls. It is one of three large Griffin houses in Ku-ring-gai. Griffin is one of the most influential architects to work in Australia, coming here after his winning design for Canberra. Griffin had a very prolific career in Australia, designing a wide range of buildings from small shelters, houses, utilitarian buildings such as incinerators, major buildings such as Newman College, whole suburbs and towns. A noted characteristic of his work is a close connection with the Australian landscape. His later work is influenced strongly by Steiner's philosophies and the belief in anthroposophy. Donald Lesley Johnson, in his book "The Architecture of Walter Burley Griffin", holds the view that this house is a disappointment because it seems antithetical to the philosophies of architecture, landscape design and planning Griffin formulated and practised during his stay in Australia. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. The Eric Pratten house is important as a large Griffin designed residence, which includes the house within its garden setting. It is rare, as the majority of his residential commissions in Australia are relatively small houses, typically one storey. The house, formed from carefully articulated sandstone masses with battered walls, angular prows and deep reveals set beneath a series of sailing roofs in a re-interpretation of the Wrightian Prairie house. The design elements of the house demonstrate Griffin's ideas about spirituality influenced by Steiner and the concepts of anthroposophy. The Eric Pratten house is designed at the high point of Griffin's Steiner phase. The house demonstrates a high level of technical competence and excellence, particularly related to stone construction in Australia during the 1930s. == See also ==