Bruce Manor Formerly Pine Hill

34 Pinehill Drive, Frankston

History
Built: 1926
The Sydney firm of architects, Prevost Synnot and Rewald, designed Pinehill for the Prime Minister of Austrlia at that time, Lord Bruce.1 The two-storey house was built on 20 acres in 1926, at a cost of £20,000, under the supervision of architect Robert Bell Hamilton.2 At the time of its construction, the house was situated on what had been a 400 acre property on a hill two miles from Frankston. It was surrounded by extensive stands of wattles and pine trees.3 It is not known how long the house remained in Bruce's possession, but Bruce did not live in the house for long, as he left Australia for England in 1932 and only returned for brief periods until his death in London in 1967.4 The majority of the original estate has become part of the Frankston Golf Club.5 Pinehill is now called Bruce Manor and became a special accommodation house early in 1970.6

Stanley Melbourne Bruce was born on 15 April, 1883, at St. Kilda, Victoria, the youngest of five children of John Munro Bruce and his wife, Mary Ann, nee Henderson.7 His father became a partner in the softgoods importing firm of Paterson Laing and Bruce in 1878.8 The family returned to Australia in 1891 and lived in Toorak.9 Bruce was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, where he became school captain in 1901. In that same year his father died.10
In 1902 Stanley Bruce returned to England to attend Cambridge University. He graduated as Bachelor of Arts in 1905, then continued with the study of law, training with Ashurst, Morris & Crisp, a leading firm in commercial law, and read for the Bar.11 He was appointed acting chairman of Paterson, Laing and Bruce in October, 1907, and was called to the Middle Temple the next month.12 His appointment as chairman was confirmed in 1908 and so he lived for a time in England. The company prospered under his leadership. He returned to Australia in 1910. In 1913, at Sonning, Berkshire, Bruce married Ethel Dunlop, daughter of Andrew George Anderson. Ethel was to be is closest confidant.13

At the outbreak of the Great War he returned to England and joined the Worcester Regiment in January, 1915, then became a captain in the Royal Fusiliers. He fought at Gallipoli and Suvla Bay, twice being wounded and winning the Military Cross in 1915 and the Croix-de-Guerre in 1916.14 He was invalided back to England in 1917. Bruce returned to Australia in 1917 to take over as general manager.15

Bruce secured National Party endorsement in the by-election for the Federal seat of Flinders in April, 1918.16 He became a member of the House of representatives for Flinders on the 11 May, 1918.17

Bruce resigned his position as Managing Director of Paterson, Laing & Bruce on accepting the office of Treasurer in the Hughes Cabinet on 21 December, 1921.18 Stanley Bruce became Prime Minister on 9 February, 1923, at 39 years of age.19 He conceded five of the eleven ministerial portfolios to the Country Party and his first priority was always to maintain the coalition between the National and Country Parties. He was the architect of the most powerful and durable alliance in Australian Politics.20

The establishment of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research which was to find scientific answers for producers' problems was one of Bruce's outstanding successes. It became one of the finest research bodies in the world.21 Lord Bruce moved towards firmer commonwealth control of the economy and a new tariff policy which gave protection to only manufacturers capable of making a strong economic unit and opened the rest of the market to British goods.22 In 1927 Bruce established the Loans Council in which the Commonwealth assumed responsibility for the States' capital and their interest payments, while the States were required to negotiate all borrowings through the Council.23 Bruce also oversaw the move of Parliament and some government departments to the Imperial and Economic Conferences in 1923, and the Imperial Conference in 1926, where he was an outstanding figure.24

On 22 October, 1929, the Nationalists lost government and Bruce lost his seat.25 At the December, 1931, election he regained the seat of Flinders, but in 1933 Prime Minister Lyons, seeing Bruce as a threat, forced Bruce to become High Commissioner in London, a position he held until 1945.26 Bruce had a fine reputation as an international statesman, winning concessions at Oltowa from the United Kingdom on meat quotas, gaining access to the British money market to renegotiate loans which reduced interest payments substantially and chairing many United Nations conferences, for which he was widely acclaimed.27 In 1947 Bruce was created a Viscount and remained resident in London until his death on 25 August, 1967.28

Description
Once set at the end of '…a tortuous country lane which winds through fields fragrant with coastal wattle.' Pinehill stood out 'like a jewel that has strayed from its setting,' or so wrote J. Nicholls in a contemporary building magazine.29

It had 'buff pink' walls, vivid blue shutters and doors, and variegated roof tiles (red and black Cordova pattern) in a strong show of colour which contrasted with its rural setting. It was described as 'quasi-Spanish' in design, with its courtyard or piazza planning, arcaded verandah and combination gable and hip roof form. The front flagstoned courtyard had two semi circular lily ponds flanking the approach to the elevated arcaded entry. Central to the upper walls, overlooking the courtyard, was a 'Juliet' balconette with French doors and delicate wrought-iron balustrading. This allowed appreciation of the sea vista from the main bedroom. Similar ironwork was used as window grilles. Inside the provincial theme was expressed in timber paneling (Queensland maple), with heavy stained ceiling beams aiding in the rich dark setting so valuable in providing a backdrop for fabrics and rugs. Split-face brickwork used to face the fireplace was another element designed in the craftsman/provincial manner. A similar 'masculine' theme was emphasized in Bruce's den, where his desk, rowing oars and books prevailed among the rich timbers and fabrics.30

External Integrity
Today all but the tile colours have changed externally and the trees have matured, but otherwise the building is near original.

Context
Just as the house originally seemed misplaced among the Frankston hills, the adjacent housing development is unrelated visually, but he immediate mature landscape aids in the site's cultural expression.

Significance – Study Grading A
Architecturally, the house is a complete (internally as well as externally?) and successfully designed example in the relatively small group of large houses designed after the Mediterranean influence (Spain, Italy) which contains a distinctive stylistic elements such as the Cordova pattern of roof tiles, paved piazzas, piazza fountains, a 'Juliet' balcony and arcading. It also retains some of its original landscape setting: of State importance.

Historically, significant as a creation for an important national figure – although this is slightly limited by Bruce's short period of residence: of State importance and National interest.