Eryldene aims to be accessible to all visitors.  

Getting around the garden: The site slopes gently from south to north.  

Eryldene ‘s garden is largely as it was when the Professor and his family lived here, with winding garden paths of historic flagstones and bricks.

Most parts of the garden are accessible without steps, via sandstone paved paths and across our lawns. However, our historic paths are uneven, narrow and winding in places.  

There are two short sets of steps and a gently sloping stone ramp with low steps up to the lawn tennis court.  

Some paths, such as the path at the back of the garden study has been made unsafe by the roots of the giant angophora, and is closed to visitors.  Similarly, the terra cotta flagged paths beside the teahouse are closed.  For your safety please respect our light bamboo barriers.

Companion Animals: Because paths are not wide and the garden contains many rare plants, dogs are not usually welcome at Eryldene. If you require a guide or assistance dog, please contact Eryldene ahead and we will be happy to make special arrangements.

Lavatories:  There are two original lavatories on site: one in the 1914 gentleman’s outhouse, and the other in a 1934 extension at the back of the house, used by ladies. Neither were designed to be accessible for wheelchairs.

Access to the house interiors: The house is able to be visited by guided tour with one of our knowledgeable volunteer guides.  At present, considering the Covid risk, tour groups are limited in numbers, and we request the use of masks.  The tours provide fascinating glimpses into the family life of Professor EG Waterhouse, a scholar, connoisseur, internationalist and horticulturalist.  

The house itself is accessed up a flight of eight stone steps to the front verandah and the front door.  House tours begin here.  Because some of the carpets are over 100 years old, visitors are asked to wear the shoe/foot covers provided.

Wheelchair and limited access to the house is through a door from the back courtyard where there are two shallow steps to the threshold and a movable ramp.

Bags and cameras: Because the rooms are modest in size and contain objects from the Waterhouse family’s collection with which they embellished their living spaces, bags and cameras need to be left inside the front door before the tour can begin. The front door is then securely shut and cannot be opened from the outside once a tour is in progress.

Photography is not permitted inside the house. 

Directions to Eryldene Historic House and Garden:  

Eryldene is a short 300 metres walk from Gordon Railway Station on the eastern side of the railway, past the Hardy Wilson designed Gordon Reserve to McIntosh Street, and the long white picket fence of Eryldene is easily discernable from the corner with Werona Avenue.  

There is a carpark beside the railway at this corner with Werona Avenue and at weekends there can be parking available on both sides of McIntosh Street outside Eryldene.  We endeavour to place witches hats by the gate entrance to allow passenger drop off before the car is parked elsewhere.

Any questions?

For more information about current site access and to ensure you have the most enjoyable visit possible, please contact our team via phone on 02 9498 2271 / 0422 596 292 or email us at eryldene@eryldene.org.au

Please note that our volunteers aren’t always in the office - they might be out pruning the camellias - so please leave a voicemail if you don’t get through.