Burdekin House columns

Burdekin House was once described as one of the finest buildings in New South Wales and one of the sights to see when visiting Sydney.

It was a grand 3-story house built in 1841 for wealthy merchant Thomas Burdekin and located on Macquarie Street, across the road from Parliament House. When demolished in 1933, several architectural elements were saved including the columns that adorned the front verandah. These columns then went on a journey, enduring two demolitions and several changes of ownership. Their story tells us much about heritage in 20th century Sydney and the extreme pressures associated with a growing city.