Gil & Elizabeth Clarke. 1975.

Yester Grange was very badly run-down by 1975 when it was purchased by Gil and Elizabeth Clarke. Gil and Liz, who ran the successful Gallery 98 in Cronulla, had been searching the mountains for some time intending to create an Art Centre.

At that time the main house still had its original paint and the garden was totally overgrown, with the magnificent views completely obscured by radiata pines and great areas of blackberries.

Gil and Liz put many years of hard work into the property but the days of having staff in the house and the grounds were long gone and it was a huge undertaking. Nevertheless they succeeded splendidly in their work towards restoring the house and garden towards its former glory.

They set up Yester Grange as a Victorian Museum filled with antiques, memorabilia and historic watercolours and prints. Downstairs in the cellars they created a gallery of modern art and ceramic pottery.

During Gil and Liz's time at Yester Grange over half a million visitors, many from overseas, were also able to 'take tea' in the ballroom where Liz's freshly-made scones were reputed to be 'the best in the universe'. Gil and Liz retired in 1999 after almost twenty five interesting and rewarding years at Yester Grange.

PREVIOUS | NEXT

Blue Mountains 1788 | Charles Darwin 1836 | The Yester Grange Estate 1878
John Charles Smith 1888 | Sir John See 1902 | Biography of Sir John See
Margery & James Anderson 1944 | The Crockett Group 1999

Yester Grange Historic House & Estate
Enquiries: PO Box 7027 Leura NSW 2780
Tel. (02) 4757 1110    Fax. (02) 4784 2510

About Yester Grange | Wedding Receptions
Cottage Accommodation | Contact Us | Home

Site Design © Millennium Management Services