The Hermitage Restaurant records

MLMSS 12227

fonds

approximately 1941-1999

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera, Architectural and Technical Drawings

957942

0.32 metres of textual material (2 boxes)

The Hermitage Restaurant, a French restaurant founded in 1942 by French immigrants Henry and Jeanne Renault, was located in the former Paling's building on Ash Street, Sydney. Jeanne Renault managed the front-of-house, while Henry Renault served as the chef until he shifted focus to set up his wine import business Renault & Co. in 1947. For sixteen years, The Hermitage Restaurant also served as the meeting place of the Wine and Food Society of New South Wales, hosting regular Tuesday lunches and bi-monthly "ladies' night" dinners. In 1956, Jeanne Renault opened another restaurant, L’Hermitage Restaurant, on West Esplanade, Manly. The Hermitage Restaurant on Ash Street closed its doors in June 1957.

References:
Dictionary of Sydney. “The Hermitage.” Accessed 5 November 2024.
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/organisation/the_hermitage#ref-uuid=009c434c-ab57-de48-a31f-6b669e7ba266

Dictionary of Sydney. “Renault, Jeanne.” Accessed 5 November 2024.
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/person/renault_jeanne#ref-uuid=5ffcf6ba-c554-4b90-a3b5-ed79ccce60b6

The Wine and Food Society of New South Wales. “A Brief History of The Society.” Accessed 5 November 2024.
https://www.wfsnsw.org.au/colors/our-story.html

BOX 1

Folder 1: The Hermitage Restaurant, approximately 1942-1954
Mainly includes menus, some annotated and signed, for shareholder annual meeting dinners and other occasions at The Hermitage Restaurant. Also contains notices relating to specimen menus and rates for receptions and private functions; The Hermitage Restaurant’s à la carte menu, including a draft version with inserted newspaper clippings concerning wartime menu price limitations; architectural drawings (4) relating to The Hermitage Restaurant kitchen layout and ductwork.

Folder 2: Staff records, approximately 1943-1957
Ledger ‘Hermitage Restaurant Sydney. Staff records’

Folder 3: Visitors’ book The Hermitage Restaurant Sydney, 1954-1957

Folder 4: Photographs, approximately 1940s-1980s
Photographs (15) and photographic postcards (2), mainly of The Hermitage Restaurant interior and events, as well as portraits of Jeanne Renault. Most photographs contain annotations on verso identifying events, locations and individuals, including Henry Renault, Jeanne Renault, John Keith (Johnnie) Walker. Contains a duplicate.

Folder 5: The Wine and Food Society of New South Wales, approximately 1941-1989
Mainly contains menus, some annotated and signed, for various dinner occasions hosted by the Wine and Food Society of New South Wales, including at The Hermitage Restaurant, Princes Restaurant, Kinneil Restaurant; 1952 functions calendar; ‘Information for members’ booklet. Also contains a Wollongong Wine and Food Society dinner menu (‘by Madame Jeanne Renault for Ladies’ Night’) with accompanying correspondence addressed to Jeanne Renault, 1965.

Folder 6: The Wine and Food Society of New South Wales - The Hermitage Restaurant lunches, 1951-1957
Notebooks with reviews by members of the Wine & Food Society of New South Wales relating to the Society’s weekly lunch at The Hermitage Restaurant:
- ‘Wine & Food Comments – April 17-September 25, 1951’, 1951-1952
- ‘Wine & Food Society Luncheons from: 17th February 1953 to: 23rd February 1954’
- ‘The Wine & Food Society Luncheons at the Hermitage Restaurant 1954’, 1954-1957


BOX 2

Folder 1: L’Hermitage Restaurant; Renault & Co.
- L’Hermitage Restaurant, Manly, approximately 1956-1961
L’Hermitage Restaurant’s à la carte menu, as well as the restaurant’s inauguration dinner menu, and dinner menus for Christmas and New Year.
- Renault & Co. (H. Renault Pty. Ltd.), approximately 1950s-1960s
Mainly trade and price lists for ‘wine, spirits and liqueurs’ and ‘choice canned foods, delicacies, confectionery, etc.’.

Folder 2: Miscellaneous material including correspondence, approximately 1944-1999
Includes menus, some signed, for various dinner occasions (Mount Pleasant winery, 1944, 1953; Society of Gourmets at Rhine Castle Cellars, 1948, 1952; The Winebrite Wine and Society, 1967-1971); correspondence from Adolph Wilhelm Rudolph (Rudi) Buring to Henry Renault (1946); correspondence to Jeanne Renault, including from Harry Messel (1956); biographical notes about Henry Renault, Florence Lockey by Jeanne Renault; notes, booklets and brochures relating to wine, cooking and recipes; pencil drawings of cooks and waitresses by unknown; ink drawing by H. Lahm relating to snails.

Folders 3-4: Various restaurant menus, approximately 1946-1960s
Menus and wine lists of various restaurants in Sydney and overseas, including in Egypt (Cairo) and United Kingdom (London). Also contains menus by Qantas Airways, and department store Mark Foy's.

Folder 5: Maurice O’Shea, approximately 1953-1994
Mainly contains brochures, newspaper clippings and correspondence relating to Australian winemaker Maurice O’Shea, winery Mount Pleasant, and the inauguration of the Maurice O’Shea archive at Newcastle Region Public Library, including invitations received by Jeanne Renault to the O’Shea archive inauguration and Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Award Dinners. Also contains a photograph featuring Jeanne Renault at the Maurice O’Shea archive inauguration ceremony (1990).

Folder 6: Newspaper clippings, approximately 1942-1999
Newspaper clippings, including photocopies, mainly relating to wine and food; The Hermitage Restaurant; Wine and Food Society of New South Wales; John Keith (‘Johnnie’) Walker.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder