Arnprior, Larbert facts for kids

Arnprior is a very old farm and home in Larbert, New South Wales, Australia. It's considered a special historical place. William Ryrie started building it in 1827. In 1999, it was officially listed as a heritage site, meaning it's protected because of its important history.

History of Arnprior

The Ryrie Family Arrives

In 1825, Stewart Ryrie came to Australia from Scotland with his family. His two oldest sons were William and James. Stewart had worked for the British Army before moving to Australia. When they arrived in Sydney, Stewart got a job helping to manage supplies.

In 1826, William and James Ryrie asked for land. They wanted to live on their own land because they couldn't find good jobs in Sydney. Around 1827, William Ryrie was given a large piece of land. It was about 2560 acres, located near the Shoalhaven River. William named his new land "Arnprior" to remember his step-mother's family home in Scotland.

Building the Homestead

By 1828, a house was being built at Arnprior. Records show 18 people lived there, including workers. Some of these workers were convicts or former convicts. Arnprior already had 35 acres of cleared land and 23 acres ready for farming. It also had many cattle and sheep.

The house was built facing the Shoalhaven River. But it was set back a bit, probably because the river often flooded. The house started small, with just four rooms. Over time, more rooms were added to fit the growing Ryrie family. Eventually, it had thirteen rooms.

In 1830, Stewart Ryrie, William's father, moved to Arnprior with his wife and three young children. William's younger brothers also lived there. In the 1830s, a Greek shepherd named Ghikas Boulgaris lived at Arnprior. He even got married there in 1836.

Growing the Property

In 1837, William Ryrie helped the Governor of New South Wales plan postal routes. He advised on the best ways to send mail between Melbourne and Sydney. In 1840, William's land grant for Arnprior was made official. After his brother James died, Arnprior and James's property, Durran Durra, were joined together.

William Ryrie traveled to Scotland in 1845 and got married there. He died in Scotland in 1856. After Stewart Ryrie Snr died in 1852, his son Alexander managed Arnprior. Later, Alexander moved to his own property near Canberra.

Floods and Travelers

In 1853, big floods hit the area. The nearby town of Larbert was underwater. Arnprior was also surrounded by water, but because it was on higher ground, it was safe.

The house at Arnprior was known for being welcoming to travelers. People traveling from Goulburn to Braidwood would often stay there. This was especially true if they arrived late or if floods stopped them at the river crossing. In 1853, two travelers wrote about visiting Arnprior. They mentioned that gold had been found on the property.

A main road passed right through Arnprior. This road went from Braidwood to Bungonia, crossing the Shoalhaven River. Some people think this was a route used by Cobb and Co. coaches, which were like early stagecoaches.

Changes in Ownership

By the late 1800s, most of the Ryrie family had moved away from Arnprior. In 1902, the property was sold out of the family to Frank M. W. Cooper. It was sold again in 1906 to John Welsh. However, in 1928, one of Alexander Ryrie's sons, Vincent, bought Arnprior back. Vincent owned it until the 1950s, when it was sold several more times.

In 1968, the government planned a big water project called the Shoalhaven Scheme. This project aimed to supply water to Sydney. Part of the plan involved building a dam near Arnprior. Because of this, the government bought Arnprior and many other private farms in the area.

Today, the original boundaries of Arnprior have changed. It is now smaller in some parts but includes other pieces of land, like parts of the old village of Larbert, including its church and cemetery.

What Arnprior Looks Like

Arnprior is reached by a gravel road from Mayfield Road. Near the entrance, you can find the remains of the old Larbert township. Within the Arnprior property, there are stone foundations of a former church, a small cemetery, and some old pine trees.

The main house at Arnprior sits on a raised area. From here, you can see wide plains and grazing land, stretching towards the Shoalhaven River. In front of the house, there are signs of an old fruit orchard and some mature pine trees. Other old buildings and plants are located to the west and south of the main house.

The Arnprior property includes:

• The main homestead (built around 1830)
• A cottage (from the 1970s)
• Outbuildings and cattle yards
• Church foundations and a cemetery
• Landscaping (the way the land and plants are arranged)

The Homestead (Main House)

The Arnprior Homestead was likely built between 1827 and 1830. The oldest parts of the house seem to be the four central rooms. These rooms have timber walls and two stone chimneys. Later additions, possibly from the 1840s, were made on either side using stone.

Over the years, the house has been changed many times. Walls were relined in the 1920s and 1980s. Verandahs (porches) were enclosed in the 1970s, and a new kitchen and bathrooms were added. The roof shows these different building stages, with various shapes and materials. The original timber shingles are still under the corrugated iron roof in some places.

Inside, many of the original walls have been covered or removed. The original ceilings have also been replaced. Some walls show old wallpaper. The original floorboards are still there. One old cedar fireplace mantel remains, but others have been changed. There are also signs of old skirting boards and picture rails hidden behind newer wall coverings. The original front door has a special hand-carved cedar frame with a thistle design, which is a Scottish symbol.

Under the southern part of the house, there is a cellar with granite walls and a dirt floor. The house has been repaired to keep it stable.

Other Buildings

• Cottage: A small prefabricated cottage from the 1970s is located about 200 meters south of the main house. It's a simple timber building with a corrugated iron roof.
• Outbuildings and Cattleyards: Behind the main house are a machinery shed, a garage, and a hayshed. The hayshed seems to be the oldest, built with wooden poles and corrugated iron. The metal cattle yards nearby are modern. Another hayshed is across the road. A shearing shed, where sheep were shorn, is located north of the house. It is mostly falling apart.

Church Footings and Larbert Cemetery

Near the entrance to Arnprior, you can see the stone foundations and concrete steps of a small, old church. Two large pine trees stand on either side, possibly from when the church was built.

A small cemetery is located behind the old church. It has marble and sandstone headstones for families who died in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The headstones are generally in good condition.

Landscaping

Around the main house and other buildings, there are several old plants. These include what's left of an old orchard, some yucca plants, and groups of pine trees. There are also rows of mature conifer trees and large poplar trees. Behind the main house are cleared fields that lead up to a small ridge with natural bushland.

The house was reported to be in poor condition in 2009. However, Arnprior still has many original parts from the 1820s, like the main house, cleared fields, and old road remains. It also has archaeological evidence (things buried in the ground) from early staff housing and the old Larbert township.

Why Arnprior is Important

Arnprior is a very important historical site in New South Wales.

Important History

Arnprior is important because it was one of the first land grants and settlements in the Shoalhaven River area. It shows how land was given out and used in southern NSW during the early days of the colony (Australia's early history). This includes how land was given to early free settlers and how roads and towns were planned in the 1820s and 1830s. The remains of the old Larbert township, including the church and cemetery, help tell this story.

Arnprior also shows how early colonial farms worked. It had assigned convict labor and local Aboriginal labor. This can be seen through the main house, old sheds, and possible archaeological evidence of convict housing.

Connection to Important People

Arnprior is important because of its strong connection to the Ryrie family. The Ryries were key pioneering settlers in southern NSW. Arnprior was their first major landholding in Australia. It shows how the Ryrie family grew in importance in the region. The main house still has the carved thistle design over the front door, which was important to the Ryrie family's Scottish heritage.

Beautiful Landscape

Arnprior is also important for its beautiful landscape. The way the main house sits on the hill, surrounded by large conifer trees, with cleared fields around Gilberts Creek and the ruins of the shearing shed, creates a lovely Australian rural scene. When you look at it from Mayfield Road, it reminds you of the earliest days of settlement in southern NSW.

The house itself shows how colonial rural homes were built. Even though it has been changed over time, you can still see how it was first built and how it developed. The cedar door frame with the thistle design is a special detail that shows how important their Scottish background was to the Ryrie family in their new home.

Research Potential

Arnprior has the potential to teach us a lot about the history of New South Wales. It has archaeological evidence from early colonial times, which is becoming rare. We can learn about how assigned convicts lived and worked in rural areas, which is not well-documented in written records.

The main house itself also has much to teach us. There isn't much written history about its original construction or the many changes made over the years. By studying the layers of the building, we can learn about how it developed and about building techniques from the early 1800s.

Rare Features

Arnprior is special because it has a range of architectural and archaeological evidence from the very first days of European settlement in southern NSW. While there are other old homes in the area, Arnprior is particularly old and has unusual features. These include the remains of the village of Larbert, the church, the cemetery, and possibly even convict housing connected to the property.