[2] On 6 April 1798, George Johnston received a land grant of 172 acres (70 ha) in the district from Governor Hunter.

[2] It was on the 12 acre lot at Marquee Point, at the junction of Prospect Creek and the Georges River that Johnston built a simple timber farmhouse building.

[2] David Johnston married Selina Willey in February 1836 and the couple resided in Georges Hall.

However, the land was prone to flooding and it is likely that this led to the construction in 1837 of a new house called Georges Hall, today known as The Homestead.

[2] Arthur continued to reside at Georges Hall with his wife until he died in 1907 when he was found in his bedroom having shot himself with a pea rifle.

It was then sold to Robert Harvey Layton and during this time the remaining 100 acres was subdivided and a subdivision planned known as the Deepwater Estate.

Its location on the rise above the river and floodplain, demonstrates the settlers' adaptation to their environment, standing on ground above Henry Lawson Drive in Lionel Street, and was the home of the Johnston family until 1917.

While the architect and builder are unknown, The Homestead that David Johnston built is typical of many Colonial Georgian country homes with a low pitch all encompassing roof and a detached return verandah form on an elevated masonry base.

The original part of the house is of symmetrical design with wide verandas to three sides enclosing four large rooms, a hall and pantry.

The attic has four large rooms lit by attractive dormers having arched transoms with curved glazing bars.

The roof is now covered with Marseilles pattern tiles and Edwardian brackets have been added to the veranda posts but the house is otherwise intact and in very good condition.

[8][2] Even in its reduced curtilage today, the house retains its traditional relationship to Prospect Creek (over Kentucky Reserve, Henry Lawson Drive and the Murrumbeena Regional Park to Dhurawal Bay), and to the site of the earlier homestead (lost due to regular flooding).

[2] The estate (in much reduced form) is relatively intact, in particular the immediate surrounds of the homestead, its relationship to the river, and some remnant landscape elements such as early plantings or their progeny.

Species include spotted gum (Corymbia maculata), forest red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus molle) (one tree to the rear of the house could be as old as the house), white cedar (Melia azederach var.

A trumpet creeper (Campsis grandiflora) twines up the trunks of the pepper trees, again a common plant in 19th century gardens of this type.

[2] The estate is relatively intact in a much reduced form, in particular the immediate surrounds of the homestead, its relationship to the river, and some remnant landscape elements such as early plantings or their progeny, and a recreated carriage loop on the site of the old one.

[2] The building is a well-proportioned symmetrical rectangular mass modulated by timber columns and a regularly spaced window pattern.

Wall construction was the finest quality sandstock bricks of a red and blue mottle and laid in lime mortar.

The unusual half second storey breaks the roof structure into two along the centre of the house providing the support at the ridge between the two principal chimneys.

The Crossings and later the Beans tried to update the property by re-roofing with terracotta tiles and replacing the verandah details with Art Nouveau columns and brackets.

The semi-circular fan light at the rear door and the unusual gothic sashes of the attic windows are fine examples of the influence of Regency design.

The steep and narrow staircase leading to the attic bedrooms is typical of the style of colonial stairs built in this period.

It is a fine example of Australian Georgian architecture and retains many of its former qualities and characteristics typical of its period and style.

[2] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

It is a fine example of Australian Georgian architecture and retains many of its former qualities and characteristics typical of its period and style.

[10][2] Even in its reduced curtilage today, the house retains its traditional relationship to Prospect Creek, the site of the first Johnson land grant and the first homestead.

[2] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.