Arcola, Grafton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arcola |
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| Location | 150 Victoria Street, Grafton, Clarence Valley Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1907–1907 |
| Owner | Arcola |
| Official name: Arcola - house, stables, garden, fence | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 714 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Arcola is a beautiful old house in Grafton, Australia. It was built in 1907 and used to be a family home. Today, it's a special place where people can stay, like a bed and breakfast. Arcola is important because it shows us what homes were like a long time ago. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, which means it's protected because of its history and unique style.
Contents
A Look Back at Arcola's History
Arcola was built in 1907 for a wealthy farmer named Robert Roland Smith. He was an important person in Grafton and was involved in many local groups. He hired the Strauss brothers, who were well-known architects and builders, to design the house, and H. F. Sault to build it. People at the time said it was one of the most impressive homes in Grafton.
Robert Smith's daughter, Violet, lived in the house from 1918. She was a founding member of the Clarence Naturalists Club and created a wonderful garden around the house.
Over the years, some changes were made to Arcola. For example, modern plumbing was added around 1934. The house stayed in the Smith family until 1989 when Mrs. Wilkins bought it. She updated the wiring and plumbing and repainted the roof. Mrs. Wilkins also loved gardening and made the garden even more beautiful.
The house has changed hands a few times since then. Between 1995 and 2002, a small room that used to be for a maid was turned into a bathroom. The house has been carefully looked after, with repairs to the roof and gutters to keep it in good condition.
- Arcola was built in 1907.
- Robert Roland Smith was the first owner.
- His daughter, Violet McLachlan, lived there from 1918.
- The house was sold to the Wilkins family in 1989.
- It has been sold a few more times since 1997.
What Arcola Looks Like
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Arcola is a single-story house built in the Queen Anne Revival style, which was popular around 1907. This style often includes decorative gables (the triangular parts of a roof) and a welcoming entrance porch. The house has a wide verandah (a covered porch) with fancy iron decorations and old-fashioned timber blinds.
The front door has special etched glass, and the windows have stained and etched glass too. Inside, many of the original features are still there, like the doorknobs, fireplaces, and beautiful pressed metal ceilings. The house was designed to separate the family's living areas from the maid's room, which was common in homes of that time. Even though the verandah is not very wide, the house was built to stay cool in the warm climate, with features like ventilated eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls) and external blinds.
The garden is also very old and still has some of its original plants. You can find large mango trees, jacaranda trees, and frangipani. There are also brick stables (where horses were kept) behind the house.
Important parts of Arcola include:
- The house itself and how its rooms are laid out.
- The beautiful decorations and materials used inside and outside.
- The design of the fences around the property.
- The large, formal garden with its old trees, especially the mango trees.
- The original stables and an old well.
- The way the house fits into the street, with wide grassy areas and old street trees.
How Arcola is Doing
In 1999, some small cracks were found in the brick walls of the stables, but these were repaired. Later, in 2005, some cracking was reported in parts of the main house. However, overall, the house has been well-maintained and cared for over the years.
Why Arcola is Special
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Arcola is very important for several reasons:
- Historic Importance: It's a great example of the kind of grand homes that wealthy families in Grafton built in the early 1900s. It shows us what life was like back then, with its large garden and separate buildings like the stables. The house and its contents from 1918 are very well-preserved. It also helps us understand how the town of Grafton was planned a long time ago.
- Community Value: People in Grafton really admire Arcola. They see it as a beautiful example of a Federation-style house (a type of Australian architecture from around 1900-1915) with a lovely garden, located in a nice street near the Clarence River.
- Beauty and Design: Arcola is a stunning example of the Queen Anne Revival style, especially for a house in a warm, tropical area like Grafton. It also mixes in some features from the Queensland Federation style, which makes it unique. It's a complete example of how these architectural and garden design ideas were used in rural Australia.
- Scientific Importance: For experts, Arcola is a perfect example of Queen Anne Revival architecture. They can study its building methods, craftsmanship, and the materials used, like timber from very old trees. The garden also shows how formal garden designs were created in tropical Australia.
Arcola is also part of a group of important old timber buildings in Victoria Street, which the National Trust of Australia (NSW) recognizes as significant.
Arcola was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, ensuring its protection for future generations.
See Also
- List of heritage-listed buildings in Grafton
