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THE DINING ROOM
Across the hall on your right, is the dining room. This room is large and of elegant proportions,
being nearly the classic "double cube" so beloved of the Georgian Architects.
On the wall to your right as you enter are portraits of Mr & Mrs Crawley by R. Ryan.
Directly opposite the door is a massive and important bookcase made of Australian cedar by
Harry T. Jones of Old Racecourse Road, Parramatta in 1884 and signed by him. Jones was a
noted Colonial cabinet maker who worked in Parramatta from the early 1860's until 1895.
The carving is boldly designed and finely finished; the tongue and dart frieze around the upper
arcade of the bookcase being particularly successful.
In the center of the room is a colonial cedar extension dining table, c.1840. It is 12 feet long by 5
feet wide and contains only four solid timbers in its top, carefully cut in matched boards from
one log. The legs are handsomely fluted and carved, and have large brass castors. The twelve
dining chairs and two carvers surrounding the table are English, of mahogany, c.1850.
At the far end of the room is the sideboard, a handsome piece in Australian cedar, c.1875.
Against the wall stands a cheffonier of Australian cedar c.1835 with flame grained door panels.
Hanging from the ceiling is a large bronze and ormolu gasolier, with cut glass prisms, c.1860.
While the original lighting would have been oil lamps, a carbide gas plant, making acetylene
gas was installed in the house in 1902. All but one of the original fittings were destroyed.
On the wall opposite the fireplace is a large Australian oil, "The Grange Road", Adelaide by
E.H.Braggs, c. 1902.
At the end of the room hang a pair of portraits in pastel c.1860. Works in this medium of such
size and superb quality are of great rarity and they are worthy of close attention.
On the mantelpiece stands a large marble clock, a pair of "Marley" horses and a very ornate pair
of luster vases and double row "dumbbell" drops.
