Bridge View Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridge View Inn |
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| Location | 28-30 Louee Street, Rylstone, Mid-Western Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1860–1870 |
| Owner | Rylstone and District Historical Society Incorporated |
| Official name: Bridge View Inn; Bridge Restaurant; Bridge Hotel; Rylstone Historical Society Building; Bridgeview Inn | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 438 |
| Type | Inn/Tavern |
| Category | Commercial |
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The Bridge View Inn is a special old building in Rylstone, Australia. It was built between 1860 and 1870. Over the years, it has been many different things. It started as a hotel, then became a bank. Today, it offers places to stay, a museum, and shops.
People also know it as the Bridge Hotel or Bridgeview Inn. The Rylstone and District Historical Society owns this historic building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it's an important part of history.
Contents
A Look at the Bridge View Inn's History
How the Inn Began
In the early 1860s, a man named Goodwin Squires Hall came to Rylstone with his family. He had spent time looking for gold before this. Mr. Hall bought land at the top end of Louee Street. He built several small houses and a general store there. This area became known as Hall's Corner. Some of his old houses from that time are still standing.
Building the Bridge Hotel was one of Mr. Hall's biggest projects. It was built in the late 1860s. We don't know who designed or built it. But it's possible a skilled stonemason named Purvis helped. Purvis built many other beautiful stone buildings in Rylstone. The inn was called "Bridge Hotel" because it faced the road bridge over the Cudgegong River.
From Hotel to Bank
In the late 1860s, there were four inns in Rylstone. The Bridgeview was one of them. Mr. Hall rented out the hotel to different people over the years. But in 1895, it stopped being a hotel.
The Australian Joint Stock Bank then bought the building. They had been in a smaller office nearby. The bank used the front rooms, which used to be the bar, as their main office. The rest of the building became the bank manager's home.
The AJS Bank later changed its name. In 1931, it joined with the Bank of New South Wales. Some changes were made to the upstairs area at this time.
New Uses and a Famous Film
In 1950, the bank manager moved out. By 1957, a new bank building was ready. The Bridgeview Inn became empty and was put up for sale. Mr. Fink, an accountant, bought it. He planned to live there after he retired, but sadly, he passed away too soon.
The Rylstone Historical Society then rented the building. They used some rooms for their museum. In 1967, the Society bought the property to protect its future.
In 1978, the Bridge View Inn was used for a famous Australian film. It was the set for "The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith". The old bar area was even "restored" for the movie!
Later, in 1981, grants helped to preserve the building even more. Because of its importance, a special order was placed to protect it in 1986. This became a State Heritage Register listing in 1999.
Discoveries and Today's Use
In the 1980s, an old mural from the 1860s was found in the dining room. The historical society worked to uncover and protect it.
In 1988, the society moved an old cottage to the back of the inn. This "Showground cottage" was built in the early 1900s. It was going to be torn down, but the society saved it. Today, it's used as a local museum.
The Bridgeview Inn is now used for tourism. Different local businesses rent parts of the building. You can find places to stay, eat, and shop there.
What the Bridge View Inn Looks Like
The Bridgeview Inn is one of many stone buildings that make Rylstone look so charming. It's a very important part of the town's look.
The building has two floors and a steep, hipped iron roof. It's made of stone. The front part uses carefully cut sandstone. The other walls are made of rougher stones.
There's a two-story verandah facing Louee Street. It has wooden posts with decorations. There's also a criss-cross pattern between the posts. The upstairs railing has a similar cross design. The windows have twelve small panes and wooden shutters. A skillion roof section runs along the back of the building. Inside, the rooms have high ceilings. There are also narrow hallways with steep stairs and beautiful cedar wood details.
Special Features
- Dining Room Mural: The dining room has a rare mural from the 1860s. It has been carefully uncovered and preserved.
- Old Kitchen: Behind the inn, there's a small building made of stone and old bricks. This was probably the original kitchen.
- Showground Cottage: The early 20th-century "Showground cottage" is now at the back of the property. It serves as a museum for the historical society's collection.
- Other Areas: There's also a rustic wooden shed and a grassy car park next to the inn.
The building was in good condition in 2014.
Changes Over Time
- 1860s: The hotel was first built.
- 1895-1937: It was used as a bank and a home. Small changes were made, like to the upstairs area in 1931.
- 1967-1981: It became a museum. Repairs were done to the dining room, stone walls, roof, and electrical system. The upstairs home also got a small kitchen.
- 1981: It was changed to be used as a restaurant.
- 1988: The old weatherboard cottage was moved from the showground to the inn's property.
- 2009 & 2011: Funding helped to get expert advice and restore the rare 1860s mural in the dining room.
- 2004-2005: More funding helped with repair works.
Why the Bridge View Inn is Important
The Bridge View Inn is a very important old building. It adds a lot to the beautiful look of Rylstone. It's one of several well-built stone buildings that make the village so charming.
This historic inn in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales was built in the 1860s. It has been a hotel, a bank, a lawyer's office, a home, a museum, a restaurant, and a bed and breakfast.
The Bridge View Inn was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's protected for future generations.
Images for kids
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The Bridge View Inn in Rylstone.
