A connection with 'Nutcote"

Website of Nutcote - home of May Gibbs
http://www.maygibbs.com.au/

Francis Edward De Groot, forever famous for illegally slashing the ribbon prior to the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by Premier Jack Lang on 19th March 1932 was a friend of James Ossoli Kelly, the husband of May Gibbs.

James, known to family and friends as J.O. had married May in Perth at Easter in 1919.  After first renting accommodation in Neutral Bay, they then purchased a harbour side block of land in Wallaringa Avenue and requested the well respected architect B.J. Waterhouse to design a home suitable for their lifestyle.  Named ‘Nutcote’, J.O. and May entertained guests with some style.  Among these guests were Frank De Groot and his Wife Bessie who became a close friend of May’s [A copy of May’s portrait of Bessie hangs in the dining room at Nutcote.]

De Groot, Irish with a background of military activities during World War 1 emigrated along with his wife to Australia in 1920 and settled in Sydney where he set up an antique / furniture business and later a factory at Alexandria where 100 workers were employed to reproduce ‘Queen Anne’ furniture and the more popular William Hepplewhite style.

In early 1931 this hot headed individual, aware of the plans being set for the official opening of the Harbour Bridge became interested then involved with the ‘New Guard’, a royalist group formed on the 16th February 1931 by high ranking officers of the AIF in the Imperial Services Club in Sydney.  This immediately popular volunteer membership consisting of mainly ex-service men recruited in a very short time 87,000 members.  Aviator Charles Kingsford Smith was one of them.  The New Guard, royalist supporters of King George V and his Australian based Governor General objected strongly to their NSW State Premier John Thomas Lang’s plans to open the bridge himself.  His government was Labor and communist orientated.  However, as the day drew closer to the 19th March 1932 most members had decided that there was nothing they could do about it.  Except for De Groot who managed to borrow an ex-racehorse, charge up, slash the ribbon and yell on behalf of the New Guard “I declare this bridge open in the name of the decent citizens of New South Wales!”  The rest is history.

It is believed that Bessie was with May at Nutcote that day probably more than uneasy as to what exactly her husband was up to.  It is not known where J.O. was that day.

Being one of the Nutcote’s volunteers it adds to the wonderful story of May Gibbs’s life to stand with visitors on the verandah overlooking Neutral Bay, point towards the west to the soaring arches of the Harbour Bridge and connect Nutcote with its historic opening.

Nutcote, at 5 Wallaringa Avenue, Neutral Bay is open to visitors Wednesday to Sundays from 11am to 3pm with the last admission at 2.30pm. 

Ferries run from Wharf 4 every half hour [except every 2 hours on Sundays, and a
2 minute bus ride or 10 minute walk takes you to Wallaringa Avenue. 

Enquiries email: enquiries@maygibbs.com.au

If anyone would like to become a volunteer please contact the editor for
Mary Small's contact details.

Nutcote, home of May Gibbs, author of ‘Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie’