Abercrombie House facts for kids
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Abercrombie House is a beautiful old home with a rich history, located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in the 1870s by the Stewart family, who were important pioneers in the Bathurst area. This grand house is considered very special because of its history and unique design.
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A Special Historic Home
Abercrombie House is listed on several important heritage registers, like the National Trust Register and the New South Wales Heritage Register. It's known as an amazing example of Victorian Tudor style architecture. The house is built from granite with sandstone details around the windows. It has two main floors and an attic. One of its most striking features is the many curved gables on the roof, topped with decorative iron spikes.
Who Owns Abercrombie House Today?
The house and its surrounding 50 acres of land are currently owned by the Rex Henry Morgan Family. Since 1969, the Morgan family has worked hard to restore the house to its original beauty. Today, Christopher Morgan and his family live in Abercrombie House.
The Stewart Family: Builders of Abercrombie House
James Horne Stewart: The Original Owner
James Horne Stewart, the son of William Stewart, built Abercrombie House. Construction began in 1870 and took eight years to complete. When it was finished in 1878, the house was first called "The Mount." James lived there until he passed away in 1920 at 95 years old.
James was born in 1825 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He moved to Australia with his family when he was ten years old in 1835. In 1855, he married Harriet Eliza Boyce in Sydney. Harriet was the daughter of the Reverend William Boyce, a very well-known clergyman. James and Harriet had five children together: three sons and two daughters.
James was known for being a kind landlord to the farmers who rented land from him. During times of drought, he would cut their rents in half. This helped families avoid too much hardship.
Athol Stewart and the House's Decline
When James died in 1920, his son Athol took over managing the property. Athol was born at Abercrombie House in 1867. He married Frances Helen McDougall, who was called Helen, in 1905. After his wife passed away in 1927, Athol closed up the house and moved to Sydney. The house remained empty for many years and slowly started to fall apart until the Morgan family bought it.
The Morgan Family: Restoring a Landmark
The house was purchased in late 1968 by Rex Morgan AM, MBE, and Mary Morgan. They bought it from James Stewart's great-grandson. Rex Morgan is a famous educator who has received national honors three times.
A condition of the sale was that the house's name had to be changed. The Morgans chose "Abercrombie House." This name referred to the local area, Abercrombie Shire. It also honored General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, who William Stewart had served under in the 1790s.
The Morgans immediately began a full restoration of the house and property. In 1969, they started offering public tours of the house. These tours continue to this day, allowing many people to experience its history.
The Historic Gates of Abercrombie House
The secondary gates at Abercrombie House are actually much older than the house itself. They were brought from Toxteth Park in Sydney, which is now St Scholastica's College. Toxteth Park was built in 1829, so the gates likely date from around that time.
Toxteth Park was the home of Sir George Wigram Allen. He was the brother-in-law of Harriet Stewart, James Horne Stewart's wife. In 1901, Toxteth Park was sold to the Good Samaritan Sisters. They wanted to bring gates from their old convent to the property. This meant the gates from Toxteth Park were no longer needed. So, they were moved to Abercrombie House.
In the early 1900s, Arthur Wigram Allen, Harriet's nephew, visited his relatives at Abercrombie House. Arthur's mother, Lady (Marian) Allen, was Harriet's sister. Arthur took a photograph of the gates, noting that they came from Toxteth Park.
Abercrombie House in the Edwardian Era
Arthur Wigram Allen was a well-known lawyer in Sydney. However, he is most remembered for the many photographs he took. These photos are now kept by the NSW State Library. An exhibition of some of his work, called "An Edwardian Summer," was held in 2010-2011 at the Sydney Museum.
When Arthur visited his aunt at Abercrombie House during the Edwardian era (early 1900s), he took several photos of the property. These pictures give us a glimpse into what life was like at the house over a hundred years ago.
Images for kids
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Abercrombie House in 1909. From left to right are Ethel Allen (Arthur Allen's wife), Harriet Stewart, Albyn Stewart (Harriet's son), Helen Austin (a friend of the Allens) and Miss Lindsay.
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A room in Abercrombie House in 1901.
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A carriage outside Abercrombie House in 1901.
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Harriet Stewart in 1909.
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Frances Helen Stewart (called Helen), wife of Athol Stewart, 1909.
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Distant view of Abercrombie House in 1909.
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Gates at Abercrombie House that came from Toxteth Park 1909.
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Abercrombie House 1901. View 1.
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Abercrombie House 1901. View 2.
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Abercrombie House 1901. View 3.
