Bird In The Hand Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bird In The Hand Inn |
|
|---|---|
The building c. 1981
|
|
| Location | 87 Eldon Street, Pitt Town, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Bird In The Hand Inn (former); Bird In The Hand Inn | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 373 |
| Type | Inn/Tavern |
| Category | Commercial |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Bird In The Hand Inn is a very old and important building in Pitt Town, New South Wales, Australia. It's located at 87 Eldon Street. This historic inn is also known as the Maid of Australia Inn. It's so special that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's protected because of its history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Inn's History
The first Bird in Hand Inn was built in 1825. It was across the street from where the current building stands today. Daniel Smallwood was the first person to run the inn.
Later, George Buckridge took over the business. After he passed away in 1843, his wife Elizabeth managed the inn. The building we see today was likely built in the late 1840s.
In the 1850s, Richard Mawson became the owner. He changed the inn's name to the Maid of Australia. It kept this name until it closed as an inn in 1896.
After closing, the building became a general store. It was carefully restored in 1986 and reopened as a hotel in 1987. More recently, a gaming room was added in 2020.
What the Inn Looks Like
The Bird in Hand Inn is a very important example of a Colonial Georgian style building. This means it was built during the time when Australia was a British colony, and its design shows features popular in the Georgian era.
It's a two-story building made of sandstock brick. It has a unique angled corner wall and a steeply sloped iron roof. The outside walls are covered and smoothed.
A long verandah (a covered porch) runs along the front and sides. It has timber posts and a stone floor. The windows on the ground floor now match the original windows upstairs. There's also a two-story section at the back, connected to the main building.
The building was restored in the late 1980s. Old additions were removed, and a new two-story section with a beer garden was added. Next to the inn is the Pitt Town Village shopping complex. This modern complex was designed to look like the old Georgian style of the inn.
Why This Inn Is Important
The Bird in Hand Inn is very important for several reasons.
Historical Importance
It is the oldest inn in Pitt Town. It shows us what life was like in the early days of the town. Daniel Smallwood, an important early settler, built and ran the inn for many years.
Architectural Importance
The inn is a great example of a Georgian Colonial building. This style of building is becoming rare, so the inn helps us understand how buildings were designed long ago.
A Village Landmark
The inn is located right in the middle of Pitt Town. Its unique steeply sloped roof makes it easy to spot when you are coming into town. It's a key landmark that helps define the village. The shopping complex built next to it also matches its style, showing its importance.
Community Hub
For many years, the inn was a central place for people in Pitt Town to meet and socialize. Even today, as part of the village's commercial center, it continues to be a gathering spot for the community.
Archaeological Potential
Because it's the oldest inn in Pitt Town, the area around the former Bird in Hand might hold interesting clues about the past. Digging there could uncover old artifacts and tell us more about the people who lived and worked there long ago.
Heritage Protection
The Bird In The Hand Inn was first listed on the former Register of the National Estate on May 14, 1991. Later, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. Being on these lists means it's recognized as a very important historical site and is protected for future generations.
