Juniper Hall

Overview

The charmingly titled Juniper Hall, also known as Ormond House, dates back to 1894. That's when its construction began under gin distiller Robert Cooper, who clearly inspired its more recent moniker.

Unique in its design given its Old Colonial Georgian style, it features an upper balcony which looks directly onto the heart of Oxford Street. Located a stone's throw from the idyllic Paddington Reservoir, the majestic mansion was restored to its original state in 1988, when the modern shops and houses in front of it were also removed.

A sight to behold alone, the Paddington site currently plays host to the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize exhibition of photographs and portraits. Here, you can take a step back in time — and out of the hustle and bustle of city life — while losing yourself in an afternoon of art, stories and imagination, and soaking in a slice of Australian history as well.

Images: Kitti Smallbone