Bishops Lodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bishops Lodge |
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| Location | Moama Street, Hay, Hay Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1888–1888 |
| Owner | Hay Shire Council |
| Official name: Bishops Lodge; Linton House Hostel for Boys | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 482 |
| Type | Homestead building |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Bishops Lodge is a special old house in Hay, Australia. It was built in 1888 and used to be a home for bishops and later a hostel for boys. Today, it is a house museum where people can visit and learn about its past. The building is owned by the Hay Shire Council and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its important history and unique design.
Contents
History of Bishops Lodge
Why Was Hay Chosen?
In the 1800s, explorers like Charles Sturt traveled along the Murrumbidgee River. Soon, farmers and their animals settled in the area known as the Riverina. Hay became an important crossing point on the river for moving livestock to markets. It was first called Lang's Crossing-place.
In 1859, the town was officially named "Hay" after a politician named John Hay. It grew into a small but important town, especially after steamboats started traveling up the Murrumbidgee River.
In 1882, people in Hay wanted their town to be the main center for the new Anglican Church area, called the Diocese of Riverina. They believed having a bishop and a cathedral would help the town grow. Even though Hay was small, it was in a central location.
Bishop Linton Builds a Home
The first Bishop of Riverina, Sydney Linton, arrived in Hay in 1885. He traveled a lot and saw how hot the Riverina climate could be. He wanted a special house that would stay cool.
Bishop Linton worked with architect John Sulman to design Bishops Lodge. The house was built in 1888. It had many clever features to deal with the heat, like walls made of corrugated iron with sawdust inside for insulation. This design was very unusual for the time.
The Linton family moved into the new house in 1890. Bishop Linton loved the house, saying it was "admirable for a summer residence" and stayed cool. He also planted a large garden with fruit trees and flowers. However, the garden faced challenges like locust plagues and floods.
Life with Bishop Anderson
Bishop Linton died in 1894. Soon after, Ernest Augustus Anderson became the new Bishop of Riverina. He moved into Bishops Lodge with his wife and four children in 1895. Two more daughters were born while they lived there.
The Anderson family found the Lodge very spacious. Bishop Anderson was an active person who loved gardening, especially roses. He created a famous rose garden at the Lodge. He also collected china and painted.
The house had staff, including a married couple who cooked and gardened. A Chinese gardener named Ah Mow worked there for many years. He grew vegetables for the family and sold extra produce in town.
Bishop Anderson faced many financial challenges during his time. The church had money problems, partly because of the cost of Bishops Lodge. Despite this, he worked hard to improve the church's finances and paid off the house loans by 1918. He retired in 1924.
Changes to the Garden
Over the years, the garden at Bishops Lodge changed. In the early 1900s, it had well-kept lawns and beautiful flower beds. There were large rose bushes and trees like pepper trees.
Bishop Anderson's rose garden was very important to him. He labeled every rose bush. There was also a summer-house and a small bush house for plants. Trellises covered with grapevines lined the paths.
The stables on the property were later used as a home for the Dean family in the 1920s. They lived there until the early 1940s. A tennis court was also added to the grounds.
From Home to Hostel
After Bishop Anderson retired, the church tried to sell Bishops Lodge. It was a big house and expensive to keep up. However, they couldn't find a buyer right away.
In 1925, Bishop Reginald Halse moved into the Lodge. He enjoyed the garden, which continued to be well-maintained.
In 1935, a large part of Bishops Lodge was turned into the Linton House Hostel for Boys. The big house and grounds were perfect for boys to play tennis, cricket, and football. The hostel was successful until 1946 when the church finally sold the building.
Private Owners and Museum Today
In 1946, the Lodge was sold to Mr. Nick Panaretto and Mrs. Kerany Carides. They lived there comfortably for many years. After they passed away, Mrs. Panaretto sold the property to the Hay Shire Council in 1985.
Since 1985, Bishops Lodge has been a community house museum. Volunteers work hard to keep the house and garden beautiful. They have planted many old-fashioned roses, some from Bishop Anderson's time. The goal is to keep the special feeling of the garden alive for everyone to enjoy.
What Does Bishops Lodge Look Like?
Bishops Lodge is a large, impressive building that faces north towards the Murrumbidgee River. You can see it clearly from the Sturt Highway, making it a well-known landmark. The way it's built and positioned helps it stay cool in the hot climate.
The Garden
The Lodge has a big country garden, especially towards the river. It's famous for its many old roses. Volunteers help keep the garden looking great.
In the past, there was a grand entrance from Lang Street with a wide path for carriages. Now, it's mostly a walking path. The Roset Street entrance is known as the "front gate." The garden has lovely lawns, flower beds, and trees.
The large rose garden is north of the driveway. Bishop Anderson loved his roses and labeled each one. There's also a "hidden garden" that was once an open rose garden. You can still see some of the old posts and wire netting from its past.
The garden also had areas for growing grapes, rosemary, and lavender. There were vegetable gardens, and an orchard.
The House
The main house, a kitchen block, and two smaller buildings make up Bishops Lodge. The house has a central courtyard and a verandah that goes all around it. You can get to all the rooms from the verandah.
The outside walls are made of corrugated iron, and the inside walls are ripple iron. Sawdust was put inside the walls for insulation, which was very clever for keeping the house cool. The design is simple but has nice details like carved verandah posts and roof vents.
The house is a single-story building with eighteen rooms inside. Each room is quite large and has a fireplace. The ceilings are high, which also helps keep the house cool. The old chapel even has a stained glass window.
The Kitchen Block
The kitchen block has a big kitchen and smaller rooms. It's connected to the main house by a covered walkway.
Why is it Special?
Bishops Lodge is important because it's a rare example of a large, well-preserved iron house from the 1800s in the Riverina. Its design shows how people adapted buildings to suit the extreme weather and soil conditions of the area. Its unique construction even influenced other buildings in Hay.
Bishops Lodge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, recognizing its historical and architectural value.
Images for kids
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Bishops Lodge, front view.
