Tarella is a heritage-listed former residence and now business premises located at 3 Amherst Street, Cammeray, North Sydney Council, New South Wales, Australia.

[2][1] Tarella was originally the house of Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott KCMG, a former speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1880-1900.

[2][1] A file on Tarella held in the North Sydney Stanton Library Local History Unit has a photograph taken in 1899 that does not show the two Canary Island date palms.

[1] Front lawns and garden, with fountain and iron gates (relocated) from the historic St John's Anglican Church, Parramatta.

[1][7] In 1982 the then owner John Hawkins sought North Sydney Council approval of a rezoning proposal to allow the house to be used as professional offices by architects Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs.

North Sydney Council opposed any rezoning, citing concerns at gradual loss of its residential areas particularly sites such as this.

It decided that while it was aware of North Sydney Council's policy aimed at preventing further alienation of residential land in the municipality, it considered that the building is of such heritage significance that it would support proposals to rezone the site for uses compatible with the heritage significance of the building and which would ensure its retention and maintenance.

North Sydney City Council's Independent Planning Panel refused a development application for this use in April 2015 on several grounds.

[10][1] The house is set well-back from the street frontage on a large site, with a serpentine drive through extensive lawn area, framed by trees and shrub plantings.

[6][1] There is a large semi-formal garden between the painted iron palisade fence on the Amherst Street boundary and the house.

[14] The pond, fountain and relocated iron gates appear to date from later in the twentieth century, possibly during the Hawkins ownership era.

[1] Interior features are substantially intact, including a grand timber staircase and main entry lobby with a large stained glass window about the stair landing, 13 marble fireplaces and fine door/window joinery.

[15][1] A two-storey stable building, modern-built during the Hawkins ownership in sympathetic quasi-Gothic style is behind the house, facing a laneway.