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 old building in Berry, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a bank and then a council office before becoming a museum! A famous architect named William Wilkinson Wardell designed it. It was built a long time ago, between 1884 and 1885. Today, the Shoalhaven City Council owns it. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's History
From Bank to Museum
The building that is now the Berry Museum started as a bank. It was the English, Scottish and Australian Banking company, or E.S.&A. Bank. This bank opened in Broughton Creek (now Berry) in June 1875. It was one of the first branches on the coast.
On 8 March 1884, the E.S.&A. Bank bought the land where the museum stands. They wanted to build a new, bigger bank there. William Wilkinson Wardell was chosen as the architect for this new building.
Who Was William Wilkinson Wardell?
Wardell was born in England in 1824. He was a very talented architect. He designed many churches in his home country. Later, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 1857.
In Melbourne, he designed important public buildings. These included St Paul's Cathedral and the Customs House. He also designed the English Scottish and Australian Bank in Collins Street, Melbourne. Wardell later moved to Sydney. He continued to work as an architect there until he passed away in 1899. He designed St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney and St John's College at the University of Sydney.
Wardell designed several bank buildings for the E.S.&A. Bank in New South Wales. The Berry Museum is the only one left from a group of five banks he designed. These banks had a special style from northern Europe.
Changes Over the Years
The E.S.&A. Bank in Berry operated through the late 1800s and until 1942. In June 1942, the Municipality of Berry bought the building. It cost £1,200.
From 1943 to 1948, the building was used as the council chambers. The Town Clerk, Henry Stenning, lived in the residence part of the building. In 1948, several local councils, including Berry, joined together to form the Shoalhaven Shire Council.
The E.S.&A. Bank reopened in 1951. The Shoalhaven Shire Council leased the building back to them. Some changes were made in 1951. Two fireplaces were removed, and the manager's office was changed. Toilets were added, and the bathroom and kitchen were updated.
In 1969, the E.S.&A. Bank joined with the ANZ Bank. The bank continued to operate from the building until December 1972. In 1970, the building was renovated inside and out. The original slate roof was replaced with tiles.
Becoming the Berry Museum
In October 1975, the Berry Museum started renting part of the building. The Shoalhaven Shire Council helped with the rent. When the bank's lease ended in 1978, the museum's space grew. They even set up an outdoor display.
In 1983, the residence part of the building became empty. The Shoalhaven City Council agreed to rent the whole building and grounds to the Berry and District Historical Society. This gave the museum a wonderful home.
What the Berry Museum Looks Like
The Berry Museum is a one-story brick building. It has a unique style called Scottish Baronial. This means it has a stepped gable on the front. The top of the gable has stone and a round decoration called a finial.
The corners of the building have stone supports called corbels. There is a round window in the middle of the gable. The tops of the windows and the main entrance have light-colored brickwork. The upper parts of the windows have painted lattice designs.
There are covered porches, called verandahs, on the sides of the building. The roof is made of dark red terracotta tiles. These replaced the original slate roof. A white picket fence surrounds the building. There is 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 residence.
The building is in excellent condition. It still looks very much like it did when it was first built. Even with some changes over the years, you can still see how the different rooms were used. The updates to the bathroom and kitchen show how homes changed over 90 years. The main banking area has always been where people meet the public.
Why the Berry Museum is Special
The Berry Museum is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is special for many reasons:
- Designed by a Famous Architect: It was designed in 1884 by William Wilkinson Wardell. He was a very important architect. The building's style shows his unique design ideas. It is also rare because it is the only one left of five smaller banks Wardell designed.
- Beautiful and Unique Design: The building is very beautiful and has a Victorian Gothic style. Its stepped gables look like old Scottish castles. This makes it a landmark in Berry. The inside of the building also has a lot of its original charm. It is a great example of late Victorian architecture.
- Important to the Community: This building was one of the main banks in Berry. It was also the first building in town designed by a famous architect. It was a key part of the town's business center as Berry grew. Today, it continues to be important as the Berry Museum. It is the home of the Berry and District Historical Society. The museum helps tourists learn about the area. It is also a great place for local history research. It has a wonderful collection about Aboriginal family and cultural history. This collection was created with the help of Aboriginal elders.
- A Rare Example: The Berry Museum is rare because it is the only surviving example of Wardell's smaller bank designs in New South Wales. It shows a warmer, more home-like style. This was different from the grand, classical buildings banks usually built back then.
The Berry Museum was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 September 2006.
See also
