Interview Recording
Interview Transcript
John Stowar and Dennis McManus interviewed on 16 March 2025 by Lyn Barrett
Synopsis
Hillview is a property at Sutton Forest in the Southern Highlands of NSW. It was in years past the retreat of the Governors of NSW. After many years in private ownership it has now been acquired by the Kings Foundation with the promise of revitalizing and re-purposing this historically significant residence and garden.
This interview is the story of two friends, John Stowar and Dennis McManus who have known each other since their university student days in Sydney, and how their interests and expertise converged at “Hillview”.
The interview was conducted by Lyn Barrett on 16 March 2025.
Both Dennis and John trained in town planning but then their careers diverged. Dennis had a significant career in planning in NSW, particularly in heritage planning but he also had an interest in gardens since childhood. John undertook further studies in landscape architecture and planning following a stint as a high school science teacher. Subsequently his career incorporated working in local government, teaching horticulture and landscape architecture at TAFE and at universities, writing for publications and for books as well as having television roles.
Both Dennis and John were closely involved in the history of “Hillview”; Dennis through his important roles in heritage management and NSW state planning and John through his work in rehabilitating the gardens. John used the garden at Hillview as part of his teaching of horticulture students and even supervised volunteers from the Berrima Correctional Centre who worked on the gardens.
Local AGHS members also contributed to the maintenance of the gardens and did fundraising for grants to support this project.
John and Dennis were enthusiastic about the announcement in October 2024 that the languishing historic property with its residence, cluster of buildings, gardens and farming land was to be acquired and managed by the Kings Foundation charity. They said they could not imagine a better outcome.