John Verge

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John Verge (1788 – 1861) was born in Christchurch, Hampshire. Many generations of the Verge family had been bricklayers and stone masons. From 1804 to 1828 Verge worked in London in the building trade. In 1828 Verge migrated to Sydney, Australia with his son Philip intending to take up a land grant. He took up land on the Williams River, south of Dungog, New South Wales. Having insufficient capital to pursue pastoralism, Verge returned to the building industry between 1830 and 1837 before settling on 'Austral Eden', a pastoral property by the Macleay River in northern New South Wales.

Rockwall House, designed by John Verge, is one of Sydney's finest Georgian buildings. It was restored in 1995. One of Potts Points' few original Georgian mansions, is now overshadowed by modern apartment developments.

Verge produced a number of fine houses in Sydney's eastern suburbs including Tusculum, Rockwall House, Barham at Potts Point and Rose Bay Lodge. He also built Lyndhurst and Toxteth Park in the suburb of Glebe. Verge is also believed to have worked on Elizabeth Bay House built for Alexander Macleay, the Colonial Secretary. John Bibb who worked for Verge also worked on the project and James Hume from Scotland supervised the building. The relative contributions of Verge, Bibb and Hume are unknown. However, the beautiful oval staircase hall, perhaps the most celebrated interior in early Australian architecture, is attributed to Verge.

Verge's work was not confined to Sydney. 'Bedervale' homestead near Braidwood built in 1842 was designed by Verge. [1]

Verge was also commissioned by John Macarthur to build Camden Park House south of Sydney by John Macarthur, the wool pioneer and successful colonial businessman.