Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager's House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager's House |
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| Location | 195 Denison Street, Hamilton, City of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1849–1920 |
| Official name: Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager's House; A.A. Company House; A. A. Company Mine Manager's Cottage | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 25 August 2017 |
| Reference no. | 1992 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Colliery Department of the Australian Agricultural Company |
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The Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager's House is a historic home located in Hamilton, Australia. It used to be the home of the person in charge of a coal mine. This house, also known as the A.A. Company House, was built between 1849 and 1920. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 25, 2017, because of its important history.
Contents
History of the Mine Manager's House
Who Lived Here First?
The land where Newcastle is today, called Muloobinba, traditionally belongs to the Awabakal people. It's believed that Hamilton was once known as Nickimble, which means "place of coal." Cameron's Hill, a dry area rising above swamps, might have been a special place for ceremonies. Awabakal people reportedly visited this area until the late 1890s.
The Australian Agricultural Company
The Australian Agricultural Company, often called the A.A. Company, started in London in 1824. Its main goal was to develop unused land in New South Wales. The company's leaders included important people like Members of Parliament and bank directors.
The A.A. Company soon became very interested in the coal around Newcastle. At that time, convicts mined coal under government control. The company took over 1,920 acres of coal-rich land. They gained special rights to mine most of the coal in New South Wales. In 1831, they opened their first mine, the "A" Pit. They brought in equipment, miners, and managers from Scotland and England. This brought the Industrial Revolution to the local coal industry.
In 1848, the A.A. Company found a better coal layer deeper underground. They dug a new shaft, which became the "D" Pit (or Borehole colliery) in 1850. This was the most advanced coal mine in the colony. It opened just in time for a new trade with North and South America. This trade, especially with the California Gold Rush, helped the northern coal industry become very successful. It connected Newcastle with the United States until the Panama Canal opened in 1914.
Life Around the Mine
A settlement grew around the "D" Pit, known as "The Borehole" or "The Coal Pits." Miners lived in simple huts with dirt floors. As more coal was produced, more huts were built on Borehole Hill. In the mid-1850s, the A.A. Company divided and sold nearby land. This created the village of Pit Town.
The Mine Manager's House Story
The "D" Pit was managed by an official called the Overman. The Overman's house was built on the highest point of Borehole Hill. From here, it overlooked both the miners' settlement and the coal mine. The house had large grounds, allowing the manager to grow some of their own food. It also had an underground water tank, separate from the wells used by the miners. A tall picket fence protected the front of the property.
The first Overman was James Lindsay. In 1854, Lindsay helped save The Borehole from a bushfire. He also improved another mine, the "C" Pit. In 1857, he helped change the A.A. Company's horse-drawn railways to steam locomotives. Lindsay was also involved in the community. He led the Borehole Co-operative Society and helped start the Pit Town Presbyterian Church.
In 1860, the A.A. Company's main manager, Robert Whyte, was dismissed. Lindsay temporarily took over his role. Then, James Barron Winship arrived from the UK in 1861. He wanted to lower miners' wages and break their union.
Winship faced resistance from the miners. However, he brought in 300 workers from Victoria and South Australia to replace the striking miners. These new workers were called "blacklegs" by the miners. Winship's agents moved them into houses where striking miners and their families had been living. Many of the new workers left when they understood why they were hired. Winship even went after them to force them to return to work. Miners remembered their bitterness towards Winship for many years.
James Lindsay disagreed with Winship and left the company. Winship and his wife then moved into the Overman's house. Pit Row became Winship Street, and Borehole Hill became Winship's Hill. However, the house was quite modest, so the Winships later found a more suitable place to live.
After the Winships, the house was likely rented to a doctor. In 1869, Dixon Little, a colliery engineer, lived there with his family. Little worked at the nearby Borehole No. 2 colliery. In 1871, Pit Town and the surrounding areas became the Municipality of Hamilton. It was named after Edward Terrick Hamilton, a governor of the A.A. Company.
In the mid-1870s, a new mine called the "H" Pit opened. Dixon Little became Chief Engineer and oversaw operations there. He also managed the New Winning colliery, which extended under the ocean. In 1889, 11 men and boys died in the "H" Pit disaster. Little helped recover the bodies and reopen the mine. Dixon Street in Hamilton is likely named after him.
Dixon Little retired in 1899. His son, William Richard Little, took over his role. William and his family moved into the former Manager's house. The A.A. Company later decided to sell much of its land, including Cameron's Hill. The Manager's house property was divided into three parts, but the company kept it for a while. In 1914, William Little bought the Manager's house. The Little family built two more homes on the other parts of the land, at 193 Denison Street (around 1920) and 197 Denison Street (1937). These were designed by Dixon Allan Little, William's son, who was an architect and engineer.
William Little retired in 1933 and passed away in 1945. He had worked for the A.A. Company for 50 years. His sons, Dixon Allan Little and Charles Millican Little, inherited the Manager's house. Around this time, Winship Street was renamed Denison Street. This removed the direct link between the house and James Barron Winship. The Manager's house became 195 Denison Street. Charles Little lived there until his death in 1963. His share of the house went to his niece, Naomi McCourt.
For many years, the Manager's house was hidden by plants and other buildings. People didn't know much about it until the early 1990s. In 1995, the New South Wales government helped Newcastle City Council buy the property. The land was divided again, and a new house was built at 195A Denison Street. This was meant to be a caretaker's cottage.
Money from the state helped restore the house, and it was opened to the public. Many visitors came to see it. The house was also used for architecture classes and photo exhibitions. In 2004, the Council bought 195A Denison Street, but sold it four years later. In 2016, the Council tried to sell the Manager's house itself.
What Does the House Look Like?
The house is located on the south side of Denison Street, on top of Cameron's Hill. The main front of the house faces the backyard of a nearby home. Some old brick paths are still hidden under the grass.
The oldest parts of the house were built in the mid-1850s. It was a simple cottage with a hipped roof in the Colonial Georgian style. Over time, more parts were added. These include a kitchen with a gable roof, a dining room, a pantry, and an entrance hall. There's also a verandah on the south side. The roof is now made of corrugated iron, but much of it covers older wooden shingles. Most of the house is built from sandstock brick. Some parts are painted or covered in plaster. There's also a separate wooden bathroom/laundry building and a separate wooden toilet.
How Good is its Condition?
As of 2017, most of the house was in fair condition and still very much like it was originally. However, some of the oldest parts are in poor condition. The plastered walls are fair on the outside. Some brick areas are worn, but they have been whitewashed in parts. Some roof parts that were damaged by termites have been strengthened. Some parts of the gutters are not properly joined. Some verandah posts are very weathered.
The original walls don't have a damp-proof layer, so some floor supports, which are directly on the ground, have been damaged by termites in the past. Some wall areas have damaged plaster and peeling paint or wallpaper. Some wooden floors, affected by damp and termites, have been rebuilt. Some ceilings are damaged or rusted from water leaks. The house has electricity and running water.
Overall, the house is mostly intact, both inside and out.
Changes Over Time
Around 1849-1850
The first house was built. It had four rooms and an attic. There was a front verandah and possibly a back verandah. A separate kitchen, probably made of wood slabs, was likely located behind the house.
Around 1850-1860s
A sitting room on the southeast side, which was also used as an office, was changed into a bedroom. This involved closing up an outside door and possibly plastering the southern wall.
1860
The current kitchen wing was built, and perhaps the back verandah was added or partly enclosed.
1900
The back verandah was removed to make space for a dining room and pantry. These additions connected the kitchen to a new back entrance. This entrance had a metal canopy decorated with a star, two kangaroos, and an emu to celebrate Federation. Two of the original rooms were combined to create a larger sitting room. This meant removing two fireplaces and a chimney. The shingle roof was covered with iron to match the new parts of the house. A new verandah was added on the south side with decorative trim. This trim was also added to the front verandah, and the posts were replaced. The floorboards were replaced with concrete. Gas lighting was installed, and the kitchen got a fuel stove.
Around 1907
The outdoor toilet was moved to its current spot. This was done to connect it to the new Newcastle district sewerage system.
Around 1920
The inside of the house was redecorated. A wooden bathroom/laundry building was likely built around this time. The roof dormer (a window that sticks out from the roof) was made larger, creating more attic space. Electricity was installed, and most gas lights were removed. A fibro garage was built facing Denison Street.
Mid-1990s
The NSW government helped Newcastle City Council buy the property. Money was also provided for repairs, security, and adding an enclosed toilet on the southern verandah.
2016
The property was advertised for sale.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager's House in Hamilton is very important to the history of New South Wales.
- It shows the history of coal mining: This house is a key example of a building from the Australian Agricultural Company's mining department. This company was one of Australia's oldest and played a huge role in the growth of New South Wales. The house is linked to the advanced "D" Pit mine. This mine was the first to use the famous Borehole Seam, which led to a massive increase in coal mining in the 1800s. This also created special economic and cultural ties between Newcastle and the United States. It helped create the mining towns that eventually formed the City of Newcastle.
- It's connected to important people: The house is important because of its link to people who were key in the social and technological development of the coal industry in the 1800s. It shows the social differences and living standards of that time. It also represents the long-standing relationship between the A.A. Company and the people of New South Wales.
- It shows how Hamilton started: The house helps us understand the beginnings of the suburb of Hamilton, which was first known as The Borehole. It adds to the local community's sense of history and place.
The Australian Agricultural Company Mine Manager's House was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 25, 2017, because it met several important criteria:
- It shows the pattern of history: The house shows the social and economic development of New South Wales. It highlights the early period of advanced coal mining and the social differences of the 1800s. It also shows the A.A. Company's leading role in finding and mining the Borehole Seam.
- It's linked to important people: The house shows how the lives of mining officials and their families changed over time. It allows us to compare their living conditions with those of the miners. It is strongly linked to senior staff of the A.A. Company's mining department, many of whom were important in the coal industry's development.
- It has special design features: The house shows how an early mining official's home was changed over time. It adapted to new economic, cultural, and social conditions, as well as changing styles.
- It can teach us more: The house has the potential to provide new information about the lives of salaried mining officials and their families in the 1800s. It also has archaeological potential, meaning digging there could reveal more history.
- It is rare: The house is a rare example of a building that shows the social differences and living standards of mining officials and their families in the 1800s. It is also the only clear example of a building connected to the A.A. Company's mining department.
- It's a good example of its type: The house is a great example of a well-preserved 1800s mining official's home. It shows the customs and ideas of the times it was built and changed. It also provides evidence of how coal mining communities were established and grew in New South Wales.
See Also
- List of State Heritage Register properties in the City of Newcastle
Images for kids
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Heritage boundaries
