Broughton House, Parramatta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broughton House |
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Broughton House in August 2019
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| Location | 43a Thomas Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1838– |
| Architect | John Verge (possible) |
| Official name: Broughton House; Newlands; Bowden House; The Farm House; Broughton House; Parramatta Convalescent Home; Parramatta Nursing Home | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 October 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1302 |
| Type | Mansion |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Broughton House is a very old building in Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales. It has been many things over the years. It started as a grand home, then became a school, and is now a nursing home.
The house was built starting in 1838. It might have been designed by a famous architect named John Verge. Over time, it has been known by different names like Newlands, Bowden House, and the Parramatta Nursing Home. It is considered a special historical site in New South Wales.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Early Days and First Owners
The land where Broughton House stands was once part of two farms. These farms were given to two sailors from HMS Sirius in 1791. They were meant for farming.
Later, a lot of this land was bought by Samuel Marsden. He was a very important person in early New South Wales. He was a chaplain and also a big farmer. He owned much land around Parramatta.
In 1835, Samuel Marsden built a house called Newlands for his daughter Jane and her husband. This house was located on the north side of the Parramatta River. Many other fancy homes were built in this area around the same time.
The Campbell Family's Home
In 1837, a man named Pieter Laurentz Campbell bought some land from Samuel Marsden. Campbell was a Police Magistrate in Parramatta. He started building his own grand house in 1838. This house is believed to be the one we now call Broughton House.
The architect John Verge likely designed Campbell's house. Verge also designed other famous buildings like Elizabeth Bay House. Campbell was very proud of his new home. He even paid an artist to sketch it.
However, the Campbell family only lived in the house for about a year. In 1839, Pieter Campbell moved to Sydney for a new job. Jane Marsden, Samuel Marsden's daughter, then bought the house back.
A School for Boys
Broughton House stayed in Jane Marsden's family until 1876. We don't know for sure who lived there between 1842 and 1864. It might have been rented out to military officers.
From 1864, the house became a popular school run by William Woolls. It was called "Mr Woolls' Academy." About 30 boys attended, some living there as boarders. Woolls was a great teacher and a botanist. He taught the boys about plants and took them on field trips. He was so respected that he became a Fellow of the Linnean Society in London. Woolls retired from teaching in 1872.
Changes and New Names
In 1876, Thomas Kendall Bowden bought the property. After he died, it became known as Bowden House. Later, in 1897, Sarah Emily Richards owned it.
In 1908, Percival Stacy Waddy bought the property. He was the Headmaster of The King's School, Parramatta. He leased the house to the school. The school used it to teach young men skills like wool classing and farm management. Waddy first called it "the Farm House." Then, in 1911, he renamed it "Broughton House." This was to honor the person who founded The King's School in Australia.
The King's School Council officially bought the house in 1916. It continued as part of the school until 1942, when it closed due to World War II. It reopened in 1946 and was used by the school until the mid-1960s.
A Nursing Home Today
After the school stopped using it, the land around the house was divided up. Broughton House itself was sold. It then became a convalescent home, which is a place for people to recover after an illness.
Since 1971, it has been operated as the Parramatta Convalescent Home, which is now a nursing home. While new buildings have been added around it, the original Broughton House still stands.
What Does it Look Like?
Broughton House is a two-story building with a special style called Regency. It has curved sections and French doors that open onto verandas. The roof is covered in slate. There's a fancy arched entrance with a tower and a weather vane on top.
Inside, the main hall has a beautiful wooden staircase. It has detailed carvings and a special ceiling. One room has wooden panels and a finely carved fireplace. Many of the main doors have decorative frames. There's also a part of the house that was used for servants.
The Gardens
Even though some of the land has been used for new buildings, Broughton House still has some lovely old trees and plants. You can see a tall Californian desert fan palm, silky oaks, a lemon-scented gum, and a Chinese elm. There are also paperbark trees, English oaks, and jacarandas. These plants give you an idea of how grand the gardens once were.
Condition and Changes
Broughton House is in good condition, even though it has been changed over the years. Many of its original features inside are still there. Some changes were made to meet modern health requirements for the nursing home. For example, some parts of the building were removed or extended, and the roof was repaired in 2008.
Why is Broughton House Important?
Broughton House is a very important historical site in New South Wales for several reasons:
- It shows what a grand home looked like for wealthy settlers in the early days of New South Wales. These settlers helped build the colony.
- It has strong connections to important families like the Marsdens and famous people like Pieter Campbell and William Woolls.
- It was home to William Woolls' school, which was important for education and science. It was also used by The King's School for many years.
- It is a beautiful example of Regency style architecture. It's one of the few early homes left in Parramatta.
- It helps us understand the history of Parramatta and how the area developed.
- It's the only remaining house of several grand homes that once faced the Parramatta River in that area.
Broughton House is valued by the community because of its long history and its role in educating many students. It also has the potential for archaeologists to discover more about its past.
