Retford House, a photo from New South Wales, East

Photographer's Note

Retford House is an old mansion (built in the 1870s) on the outskirts of Bowral, the next town south from where I live). It was built by a rich shop owner from Sydney. The area has always been popular with wealthy Sydney people due to the cooler summer climate.
The style is classed as "Italianate". Surrounding it are large well maintained gardens, with the whole place being owned these days by the National Trust.

Best in the large view.

papagolf21, holmertz, alvaraalto, alvaraalto, Royaldevon, ktanska, CMJC, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, worldcitizen, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (145016) 2019-11-02 23:48

Bonjour, cher Ian,
Une architecture très intéressante mélangeant différents styles rappelant l'Italie et l'Amérique !
Ce beau manoir ne manque pas d'élégance avec ce parc paysager aux topiaires parfaitement taillées.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jemaflor (125641) 2019-11-03 0:22

Hi Ian,
Beautiful house, well photographed with this alley, perfect colors and sharpness, interesting architecture, tfs.

holmertz (83260) 2019-11-03 1:11

Hello Ian,
It's a slightly peculiar house with a tower that doesn't really seem to fit the rest of the building. But it is well suited for photos, especially when these well shaped bushes are included. I probably like them better than the building.
Regards,
Gert

alvaraalto (38574) 2019-11-03 1:54

Hello Ian
A beautiful stately home in a special environment.
Shrubs of different sizes and colours, trimmed as half bulbs, make the garden extra attractive.
Beautiful classic POV that forms an excellent composition.
Well done
Have a nice Sunday, groet Rob

Royaldevon (64246) 2019-11-03 2:04

Hello Ian,

So you have a National Trust as well.
It's a good way to protect important buildings and make them available to the general public.
I like the approach to the house. These bushes are really rotund, sort of pompous but still welcoming!
I agree with Gert about the tower which doesn't really fit the style of the house. Maybe it says something about the owner, who wanted a house which was taller and grander than those around - a bit like the competition with skyscrapers!
Your crisp, symmetrical photograph creates a very effective guide.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

ktanska (36425) 2019-11-03 2:18

Hi Ian,
Beautiful old house with original style. Those covered balconies are surely useful on hot climate offering shadow. Those round bushes look quite funny actually.
Kari

Silvio1953 (191113) 2019-11-03 3:13

Ciao Ian, great view of fantastic house, superb sky, lovely symmetry, wonderful natural colors, fine details and splendid clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

BennyV (30376) 2019-11-03 4:38

Fascinating architecture, Ian, This must be a great place to visit. You've captured the house slightly off centre, with man in hat to balance it out. I like it. CHeers & thanks.

Benny

rychem (68021) 2019-11-03 6:25

A beautiful mansion in colonial style, a very good photo with nice symmetry regards Ryszard

Gerrit (56549) 2019-11-03 17:24

Hello Ian,
interesting view on this beautiful house and the strange round shrubs in front of it.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

Tue (71792) 2019-11-03 22:31

Hello Ian,
A beautiful mansion with many fine details around the façade. I really like the symmetry too, which is further enhanced by the large round bushes on either side of the path. The colours are very attractive, especially the warmer ones in front of the blue in the sky.
Lars

ChrisJ (152324) 2019-11-04 1:59

Hi Ian

Looks a bit like a reddish pink version of Como House in Toorak, only with a central tower addition. Good sharpness and attractive landscaped garden surrounds. Tfs!

GyurMaster (16618) 2019-11-04 14:02

Hello Ian,

Well, I would accept this home if someone offered it to me! The environment is really amazing and you used it very well to lead my sight towards the mansion.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

COSTANTINO (93376) 2019-11-04 22:41

Hello my friend Ian
excellent photo with great symmetry
thanks for your useful notes about
rETFORD house an old mansion
I like the whole scenery and the
style of the building classed as
Italianate..
welldone
regards
Costantino

worldcitizen (12758) 2019-11-05 13:20

Hello Ian,
This is a beautiful and elegant home. I like the symmetry, and the filigree on the porches. It's a lovely composition, with all the bushes and the earthy path leading our eyes to the house.

benbroug (811) 2019-11-05 23:02

Beautiful house well captured. Great composition, exposure, sharpness and color. Very well done!

macjake (92585) 2019-11-07 9:00

Hi Ian
So I take it there are tours available today? If so, I'd pay a few dollars to see its interior. the home looks very stately, and the decks are a wonderful addition. I wonder how it looked when it was newly constructed compared to today. great post, something different and very interesting. cheers
Craig