Berry Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berry Museum |
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Berry Museum entrance
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| Location | 135 Queen Street, Berry, City of Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1884–1885 |
| Architect | William Wilkinson Wardell |
| Owner | Shoalhaven City Council |
| Official name: Berry Museum; ES&A; Bank; E.S.& A; ANZ Bank; English; Scottish & Australian Bank | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 September 2006 |
| Reference no. | 1755 |
| Type | Bank |
| Category | Commercial |
| Builders | W. Stoddart |
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The Berry Museum is a special building in Berry, Australia. It used to be a bank and then a council office. Now, it's a museum where you can learn about local history.
This historic building was designed by a famous architect named William Wilkinson Wardell. It was built between 1884 and 1885. The museum is located at 135 Queen Street and is owned by the Shoalhaven City Council. It's so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Contents
Discovering the Berry Museum's History
The building that is now the Berry Museum has a long and interesting past. It started as a bank and changed hands many times before becoming the museum we know today.
From Bank to Council Chambers
The English, Scottish and Australian Banking company (E.S.&A. Bank) opened in Berry in June 1875. This was one of their first branches in New South Wales. In 1884, the bank bought the land to build a new, grander bank building.
The person chosen to design this new bank was William Wilkinson Wardell. He was born in England and designed many churches there. Later, he moved to Australia. He designed famous buildings like St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne. He also designed St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney in Sydney. The Berry Museum building is one of the few surviving banks he designed in regional New South Wales.
The E.S.&A. Bank operated in this building until 1942. Then, the local council, called the Municipality of Berry, bought the building. From 1943 to 1948, it was used as the council's main office.
Becoming the Berry Museum
In 1948, several local councils joined together to form the Shoalhaven Shire Council. The Berry building became part of their property. Interestingly, the E.S.&A. Bank actually leased the building back in 1951 and reopened their branch there! Some changes were made to the building at this time, like adding toilets and upgrading the kitchen.
In 1969, the E.S.&A. Bank merged with the ANZ Bank. The bank continued to operate from the building until December 1972.
In 1975, the Berry Museum started renting part of the building. They used the old banking area for their displays. By 1983, the entire building was available. The Shoalhaven City Council agreed to rent the whole building to the Berry and District Historical Society. This group then set up the Berry Museum, which has been there ever since.
Exploring the Museum's Design
The Berry Museum building has a unique and beautiful design. It's built from brick and has a special style called Scottish Baronial.
Unique Architectural Features
The building has a stepped gable on the front. A gable is the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof. The top of this gable is decorated with stone and a round ornament called a finial. The corners of the building have stone supports called corbels. There's also a round window with louvres in the middle of the gable.
Look closely at the windows and the main entrance. The stone pieces above them, called lintels, are made of light-colored brick. The top parts of the windows and the fanlight (a window above a door) have painted lattice patterns.
Outside Spaces
The building also has verandahs on its western and eastern sides. A verandah is a roofed, open-air porch or gallery. The roof of the museum is covered with dark terracotta tiles. These tiles replaced the original slate roof during a renovation in 1970.
Around the building, you'll see a white picket fence. There's a grassy driveway on one side and a small garden on the other. This garden leads to the front door of what used to be the bank manager's home.
The building is still in excellent condition today. It looks much like it did when it was first built. Even with some changes over the years, you can still clearly see how the different rooms were used. The main banking area, for example, has always been the place where people meet the public.
Why the Berry Museum is Special
The Berry Museum building is very important to the history and culture of New South Wales. It's listed on the State Heritage Register for several reasons.
Designed by a Famous Architect
One big reason is its connection to William Wilkinson Wardell. He was a very important architect in Australia. The Berry Museum building is one of the few smaller banks he designed that still exists today. It shows his unique style, which was influenced by Northern European architecture. This makes it a rare example of his work.
Beautiful and Unique Look
The building is also special because of its beautiful design. Its Victorian Gothic or Scottish Baronial style makes it stand out in Berry. The stepped gables and other details remind people of old Scottish castles. It's a great example of architecture from the late Victorian period. The building's design makes it a landmark that you can easily spot when you arrive in Berry.
Important to the Community
The Berry Museum has a strong connection to the local community. It was one of the first important buildings in Berry designed by a famous architect. For many years, it was a central place for business in the town.
Today, it continues to be important as the Berry Museum. It's the home of the Berry and District Historical Society. The museum helps people learn about local history and is a popular spot for tourists. It also has a valuable collection of Aboriginal family and cultural history, created with the help of local Aboriginal elders.
A Window into the Past
The former E.S.&A. Bank building helps us understand the history of New South Wales. Because it's so well-preserved, we can learn a lot about how buildings were designed and used in the late Victorian era. Wardell's design ideas are still very clear in every part of the building.
A Rare Find
This building is rare because it's the only surviving example of Wardell's smaller bank designs in New South Wales. Many of his other buildings were grander. This one shows a warmer, more "homely" style, which was unusual for banks at the time. It's a great example of how bank buildings could be different from the usual large, imposing structures.
