Tulkiyan – Ku-ring-gai’s Arts & Crafts House

from the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society Newsletter, Oct-Dec 2026

If you were a member of KHS twenty years ago or more, you will recall the Society’s strong support for having Tulkiyan opened as a house museum; and then for the formation of a group
of volunteers, The Friends of Tulkiyan, to arrange tours of the house and garden, which ran very successfully between 2004 and 2012.


However, many Ku-ring-gai residents – and KHS members – have barely heard of this unique community asset, closed to the public for the past fifteen years.


Dating from 1913-14, Tulkiyan at 707 Pacific Highway, Gordon, is a fine example of the Arts & Crafts-influenced work of the architectural practice of Waterhouse and Lake. The house, its intact contents, gardens and plantings are a tangible reminder of a time when the railway came to Ku-ring-gai, changing its orchards into suburbs.

Miss Margaret Donaldson, the last surviving member of her family, who had lived in the house since she was ten years old, bequeathed the property to Council in 1985 for the use of the people of Ku-ring-gai. On her death at the age of ninety in 1994, Council came into full possession.

It has taken over two years to sift through the boxes of Friends’ materials from 2004-2012 – to locate the original text, mine the archives, select images for scanning, and to work with a designer and printer.

We have now produced a fully illustrated 50-page commemorative book as a record of the Friends’ work. If you are a former Friend – or know someone who was – please email Jocelyn at josbh@hotmail.com for your complimentary copy.


Following the Society’s AGM on Saturday 17th October, a limited number of commemorative gift packs will be available at the KHS display case in the corridor outside the meeting room. Each gift pack of tea towel and greeting cards ($20, cash only) comes with a complimentary copy of the book. Stocks are limited. Proceeds will go to dignity.org.au, a charity supporting homeless children, women and men.

The official book launch will then be held in conjunction with Gordon Library and Kuring-gai Historical Society on Friday 13th November at 2 pm.


by Jocelyn Brennan-Horley and Beverley Dunstan
Former Friends of Tulkiyan

Notice of Motion by Cr Taylor, 29 May 2026:

NM.1 Tulkiyan House – Future Ownership and Long-Term Financial Sustainability

Notice of Motion from Roseville Ward Cr Alec Taylor, dated 29 May 2026

FOKE:

• Objects to minimal maintenance costs, and allowing this State Heritage listed property to be run down (destruction by neglect).
• Strongly urges that the site be reopened to the public as a house museum.
• Preserve Ku-ring-gai’s heritage
• FOKE remains concerned for the future of ‘Tulkiyan’, 707 Pacific Highway, Gordon, owned by Ku-ring-gai Council.
• Tulkiyan is State Heritage listed, designed by architect B.J. Waterhouse in 1914 and is one of the most significant Arts and Crafts designed houses in NSW. ‘Tulkiyan’ also has intact interior and contents dating back to pre WWI. Read more HERE
• Roseville Ward Cr Alec Taylor moved a Notice of Motion at the Council meeting on Tuesday 16 June 2026, that proposed to investigate options, including an independent market valuation to determine to retain, outsource or sell the property.
• email councillors@krg.nsw.gov.au calling on them to protect Tulkiyan and open it as a house museum