A superb house called ’Boomerang’ is situated right on Sydney harbour at Elizabeth Bay. In Australia the distinction betweeen Spanish Mission, Mission Revival and Spanish Revival is blurred. Boomerang has been variously described as "Spanish Art Deco", "Hollywood Spanish", "Hollywood Fantasy" and "Spanish American." The quality and richness of the design clearly defines it as Spanish Revival architecture. There are obvious Moorish influences.

This is how the house was described in the April 1930 edition of Australian Home Beautiful magazine, "Rumor has it that the house cost over sixty thousand pounds to build. To the average man, this may seem a fantastic sum to spend on a building which is neither a hotel nor a golf-club, but merely a home - and a suburban home at that."

The house was commissioned by the music publisher Frank Albert, who lived there until his death in 1962. It was named after the brand of his popular songbooks and a range of mouth organs. Not much is known about the British architect Neville Hampson. It is said he travelled to Europe and California for inspiration but no records have been found. Today the house is a private residence and listed on the State Heritage Register.

According to a report in "Fine Houses of Sydney" the design inspiration for Boomerang is one of the three guest houses A, B & C at Randolf Hearst’s Castle, San Simeon in California.

PRESERVATION:
An agreement with Sydney City Council allows residents and visitors to see the house and gardens from the front street one day per year. At other times the driveway gates prevent easy viewing.

REFERENCE:
Private Sydney
Jenna Reed Burns, Co & Bear Productions, London, 2000
Fine Houses of Sydney
Robert Irving et al, Methuen, Sydney, 1982
Caroline Simpson Library
and Research Collection, Sydney