Nobody keeps statistics for these things, but in the 30 years that Eschol Park House was run by the Masina family more than a thousand weddings would have been celebrated at this historic Campbelltown mansion.
Seeing what it looks like now, you might think that’s a fanciful claim.
But the fact is this jewel in Campbelltown’s history that’s been allowed to fall into heart-breaking disrepair in the past few years hosted thousands of us at weddings and other celebrations.
My own family had a wedding there in 2004, and a 60th birthday party in 2013, as well as countless delicious meals in the restaurant at Eschol Park House.
From 1991 to 2019 this gem was owned by a Croatian migrant family, the Masinas: Joe, Maria and the two boys, John and Paul, and they made up a brilliant hospitality team for all occasions.
The other “member’’ of the team was Eschol Park House itself, a beautiful Georgian building dating back to 1816, and magnificent gardens all around the built structures.
Joe and the family were respectful of the building’s historic significance, ensuring any improvements and additions were compatible with the integrity of the original architecture – and various changes over almost 200 years.
By 2019 Joe and Maria were getting a bit long in the tooth and decided to retire and return to the old country, Croatia, to spend the remaining years of their life.
Eschol Park House was sold to hospitality company Navarra Venues Group, and pictured above is what it looked like at the time.
It’s a fact that the Covid years that followed, with harsh restrictions imposed on large gatherings, would not have been kind to the new owners.
But that doesn’t account for the lack of security around the property, which has enabled intruders to vandalise a place Campbelltown Council includes in its heritage register.
Nor does it account for the lack of maintenance of the gardens around the building.
No wonder the community is outraged at both the vandalism of such a historical gem as well as the failure to try to stop it.
Eschol Park is not on the State Heritage Register, but it’s never too late to act on that.
Hopefully some action will happen before it’s too late and there’s nothing to save at Eschol Park House.
Thanks Eric. It’s a disgrace to see it looking like it this. A lot has been made of the iconic Paragon Cafe in Katoomba and its demolition by neglect. This is similar and Campbelltown Council should act.
I am shocked and appalled to read that this Campbelltown heritage landmark has been left to wrack and ruin.
What kind of so-called business people surrender their investment to vandals and the elements?
There should be a time limit for them to do something with it or face the penalties.
The Paragon is another tragedy, which has become an eyesore and fire hazard on Katoomba Street and is having a detrimental impact on surrounding shops.
Surely it’s better to have a pop-up shop or an artist studio to have a presence there, rather than leave it at the mercy of miscreants?
I walked by this last week and was shocked at the dreadful condition it is in. I can’t believe that this home is not on the historic homes registry. I also thought I saw a sign for a development application. Hopefully not as a property like this should be preserved.
Well done reporting on this !