Ben Chifley's House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Chifley's House |
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| Location | 10 Busby Street, Bathurst, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1887–1891 |
| Owner | Bathurst Regional Council |
| Official name: Ben Chifley's House; Carnwath; Chifley Residence; Chifley House Museum; Chifley Home | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 December 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1657 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Ben Chifley's House is a special historic home in Bathurst, Australia. It was built between 1887 and 1891. This house was once the home of Ben Chifley, who was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1945 to 1951. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about his life. It is also known as Carnwath, Chifley Residence, and Chifley Home. The local council in Bathurst now owns and looks after this important property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2002 because of its historical importance.
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A Home for a Prime Minister
This house, originally called 'Carnwath', was the home of Ben Chifley and his wife, Elizabeth Chifley. They lived here from when they got married in 1914 until their deaths in 1951 and 1962.
The exact year the house was built is not fully clear. It was likely built between 1887 and 1891. Early maps from 1883 show the land was empty then. The area where the house stands was once part of a larger piece of land.
Early Owners and the Railway Connection
The land was sold several times in the 1880s. In 1891, a railway fireman named Thomas Leighton bought the property. The house was already standing by then. This area, known as Milltown, was popular with railway workers. Rents were low, and it was close to their jobs.
The house was on the edge of Bathurst, in a less expensive area. Many railway families lived there. In 1903, George McKenzie, an engine driver, bought the house as a rental property. George, his wife, and their daughter Elizabeth lived nearby. They named the house "Carnwath" after George's hometown in Scotland. Elizabeth McKenzie would later marry Ben Chifley.
Ben and Elizabeth Chifley's Life
Ben Chifley and Elizabeth McKenzie both came from railway families in the area. They started dating and got married on June 6, 1914. Ben was from a Catholic family, and Elizabeth was Presbyterian. At the time, this was called a "mixed marriage." They chose to marry in Glebe, away from Bathurst, to avoid any family awkwardness. The McKenzies gave "Carnwath" to Elizabeth as a wedding gift.
Ben Chifley was born in Bathurst. He started working for the railways at age 17. By 24, he was the youngest First Class locomotive driver. He became involved in trade unions, which are groups that protect workers' rights. He was even demoted for his part in the 1917 Railway strike. This event actually pushed him more into politics. He also started studying economics, which helped shape his ideas about people's needs.
In 1920, Elizabeth's parents gave her full ownership of "Carnwath." She then shared the ownership with Ben. This house remained their home, even when Ben became a politician.
Chifley's Political Career and Home Life
Ben Chifley was elected to Parliament in 1928. He represented the Macquarie area, which included Bathurst. He lost his seat in 1931 but won it back in 1940. Even when he was Prime Minister from 1945 to 1949, he tried to return to his Bathurst home every two weeks. Elizabeth wanted to be near her aging parents and had poor health. Ben also felt it was important to stay connected with the people he represented.
In 1939, the Chifleys bought the empty land next door. They built a garage there for Ben's American Buick car. The garage was later taken down. The Chifleys were among the first in their area to have a telephone because of Ben's political work.
In the mid-1940s, Isabel Clark, a friend of Elizabeth's, came to live with them. She stayed after Ben Chifley died in 1951. Elizabeth died in 1962. She left the house to St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. She asked that Isabel Clark could continue living there. Mrs. Clark lived in the house until she died in 1969.
The House Becomes a Museum
After Isabel Clark's death, people raised money to buy the house. In 1972, the Bathurst City Council bought the house and its contents. They wanted it to be a memorial to Ben Chifley. Gough Whitlam, who was Prime Minister at the time, opened it as a museum on March 24, 1973. It is still a museum today.
The house shows how Ben Chifley lived a simple life. Even as Prime Minister, he didn't make big changes to his home. The furniture was simple and mass-produced. The kitchen had only one cold tap. The bathroom, laundry, and toilet were outside the house. This showed his humble nature and careful use of money. He also enjoyed gardening and reading on his front verandah.
Ben Chifley was known for being a "plain man." He often wore an old coat he called his "dead man's coat." This helped create an image of him as a leader who understood ordinary people. He was also keen on gardening. He even asked about getting special chrysanthemum plants just before he died. These flowers were special to the Chinese, symbolizing a righteous person.
Ben Chifley is still highly respected in Australia. Bob Carr, a former Premier of New South Wales, once recalled wanting Ben Chifley's home to be a historic memorial.
What the House Looks Like
Ben Chifley's House is a small, semi-detached home. It is made of brick with a smooth, rendered finish. It has a hipped iron roof. The front of the house is symmetrical, with a central front door. You reach the door by climbing a few brick steps.
The house has a wide verandah with a curved roof. It has pretty cast iron columns and decorations. A wrought iron balustrade was added later.
Inside the House
Inside, the house has two bedrooms, a living room (parlour), a dining room, a kitchen, and a pantry. There is a bathroom at the back, which you reach from a covered verandah.
Behind the kitchen, there is a small laundry, toilet, and storage room. These are accessed from outside. The house still has much of its original furniture and items. This helps visitors imagine what life was like for the Chifleys.
The house is part of a row of similar semi-detached homes. It is in good condition and looks much like it did when the Chifleys lived there.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, some changes were made to the house:
- The separate kitchen was connected to the main house by adding a walk-in pantry.
- Electricity, water, and sewerage were connected to the house.
- A weatherboard bathroom was added to the back. It had asbestos cement lining and a gas water heater.
- A gas fireplace was put in the living room.
- A gas cooker was installed in the kitchen.
- Decorative cornices were added to the bedrooms and sitting room.
- In 1939, a garage was built on the empty block next door, but it has since been removed.
Why This House is Important
Ben Chifley's House is very important to the history of New South Wales and Australia. It is listed on the State Heritage Register for several reasons:
- Connection to a National Leader: It was the home of Ben Chifley, a Prime Minister of Australia. It shows how a national leader lived.
- Showing a Simple Lifestyle: The house helps us understand Ben Chifley's humble way of life. This simple lifestyle helped him connect with ordinary people.
- Original Contents: The house still has its original furniture, decorations, and personal items. These things show us what life was like for the Chifleys. The house is in a working-class area, which also adds to its story.
- Chifley's Vision: It reminds us of Ben Chifley's famous words about "the light on the hill." This meant working for a better future for everyone.
- Public Respect: Many people in New South Wales and Australia still admire Ben Chifley. He led the country after World War II, a time often called Australia's "Golden Age."
- Unique Example: It is the only known house in New South Wales where a Labor Prime Minister lived his entire adult life. It clearly shows his life, beliefs, and public image.
Other similar important houses include the Residence of John Curtin in Western Australia and Joseph Lyons' house "Home Hill" in Tasmania.
The house also shows the typical home styles of working-class families in Bathurst in the mid-20th century. It also shows how new technologies like telephones and gas heating were introduced.
