55 Newcomen Street

Newcastle NSW 2300

The end result is a commanding, yet private residence of over 400m2, boasting 6 bedrooms and large living areas over the 3 storeys of the brick and concrete construction home.
Prior to ???Elgin???, the only other property to grace this sought after inner city site of approx 904m2 was called ???L'Abri??? built in 1839 - 1841. ???L'Abri??? means shelter or sheltered, and so it was for over 100 years until it fell into disrepair and was subsequently demolished. The site sat vacant behind the high front fence for decades until ???Elgin??? arose as only the 2nd house to ever grace this address. ???L'Abri??? has been referred to as Newcastles oldest residence.
The original residents of ???L'Abri??? are still very much a part of Newcastles history. Dr George Brooks, and his family, are buried in the grounds of the Newcastle Cathedral just across the Road. They haven't moved far at all after George Brooks first major move from Scotland landing in Sydney on October 1819. George Brooks arrived in Newcastle in 1822 to take up the position of Assistant Surgeon at the General Hospital.
George Brooks was an interesting character by all reports. He purposely had no windows facing the street in ???L'Abri??? and the tales that explain this are many. It is thought he did so to avoid paying 'Window Tax'. The tax scheme that charged by the window by the government of the day. The tax was repealed in 1851. Apparently he painted windows on the high front wall (fence) as his own humorous protest against the tax.
So today ???Elgin??? proudly occupies this interesting site with plenty of windows to enjoy an outlook to the harbour, ocean and a lovely tropical bush panorama that is its own backyard.
Perfectly located adjacent to Newcastle Grammar School and Christ Church Cathedral, it is only a short stroll to the CBD, Newcastle Beach and the Harbour. I'm sure if Dr. George Brooks were alive today he would jump at this rare opportunity to acquire this magnificent residence.
No other property offers more than this location, size, quality and convenience of both this home and land size. Together they are incomparable to any other home and land in Newcastle.