Ahimsa, Cheltenham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ahimsa, Cheltenham |
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Verandah of Ahimsa, March 2015
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| Location | 67 Cobran Road, Cheltenham, Hornsby Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Marie Byles |
| Owner | National Trust of Australia (NSW) |
| Official name: Ahimsa; Ahimsa; The Hut of Happy Omen; Sentosa | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 1 March 2002 |
| Reference no. | 01494 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
| Builders | Marie Byles |
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Ahimsa is a special house and meditation spot in Cheltenham, Australia. It was built in 1937 by an amazing woman named Marie Byles. The name Ahimsa means "peace" or "non-violence" in an ancient language, reflecting Marie's beliefs. This place is also known as The Hut of Happy Omen and Sentosa. Today, the National Trust of Australia looks after it. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because of its historical importance.
Contents
The Story of Ahimsa
In 1935, Marie Byles bought a piece of land in Cheltenham. A few years later, she designed and built a small house there. The house was made from simple materials like fibro and wood. It blended in perfectly with the surrounding bushland. Marie only had a small vegetable garden near the house. The rest of the land was left wild and natural.
Marie Byles: A Remarkable Woman
Marie Byles was born in England in 1900. She studied law at The University of Sydney. In 1924, she became the first woman in New South Wales to work as a solicitor (a type of lawyer).
Marie was very passionate about protecting nature. She loved mountaineering and explored mountains in places like Norway, China, Canada, and New Zealand. In 1938, she even led an all-women team to climb a high peak in China, but bad weather stopped them. In Australia, she worked hard to create what we now call national parks.
Protecting Nature
Marie was an early member of The Sydney Bushwalker's Club. She helped draw attention to the beautiful wilderness around Maitland Bay. She became a Trustee for Bouddi National Park. She even organized groups of bushwalkers to help maintain the park.
Marie also started the Beecroft-Cheltenham Civic Trust. This group worked to close roads and plant native trees in the area. She worked with others to remove weeds and always used organic gardening methods. Marie lived a simple life. She always slept outside on her open verandah. She never drove a car and walked everywhere, often with a backpack.
A New Path: Meditation
In 1941, Marie was on a bushwalk when someone got sick. She carried their heavy pack along with her own. This damaged her feet permanently. After this, she could only do short walks and couldn't climb mountains anymore.
Marie had always been interested in Eastern religions, especially the ideas of Gandhi. Her injury gave her more time to read and write about these topics. In the late 1940s, she started meditating. She even traveled to India and Burma to learn more. In the 1950s, Marie built a small hut in her garden. She called it The Hut of Happy Omen. She let meditation groups use this hut.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1966, Marie was physically assaulted while sleeping on her verandah. She was badly hurt but chose not to press charges against her attacker. After recovering, she returned to live alone at Ahimsa. She continued to sleep outside. Marie stopped working as a lawyer in 1970.
In 1970, Marie gave her property to the National Trust of Australia. She continued to live there as an Honorary Curator. She even planned to add a small detached room for the next person who would live there. Marie Byles passed away at Ahimsa on November 21, 1979.
What Ahimsa Looks Like
Ahimsa covers about 1.3 hectares (about 3.3 acres) of land. It is next to a much larger bushland area called Pennant Hills Park. The plants here are typical of the dry bushland found in this part of Sydney. The land has many flat sandstone rocks and small cliffs.
Buildings at Ahimsa
The property has a few buildings:
- Ahimsa: This is the main house. It's a small one-bedroom home made of unpainted fibro and wood. It has a pitched roof with terracotta tiles. Inside, there's a brick fireplace. A large open veranda faces north, looking out over the valley.
- The Hut of Happy Omen: This is an open shed made of unpainted fibro. It has a corrugated fibro roof. Over time, a small kitchen area and a shower were added.
- Sentosa: This is a detached room with an open plan. It's also made of fibro with a skillion roof (a roof with a single slope).
Marie Byles believed in simple, natural buildings. She once said: "No Painting whatever anywhere... External walls are to be fibro; Corrugated fibro (long experience has shown fiber to be lasting, with no upkeep)." Volunteers and Marie's bushwalking friends helped make the paths around the property.
Condition and Changes
The buildings and land are in good condition. In 1975, a special trench was built to manage water runoff. This was to prevent too much water from encouraging weed growth. A two-meter high retaining wall was also built near a path many years ago. Marie wanted only plants native to Ahimsa to be there. However, some native plants from other parts of Australia have been planted over time.
Why Ahimsa is Special
Ahimsa and its surrounding landscape are very important. They show us Marie Byles' life and her strong beliefs as a feminist and a conservationist. These ideas are still very important to Australians today. The buildings are small and fit quietly into the Australian bushland. The peaceful feeling of the property helps visitors understand Marie Byles. The bushland here looks much like it did before people settled in the area.
Ahimsa was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 for several reasons:
- It shows us history: The property tells the story of Marie Byles' ideas. She was a key person in creating national parks. As the first woman lawyer in Australia, she used her confidence to help protect nature. For example, Bouddi National Park was created thanks to her hard work.
- It has a special look: The simple buildings blend into the Australian bushland. The peaceful atmosphere helps visitors understand Marie Byles' character. The natural features of the land, next to a state reserve, show what the area looked like long ago.
- It connects with people: The buildings and landscape show Marie Byles' vision as a feminist and conservationist. These ideas are still very important and help shape our culture.
- It can teach us more: Ahimsa is a unique example of early efforts to care for the environment in Australia. It's an important part of the ecosystem of Lane Cove National Park. It also shows a typical example of dry bushland found in the Sydney area.
- It is rare: This property is unique because it's an early example of caring for the environment and living sustainably in Australia. It's also special because it encouraged people to live in harmony with nature. The Hut of Happy Omen was a physical place that helped people connect with this idea.
- It represents important ideas: The property shows Marie Byles' beliefs through its simple buildings in a natural bushland setting.
