In 1840 Philip Gidley King arranged for Strzelecki to visit Welaregang and wrote to Hay: "I fancy your zeal for such excursions will induce you to accompany him".

When Hay was elected Speaker on 14 October 1862 Governor Sir Henry Young reported that he was of the "very first standing in the Colony in point of fortune, manners, education and character".

Believing that the duty of the council was to assist the government unless some important principle was involved, Hay was unremitting in his efforts to get "laws passed in the best form possible".

[1] Hay had many honorary duties: besides speaking at innumerable banquets he was vice-president of the New South Wales commissions for exhibitions at Philadelphia, Paris, Sydney and Amsterdam.

In the Freeman's Journal, 16 September 1882, "Cassius" discerned his 'pragmatical shrewdness apt at a moment's notice to degenerate into meanness, a vision very narrow, but very sharp, a reverence for No.

The area contains a remarkable diversity of very old ornamental and particularly Australian rainforest and Pacific Island species, believed to reflect the early influence of Guilfoyle's plantings dating to the middle of the 19th century.

The sandstone boundary wall to New South Head Road was found (on inspection by experts) to have convict markings showing it could be traced back to early residential developments in and around Sydney Cove.

[9][1] Overthorpe house's panelled rooms were the setting for many gracious parties and balls over the years and notable personalities entertained there included the Duke of Edinburgh.

[12][1] Overthorpe was a large two-storey Federation mansion (demolished in 1981) built in c. 1900 and acquired in 1915[7] for William Anderson who had made his fortune in the hat trade.

[1] The property presently contains two Mirvac apartment buildings, centrally located and towards the rear (south of the block), which replaced the original two storey federation mansion in 1981.

[13][1] Located below the ridgeline and Edgecliff Road, the site's elevated position visually presents a lush vegetated hill slope dominated by massive rainforest (tree) canopies and emergent Araucaria (pines).

This very sheltered location, with deep sandy soils and a north-easterly aspect, has one of the finest and most equitable micro-climates in the Municipality, allowing maximum development of sub-tropical and even tropical species.

The area contains a remarkable diversity of very old ornamental and particularly Australian rainforest and Pacific Island species, believed to reflect the early influence of (Michael) Guilfoyle's plantings dating to the middle of the 19th century.

palms, together with the front stone wall form an important element within the streetscape occurring on a prominent sweep of New South Head Road rising on the western side of Double Bay.

The original sandstone block retaining walls that form the sides of this service drive are an important aesthetic and historic element of the grounds.

[15][1] The curved approach drive from the New South Head sandstone pillar and timber entrance gates is framed by a magnificent evergreen magnolia /bull bay (M.grandiflora) providing a vista to the house and entry flanked by low fan palms and banana-like bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia spp.)

Similarly the tradesmen's' approach has been skilfully integrated into the overall landscaping plan by screening it with a tree-planted earth bank to create a separate sunken cutting which runs around the perimeter of the gardens to the rear service entrance and the garages.

These palms are frequently in association with equally mature plantings of ornamental species including:[18][1] From New South Head Road, near the intersection with Manning Road, the dominant canopy is from a large holm/holly/evergreen oak (Quercus ilex) from the Mediterranean immediately adjacent to one massive and rare fig tree, small leaved fig (Ficus obliqua) on the western boundary where the driveway enters the property.

Another feature grouping of two closely planted specimens in the front garden display magnificent buttressing and a mass of coalesced aerial roots.

[20][1] Apart from the generally larger figs and dominant palm groves, this property contains many individual component and mature specimens of great botanical significance.

[25][1] Apart from the generally larger figs and dominant palm groves, this property contains many individual component and mature specimens of great botanical significance.

[20][1] Trees and palms identified as significant were:[1][5] 3 x small leaved figs (Ficus obliqua) (of only 4 specimens in Woollahra LGA, one other being at Babworth, Darling Point); 2 x Moreton Bay figs (F.macrophylla) in the south-eastern corner (one overhangs the car park of "Bibaringa" adjacent at 349 New South Head Road) 1 x coolamon / water melon / rose apple tree (Syzygium moorei)(and two progeny of this tree, in the site's western side; 1 x silver quandong (Elaeocarpus kirtonii) in the eastern side of the site among the palm grove; 1 x Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) also in the eastern side of the site among the palm grove.

Mixed palm groves dominated by:[26][1] A large Port Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa) over 130 years old on the southern border of the property.

), the spore production of which impacts on some of the residents, dwarf/pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii), bird-of-paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae) and birds nest ferns (Asplenium australasicum) are in the gardens constructed immediately adjacent to the buildings in the 1980s.

[1] A large Port Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa) over 130 years old on the southern border of the property, overhangs "Arlington", 351 New South Head Road.

The collection of mature trees with their massive canopies has created a micro-environment indistinguishable from a natural sub-tropical rain forest and a truly unique environment unmatched in the Municipality of Woollahra.

[1] Located below the ridgeline and Edgecliff Road, the site's elevated position visually presents a lush-vegetated hill slope dominated by massive rainforest canopies and emergent araucarias.

This very sheltered location with deep sandy soils and a north easterly aspect has one of the finest and most equitable micro-climates in the Municipality allowing maximum development of sub-tropical and even tropical species.

[1] Apart from the generally larger figs and the dominant palm groves, the property contains many individual component and mature specimens of great botanical significance, including a large chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) and bull bay/evergreen magnolia (M.grandiflora).

More commonly cultivated rainforest species such as Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii), Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolium) and black bean (Castanospermum australe) are all present in these gardens.