Etham, on Darling Point overlooking Double Bay, was a grand house standing in 40 acres built in 1869 for James Sutherland Mitchell (1819-1893) a partner in Tooth's Brewery.

Mitchell demolished an old house called The Willows to build Etham but retained its natural pond, surrounded by willows, as a feature of the Etham garden which extended from Mount Adelaide to Carthona along the shore of Double Bay. Etham house was built on the edge of the slope fronting Double Bay.

"Mr Mitchell was a very handy and ingenious man, and a clever amateur carpenter, making many of the wooden fittings and carvings of the house". He also enlarged his original house, first with additional wings, then with a billiard room. The original ballroom, "enclosed with glass on both the north-east and south sides, which faced the whole frontage overlooking Double Bay" was also enlarged at a later date to nearly twice its original size. "To go to an entertainment at Etham", says Dowling, "was the ambition of all in the social world".

Mitchell's first wife was Elizabeth Carter Laidley (ca.1822-1868) second daughter of James Laidley (1786-1835) deputy-commissary-general and sister of Maria Mort of Mount Adelaide.

Mitchell died in 1893 the property was sold and the estate subdivided in 1900. The house was demolished in 1920.

Etham Estate was released for sale by the Estate of the late James Sutherland Mitchell in 1900-1903 and 1905. Mitchell was an Alderman (1873-1889) and Mayor (elected 1877) of Woollahra Council. He was in the Commissariat in Hobart and was a partner in Tooth and Co the Brewers. James Mitchell was not a relative of Thomas Mitchell. Following Mitchell’s death in 1893 his estate was subdivided and the house Etham was demolished in 1918-19. The land on which No 14 Etham Avenue is constructed was put up for auction as Etham Estate in 1901 and the remainder was auctioned again in 1903.

No 14 Etham Avenue was one of the 14 unsold lots from earlier auctions put up for sale in 1905. The property was purchased by Frank Kleemo who re-subdivided and sold off pt 5/6 lot B. Wynn Roberts and insurance broker is recorded as owner of Lot A pt 5/6 in the rate book of 1924. The existing house was constructed in 1926 to a design by the architectural firm of Morrow & DePutron. According to records held at Mitchell Library, Roberts commissioned the architectural firm Spain and Cosh to convert his residence to a double living unit.

Report in The Newsletter; 7 December 1901 Nearly everyone has admitted that Sydney Harbour is the most beautiful in the world, and there is no doubt there are some particular spots on its shores which may be described as the prettiest on earth. In this category stands undoubtedly Darling Point, where, fortunate to relate, nature has not been impaired by the handiwork of man. This delightful suburb of Sydney, thanks to its beauty and convenience to Sydney, has never fallen into vandal hands, but rather has been held from the very first by persons who had taste and the money at their back to indulge it. The one result has been that Darling Point has steadily held the premier place as the beauty spot of Australia. The whole Point is covered with splendid mansions and residences of handsome architecture, standing in beautifully laid-out grounds, and from every part has been preserved the enchanting view of the harbour to all points — with the ever-changing incidents of life upon its waters — steamers, ships, yachts, ferries, and craft of every kind. Now, through a turn in the wheel of fortune, the public hear that one of the choicest areas at Darling Point, the Etham Estate, is for sale on the 7th December instant. The property includes the magnificent mansion Etham, standing in 1 1/2 acres of ground, and Prudhoe, a substantial family residence, both fronting the harbour waters. In addition, and this concerns the general public, there are several building blocks, all with harbour frontages and of a size suitable for comfortable residences. Each gives facility for the erection of a salt-water bath — that most desirable healthful adjunct to a family residence, and in addition each block has uninterrupted front and view of the harbour. No such sale can ever take place here again, as the Etham Estate stands alone, the rest of Darling Point being held by residential owners. Messrs. Raine and Home and Messrs. Richardson and Wrench are the firms in whose hands the disposal of the estate has been placed, and from them all particulars, plans, etc., are obtainable.

Mr. James R. Lawson (Lawson and Caro) sold the valuable collection of Carrara marble statuary, oil paintings, and appointments, the property of the late Mr. James Sutherland Mitchell, at the Mansion, Eltham, Darling Point, on Wednesday and Thursday.

There was a big attendance and at times even the state rooms at Eltham were inconveniently crowded. For most of the lots good prices were realised, and the sale, taken all round, was considered as very satisfactory. Among the most interesting lots sold were:

In the entrance hall — Two life-size French bronze figures, 'Page and Maid of Honor,' £14 10s each (Mr. E. Besch) ; French bronze figure, 'Don Quixote,' 28gs; life- sized figure of a girl seated with pet doves, height of figure and column, 7ft, in pure Carrara marble, '49gs; 'Jephtha and His Daughter,' in Carrara,30gs (Mr. _E. Resch) ; two lots life-sized figures, inCarrara, 'The Mountain Shepherd,' and a female figure with three cherubs, height 7ft, signed A.Carrier, Belluese, 210gs (Mr. Jno. Hunter). It was stated that these two works were originally purchased in Rome at a cost of £1000. marble 'bust, 'The Laughing Faun,' 5gs; marble female bust, 17gs; marble bust by J. Nouckens,lOgs; marble figure. 'Young Bacchu.;,' 17gs;bust in Carrara, 'Fame,' signed 'E., Delia Nave, sculptor, Florence,' lags; a bust of 'Purity,' I£21. ? The Wilton- pile carpet, £26. Oil paint- jings: 'Australian Landscape,' by Louis Frank,1896, 29g6; 'Scottish Scene,' by C. F. M'Intyrs,6gs; 'Castle Scene,' by M'Alpine, lOgs; 'TheEastern Travelling Merchant.' 21gs; a gallery work, Grecian subject, by Le Brun, 32gs; Shipwreek and Lifeboat Rescue,' artist unknown,17%gs; 'Dunbarton Castle,' by M'Alpine, lQgs;'Australian Landscape,' by G. Ferrarini, 5%gs;'Island of Madeira,' by Breciano. 24g.= ; 'Mountain Sheep and Collie,' by J. C. Morris, 185S,41gs; Scottish coast scene, 'Kelp Gatherers,' byF. Y. Kinnaira, llgs; 'Cattle and Sheep Resting,'English landscape, by J. H. Carse, 1873, 21gs;seascape, artist unknown, 'Battleships Manoeuvring,' 27gs; watercolor drawing. 'The Prince of Orange,' by Count D'Orsay, 12gs; Cutler desk,£11; Ambery's index cabinet,. £8. The library of books sold at satisfactory prices, 21 vols. ofthe 'Encyclopaedia Britannica' realising 12gs.The content of the billiard-room! : comprising a carved table, by Thornton and Company, cabinete, cues, seats, gaseliers, chandeliers,raised platforms, billiard and pool balls,etc., were sold in one lot for£140, to Mr. E. Resch. A service of Venetian table glass, 17s dozen; a suite of heavily-cut English crystal table glass, from Oslor and Company,16. 4-12 dozen, at 61s per dozen; dessert and supper service, Garret and Copeland porcelain, 34pieces, £18 10s. E.P. ware: Punch bowl, £3 threecomport stands, £7; two candelabra, each four lights, 3gs each; four squat comport stands, £2each; two large candelabra, each twelve lights,Sgs each; large punch bowl, heads of Bacchus atsides, £9; four entree dishes, 3gs each; pair of breakfast dishes, 4gs each; a set of three large

Queen Anne oval salvers', 50s each; 4 9-12 dozen lily pattern forks and spoons, I6s dozen; 26 3-12dozen king's pattern (Elkington and Company),forks and spoons,' 35s per dozen; microscope, bySmith and Beck, £5; large mahogany sideboard,£13 10s; mahogany telescope dining table, £6;dining-room suite, - comprising 21 pieces, £21; gilt console table, 5gs; bookcase, £15; grand pianoforte in rosewood, by Steinit2 and Sons (purchased at the Melbourne Exhibition), £65; ballroom grand pianoforte, by R. Lipp and Sohn, of Stuttgart, £92 10s: fifteen pairs guipure lace curtains,6%yd long, 30s pair (Mr. W. Resch).

A small cellar of wines sold from 25s to 60s dozen, and the champagne at 70s dozen. The vehicles: Waggonette, by Ofiord, London, £51; brougham, built by Shanks of Long Acre, London, £77 10s (Mr. Vial); Victoria, by Hooker,' 35gs; and a private hansom cab, by Offord, £30.