Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 47

From the collection of the National Library of Australia.
nla.gov.au/nla.map-lfsp40-s1

INSPIRATION

Courtesy of Sydney Living Museums.

An auction flyer for the land the Witches’ Houses were built on.

ABOUT
THE IVORY ROSE
The Witches’ Houses of Johnston Street, Annandale, which is the setting for
The Ivory Rose, were a row of eight Victorian–Gothic houses built by John Young
during the 1880s, many of which still stand.

VISIT THE WITCHES’
HOUSES
The Witches’ Houses in Johnston Street,
Annandale, are private residences but they are
worth a visit or at least some research on the
internet. Students can:
✓ Identify the Abbey, Kenilworth (where Sir Henry
Parkes lived) and Highroyd (similar to Rosethorne in
The Ivory Rose).
✓ Write a description of one of the real houses that
are still standing.
✓ Find historic photos of the houses and Johnston
Street from the nineteenth century.
✓ Visit some of the other settings from the book,
such as the back lane, Booth Street, the Hunter
Baillie Memorial Church and Breillat Street.

An ivory rose charm is the
beginning of a terrifying
adventure in 1890s Sydney in
this gothic ghost story.
Jemma has just landed her first
job babysitting Sammy. It’s in
Rosethorne, one of the famous
Witches’ Houses near where she
lives. Sammy says the house is
haunted by a sad little girl, but
Jemma doesn’t know what to believe.
One day when the two girls are playing hide and seek,
Jemma discovers a rose charm made of ivory. As she
touches the charm she sees a terrifying flashback. Is
it the moment the ghost was murdered? Jemma runs
for her life, falling down the stairs and tumbling into
unconsciousness. She wakes up in 1895, unable to
get home.
Jemma becomes an apprentice maidservant at
Rosethorne – but all is not well in the grand house.
Young heiress Georgiana is constantly sick. Jemma
begins to suspect Georgiana is being poisoned, but
who would poison her, and why? Jemma must find the
proof in order to rescue her friend – before time
runs out.

randomhouse.com.au/teachers 47