Ardsilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ardsilla |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | 5 Richard Street, Bourke, Bourke Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Bernie Wilder |
| Official name: Ardsilla | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 198 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Ardsilla is a special old house located at 5 Richard Street in Bourke, Australia. It's known as a heritage-listed site, which means it's an important part of history that needs to be protected. This house was once called Brigalow and even served as the Brigalow Private Hospital for a short time. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Contents
The Story of Ardsilla
How Ardsilla Began
Ardsilla was built in the 1890s by a man named William Gale. He came from Penrith and worked as a teamster, someone who drives teams of animals. William Gale later built a sawmill and timber yard in Bourke. He also owned the Central Australian Hotel. He even gave land for a public reserve. His son, William Charles Gale, became a successful businessman and a local council member in Bourke.
Changing Owners and Uses
Later, William Glover bought Ardsilla and some of William Gale's other businesses. In 1932, Dr. Levings bought the house. It then became the "Brigalow" Private Hospital in 1938. Matron Winifred Stowe and Henrietta Letitia Glover, William Glover's wife, started the hospital.
In 1939, Dr. Vincent Malcolm Putland bought the house. He was an army medical officer. After him, Dr. Coolican (senior) worked there from 1940 to 1948. Then, Dr. R.F.E. (Ted) Collican owned it until 1970.
Saving a Historic Home
After Dr. Collican left, the house was in poor condition. The local council even thought about tearing it down. But in the early 1980s, Dr. David and Jenny Sutherland bought Ardsilla. They worked hard to restore the building. They also helped get it listed as a protected heritage site.
The Sutherlands later moved away. A local businesswoman then bought the house. Today, Ardsilla is still a private home.
Restoring Its Original Look
Over the years, some changes were made to the house. For example, part of the verandah (a covered porch) was closed in. A laundry and a carport were added. The original picket fence was replaced with a chain wire fence.
In 2011, there were plans to remove these newer changes. The goal was to make the house look more like it did originally. In 2010, part of the verandah was already restored using special heritage funding.
What Ardsilla Looks Like
Ardsilla is a single-story house made of timber. It's built in the Victorian style. The outside walls are made of weatherboards. These boards are grooved to look like large stone blocks, called ashlar masonry.
The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a hipped shape, meaning all sides slope down to the walls. There are two brick chimneys with decorative tops. The gutters have a special "ogee" shape with fancy corner decorations.
A curved verandah runs along the north, south, and east sides of the house. It has a convex (curved outwards) corrugated iron roof. The verandah posts are made of chamfered timber, which means their corners are cut off.
Large French doors lead into the house from the verandah. These doors have timber frames, a moulded transom (a bar above the door), and a fanlight (a window shaped like a fan). Some parts of the verandah have been closed in to create extra rooms like a bathroom, storage, and laundry.
The house stands on strong gidgee stumps, which are made from a type of tree.
Inside the House
The front door on the east side is very grand. It has six panels and a bold, semi-circular fanlight above it. This fanlight has colored and etched glass. There are also two sidelights (tall, narrow windows) on either side of the door with etched glass.
This front door leads into a small lobby. From there, another double door leads to the main hall. This door also has etched glass and sidelights, matching the front door.
The front hall has unusual timber lining. It's split into two panels with diagonal patterns. A horizontal rail runs in the middle. Corbelled brackets (decorative supports) hold up a central arch in the hall.
From the hall, matching pairs of four-panelled doors lead to the front rooms. These rooms have marble fireplaces and original skirtings (baseboards). They also feature vertical wood beading, flush panelling, timber cornices (decorative mouldings), and wood-panelled ceilings. There are timber vents in these rooms, which seem to connect to a central point under the house.
The master bedroom has a beautiful white marble fireplace. It has tiled panels showing sepia-colored birds and flowers. The study fireplace is made of red marble, also with sepia tiled panels. The two central bedrooms have similar skirtings and vertical beaded panelling. This style is seen throughout the house.
On the western side, there is a large living area that feels like an arcade. It leads to smaller rooms on either side.
The Garden and Yard
In the back yard, there's a swimming pool and other new structures. These were added recently and are not considered part of the original historic house. A flat-roofed carport is located next to the closed-in part of the verandah. This carport is also not considered a significant part of the heritage site.
The garden has some traditional plants that might be very old. These include oleander (Nerium oleander), frangipani (Plumeria rubra), and fig trees (Ficus sp.).
Keeping Ardsilla in Good Shape
In 1999, Ardsilla was reported to be in good condition overall. However, some parts of the verandah needed repairs.
In 2011, the owners asked for special heritage funding to help with repairs. These repairs included:
- Fixing and levelling the gidgee stumps that support the house.
- Making the floors level and stable again.
- Restoring the verandah at the north-west corner by removing the newer closed-in sections. The laundry would be moved to the bathroom.
- Keeping the original verandah posts and replacing any missing details.
- Replacing the gutters with the original "ogee" shape.
- Replacing the chain wire fence with a timber picket fence, like the original one.
- Restoring the internal woodwork and fittings to their original look.
- Repairing and replacing locks and fittings with original styles.
At that time, they also planned to remove and replace the carport.
Why Ardsilla is a Heritage Site
Ardsilla is a very special example of a fancy home built in the late 1800s. It has a unique design and shows amazing craftsmanship. The house is strongly connected to the history of Bourke. It was built for William Gale, a well-known businessman and hotel owner.
The house was first called "Brigalow." In 1938, it became the "Brigalow" Private Hospital. Before and after its time as a hospital, it was the home and sometimes the surgery of several doctors in Bourke.
Ardsilla was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This listing helps protect its history and unique features for future generations.
Images for kids
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Heritage boundaries
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Richard Street south-east corner (2021).
