Carisbrook, Lane Cove facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carisbrook
Location	334 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1884
Architectural style(s)	Victorian
Owner	Lane Cove Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Carisbrook
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	112
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
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Carisbrook is a special old house in Lane Cove, Sydney, Australia. It used to be a family home, but now it's a museum where you can learn about local history. This beautiful house was built in 1884 and is owned by the Lane Cove Council. It is listed on the heritage register, which means it's an important historical place.

A Look Back: Carisbrook's History

Carisbrook has a long and interesting story, changing hands many times before becoming the museum it is today.

• 1835 – The land where Carisbrook stands was first bought by John Clarke.
• 1836 – Richard Linley bought the land and set up a rope-making business there.
• 1860 – Rachel Martha and Thomas Brooks moved into a small wooden cottage on the site after they got married.
• 1884 – After Thomas and Rachel passed away, their son, Charles Phillips Brooks, built the stone house we now know as Carisbrook. He lived there for only a year before renting it out.
• 1920 – James Warr, a real estate agent, bought the property. The land around the house was divided into six smaller blocks. The house continued to be rented out.
• 1940 – Harry Thorne, a law clerk, and his wife Lucie bought Carisbrook. It became their family home for 17 years.
• 1957 – A milliner (someone who makes hats), James McDougall, bought the house. He loved its history and worked to improve the house and its gardens.
• 1966 – Before the Lane Cove Council bought it, a nearby company, Tuta Products, owned Carisbrook. They used it as an office and a place for their staff to live.
• 1969 – The Lane Cove Council bought Carisbrook. They restored it to celebrate their 75th anniversary. Since then, the Lane Cove Historical Society has furnished it, and it has been open as a house and local history museum.

In 1980, the Lane Cove Council worked to protect Carisbrook. A special order was put in place on June 26, 1981, to make sure its historical importance was recognized and preserved.

What Carisbrook Looks Like

The entrance gates to Carisbrook.

Carisbrook is a beautiful single-story house made of sandstone. It was built in 1884. The house sits in lovely gardens that stretch down to the Lane Cove River.

It has a bay window and a corner verandah. The verandah has a curved iron roof supported by fancy cast iron columns with decorative lace brackets. The main roof is hipped and made of slate. The windows and French doors have shutters, but these were added later.

There's also a charming courtyard at the back. Its walls were built with sandstone in the 1960s, and it still has its original well. The verandahs have beautiful patterned tiles, which were likely bought from the Sydney Arcade when it was being taken down in the 1960s.

How the House Has Changed

Carisbrook has been updated and cared for over the years.

• 1940s – A doorway was added between what is now the kitchen and the museum room.
• 1960s – A garage, laundry, and courtyard wall were built. The sandstone for these came from another old mansion called Amalfi, which was being demolished. A nice iron fence and stone gate posts from Amalfi were also added. The verandahs got new tiles, and shutters were put on the windows. The gardens were also greatly improved.
• 1969–1970 – More restoration work was done inside the house to make it look like it did in the past.

Why Carisbrook is Important

The heritage boundaries around Carisbrook.

Carisbrook is a great example of Victorian architecture from 1884. It still has many of its original features and is set in lovely gardens. It's open to the public as a museum, showing what life was like in the past.

It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria:

• It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.

* It's the oldest house still standing in the Linley Point area, built in 1884. * It shows how new roads and bridges, like the nearby Fig Tree Bridge, helped areas develop and grow.

• It is beautiful and shows great design.

* The house is visually appealing and well-designed, made of sandstone. * It has beautiful landscaped gardens that go all the way down to Burns Bay.

• It is important to the community.

* As a house museum, it helps people understand how daily life and technology have changed since 1884. * It hosts many community events and welcomes visitors of all ages. It's the only historical museum in Lane Cove that's regularly open to the public, making it a key part of community life.

• It can teach us about history.

* Carisbrook is a great example of Victorian architecture. It's the only Victorian house museum in Sydney that's open to the public. * This makes it a special place for students and researchers to learn about Victorian design and how people lived during that time.

• It is rare and unique.

* It's the oldest surviving home on Linley Point. * It's also believed to be the only Victorian house museum in Sydney that is open to everyone.

• It represents a type of historical place.

* It shows what a middle-class Victorian family home was like. * By exploring the museum, visitors can learn about different parts of Victorian family life.

See also

• Australian residential architectural styles