 Joan Kerr writes, "It was one of the grandest houses in Australia and certainly the grandest of this baronial Gothic type.Its demolition was an appalling loss..." Henry Gilbert Smith, the founder of , was a favourite client whilst Blacket was in private practice, having designed his Georgian house, "Fairlight House", two versions of the Style Hotel (both since demolished), and St Matthew's Church (also demolished), all in the Manly area.Blacket also built several Anglican Church rectories, most of which are in a simple, asymmetrical, Gothic Revival style with gables and some Gothic detailing in the bargeboards and verandas, such as those at Berrima and Bega.