Brick Cottage, Gayndah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brick Cottage |
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Brick Cottage, 2001
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| Location | 8 Simon Street, Gayndah, North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s–1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian |
| Official name: Brick Cottage, Gayndah Museum | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 14 December 2001 |
| Reference no. | 602185 |
| Significant period | 1860s (fabric, historical) 1900 (fabric) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation – main house |
| Builders | Henry Fenwick |
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The Brick Cottage is a special old house in Gayndah, Queensland, Australia. It was built way back in 1864 by Henry Fenwick. Today, it's a museum called the Gayndah Museum. It's so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on December 14, 2001, which means it's protected for its history.
Contents
The Story of Brick Cottage
The Brick Cottage in Gayndah was built in 1864. A local builder named Henry Fenwick constructed it for Mr. Alexander Walker. Mr. Walker was an early resident of Gayndah and also ran the Gayndah Hotel. This cottage is the oldest brick house still standing in Gayndah.
How Gayndah Began
Gayndah became a town in 1849. This was soon after people started settling on land in the Central Burnett area. Maurice Charles O'Connell chose the spot for Gayndah and named it in 1849. The town's name was officially recognized in 1850 when a Post Office and Courthouse were set up. Gayndah was officially declared a town in 1852.
Early Settlers and Owners
Around 1850, a road to the Port of Maryborough was made. This brought many new settlers to Gayndah. Over the next ten years, farming industries like sheep, cattle, and dairy grew strong. The first land sales in Gayndah happened in 1854.
Joseph Hadley was one of the first people to buy land in the town. He bought the land where the Brick Cottage now stands in 1854. In 1864, Alexander Walker bought this land from Mr. Hadley. He then hired Henry Fenwick to build the brick cottage. It's thought that Alexander Walker lived there for about six years. He was also the foster father to the Barnard boys.
The Barnard Family's Home
In 1870, William Barnard became the owner of the Brick Cottage. William was a local blacksmith. He and his wife, Elizabeth McDonald, lived in the cottage for a long time. They stayed there until their daughter, Ellen, passed away in 1958.
After the Barnard family, the cottage had a few different owners. In 1969, the Gayndah Shire Council bought the cottage. They did this to save it from being torn down.
Changes Over Time
The land where the Brick Cottage stands used to be much larger. It stretched from Capper Street to Burnett Terrace. There were other buildings on the property, including a blacksmith's shop.
The cottage was built with bricks made right there in the area. It was in the Georgian style and first had three rooms with a central fireplace. Around 1900, an open porch was added to the back. This porch had a small room that was used as a kitchen. The cottage also has two front doors, which might mean it was meant to be a home and a shop. However, there is no proof that it was ever used as a shop.
During the Barnard family's time, the inside of the cottage stayed mostly the same. After they sold it in 1958, some changes were made. The back porch was closed in during the late 1950s. The original wooden floors were taken out. This left the main bedroom with a concrete floor and the living area with a dirt floor. The decorations above the fireplace were also removed. The wall between the two bedrooms was taken down, changing the cottage from three rooms to two.
Saving the Cottage
Since the Gayndah Shire Council bought the Brick Cottage in 1969, a lot of work has been done to fix it up. In 1988, the old shingle roof was replaced with a corrugated iron roof. Work was also done on the ceiling, which needed more repairs in 1994. The dirt floor in the main room was replaced with concrete. The front doors were changed, and the inside walls were replastered. The fireplace decorations were also replaced.
Today, the Brick Cottage is a museum run by the Gayndah Historical Society. It used to be the only building on its land. Now, it's part of a historical village with other old buildings from Gayndah. The museum holds many items that show what early life in Gayndah was like.
What the Brick Cottage Looks Like
The Brick Cottage is on the southern end of Simon Street in Gayndah. It's a simple, balanced building with one floor. It's made of local bricks and has a corrugated iron roof. A wooden addition is attached to the back, also with a corrugated iron roof.
Outside Features
The brick part of the house shows a Georgian style. It has a simple rectangular shape and a balanced front. There are two large windows and two front doors facing Simon Street. A back door leads to the enclosed porch. There are also windows on the sides of the house. The roof edges are not covered, and the wooden beams have a curved shape.
Inside the Cottage
Inside, the main cottage has a new concrete floor. The walls are plastered, and the ceilings are covered with wooden boards. A strong brick wall divides the cottage into two parts. This wall has two fireplaces, one on each side. The northern part of the cottage used to be two rooms, and you can still see where the dividing wall was.
At the back of the cottage, there's an enclosed porch and a small lean-to. The enclosed porch has been made bigger and divided into two rooms. These rooms have wooden siding, and some parts are covered with fiberboard. The small lean-to is made of wooden strips and has a corrugated iron roof.
Why Brick Cottage is Important
The Brick Cottage was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on December 14, 2001. This means it's recognized for its historical value.
Showing Queensland's History
The Brick Cottage was built in Gayndah in 1864. It's very important to the community because it's the only house left from the town's early settlement. The cottage helps us understand how some of Queensland's older towns grew.
A Rare Example
Built very early in the town's history, the cottage is a great example of a worker's home from the mid-1800s. It's also special because it was built using bricks made by hand right there in the area, which is a rare thing to see now.
