[2][1] Tempe Estate formed a deliberately modified natural element, identified as "Mt Olympus", which included Australian shrubbery, and created a suitable backdrop for a house in a picturesque setting.

[3] The riverbanks were developed to lay extensive lawns, and as the property was only accessible by boat at the time, a wharf was constructed to accommodate guests; however, it was not completed until 1838.

[4] The house after completion was used extensively for entertainment purposes and the scenic gardens included up to fifty differing varieties of grape vines from France, which also attracted horticultural awards.

[5][1] The construction of a dam between 1839 and 1841 was built from quarried stone in the surrounding cliffs by convict labour, and served to enhance the Estate's already splendid views.

The dam allowed the area to be linked to the city by road, leading Spark, in 1841, to construct a carriage drive, a new coach house, stables and grooms quarters.

A new Chapel was constructed in 1888, adjacent to the house, and by 1900, over one hundred people worked a daily routine in the laundry operations and an inquiry into the refuge over unpaid wages was settled in favour of the Order.

The landscape was deemed to be of greater significance than the buildings associated with the Good Samaritan Order and subsequently, they were demolished with the exception of the Chapel and the iron fencing.

They are important for their association for one hundred years with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and for their framework of mature plantings, particularly the early Olea europaea subsp.

The windows are symmetrically positioned on the facade, as are the semi circular verandahs with Tuscan timber columns situated either side of the central stairway.

The parlour and dining room both feature colonial marble fireplaces and French windows with large areas of glazing for optimal views of the river.

The interior of the Chapel consists of mainly one large room, with the altar stretching the width of the building, and has an ornate balustrade of wrought iron and timber.

[1] As the only remaining building from the long period of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Order's ownership, the St. Magdalene's Chapel, is of high social significance and represents the philosophy and religious beliefs of what was a large and rare charitable institution operating throughout the late 19th and 20th century.

[1] The garden and grounds of Tempe House, on the Cooks River, at Wolli Creek are of cultural significance on a State level for their siting and development by A.

They are important for their association for one hundred years with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and for their framework of mature plantings, particularly the early Olea europaea subsp.

[1] Tempe House & St Magdalenes Chapel was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

The house and gardens of Tempe Estate remain uniquely intact, which offers a rare opportunity for understanding the cultural history of New South Wales.

Spark, a wealthy entrepreneur of the 1830s also built Tusculum at Potts Point, (now the headquarters of the NSW Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects).

The picturesque ideal involved contrasting tamed expanses of open landscape with clusters of rough or "wild" outcrops of rocks or stands of trees.

Tempe House was placed to take advantage of the ideal romantic and picturesque site on the Cooks River with the "Mt Olympus" knoll as backdrop.

[1] The open space leading to the Cooks River provides views of the surrounding area and Fatima Island that are integral to the landscaped scheme and are of considerable aesthetic importance.

The "Olympus Knoll" and exposed cliff face beside Princes Highway and the open parkland from the river combine to give the site landmark qualities.

Spark, who was active in establishing the local community and the St Peters Church and entertained extravagantly, adds to the social significance of the house.

It represents not only the religious devotion of the Sisters living on the site, but also the philosophy of repentance drining the charitable works that governed the operations of the "Retreat" during the extensive period of the Order's ownership.

Contemporary interest in the remnant estate, including the natural vegetation on Mount Olympus clearly demonstrates the value attached to the gardens and grounds as an integral component of Tempe House.

[1] The archaeological remains on the site have the potential to provide evidence associated with not just Spark and his family but also with the large number of servants and convict staff used to establish and maintain the estate.

[1] The analysis and interpretation of the archaeological remains from this site should provide evidence of the material culture of the various occupants of the house as well as contributing to the understanding of the design and development of gardens in colonial Sydney.

[1] The analysis of the underfloor deposits should be able to add to our knowledge about identification of socio-economic status, gender relations and other areas of substantive archaeological research.

[1] Location of structural remains of outbuildings associated with Tempe House will add to and improve our understanding of the layout of early colonial estates.

The integrity of the twelve acres of land immediately surrounding the house offers a rare opportunity for the appreciation of a picturesque aesthetic as designed in the early nineteenth century.

Some of the areas of research that are germane to historical archaeology are questions relating to: This article is copied from This Wikipedia article was originally based on Tempe House & St Magdalenes Chapel, entry number 00725 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.