Last week I visited Nutcote, the home of May Gibbs. Surprisingly (well, for me), I didn’t have to go far – it’s just in Neutral Bay! Tucked away in a quiet spot, away from the main thoroughfare of Military Road. You’d be lucky to walk by it if you weren’t looking for it.
Most of us would be familiar with May Gibbs’ work. I well remember reading Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and Bib and Bub in the school library. She was both a writer and very talented illustrator and painter. Her books reflected her desire to give Australian children fantastical characters they could relate to, like the fairies and goblins of her English childhood.
She arrived in Australia at the age of four and lived in Western Australia and South Australia, before settling in Sydney after a visit to England. Nutcote was built in 1925 to May Gibbs’ strict specifications for a simple, practical home. Architect B J Waterhouse created just that – it’s a beautiful house, with the central living area looking over the water at Neutral Bay. There are plenty of examples of Gibbs’ work, and wandering through the perfectly manicured garden gives you a good insight into her inspiration for so many of her characters.
The guides at Nutcote House are volunteers, and they’re passionate about May Gibbs and her work, and preserving it for future generations. One of the volunteers at the house mentioned that Australia doesn’t really have much of a literary heritage, which is why it’s so important that the history of our great writers is preserved, and I agree. She was also lamenting the apparent reluctance of ‘kids these days’ to read, especially classics like Snugglepot and Cuddlepie – all the more reason why our literary landmarks are so important.
And Nutcote is one that is well worth visiting, if only for the lovely gardens and view over the harbour. Entry is only $8 for adults and $3 for children. You can get more details from the website.
I’m now on the lookout for other local literary hotspots so if you have any suggestions, let us know.
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