Carss Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carss Cottage |
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Carss Cottage, pictured in 2005
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| Location | 74 Carwar Avenue, Carss Park, Georges River Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1865 |
| Built for | William Carss |
| Owner | Georges River Council |
| Official name: Carss Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 587 |
| Type | Cottage |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Scottish masons |
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Carss Cottage is a very old house located in Carss Bush Park in Carss Park, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1865 by skilled Scottish stonemasons. Today, it is a historical museum where you can learn about the past. The local government, Georges River Council, owns this special building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, which means it's officially recognized as an important historical place.
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History of Carss Cottage
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Carss Cottage stands on land that was first given to Jonathan Croft in 1853. Over the next few years, the land was bought and sold a few times.
In 1863, a man named William Carss bought the land. William Carss was a cabinet maker who came to Sydney from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1831. He was one of many skilled workers who came to Australia to help build new places. He even worked as a main carpenter on a big house called Lyndhurst.
Carss Cottage was likely finished by December 1865. It's thought that the same Scottish stonemasons who built parts of the University of Sydney buildings also built Carss Cottage. The stone for the cottage was even taken from a large rock right there on the property!
William Carss passed away in 1878. His daughters, Mary and Anne, inherited the property. Later, Mary Carss left the cottage to the Sydney Sailors' Home when she died in 1916.
In the mid-1920s, the Sydney Sailors' Home sold the property to the Georges River Council. The council decided to turn part of the land into a park, which is now Carss Bush Park. This park officially opened on Australia Day in 1924. The rest of the land was divided into smaller blocks for houses.
After the council bought it, Carss Cottage became the home for the park's ranger. The first ranger, Joseph Harald Coxhead, lived there from 1924 to 1953. Over the years, some changes were made to the cottage, like adding stone walls and seats in the garden during the 1930s.
In the late 1960s, people became very interested in history, especially with the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook's arrival coming up. So, the Georges River Council decided to let a historical society use Carss Cottage as a historical museum. This is how it is used today!
What Carss Cottage Looks Like
Carss Cottage is built with strong sandstone walls. Its roof is made of slate.
Condition and Changes
The cottage is in good shape. It has been well looked after over the years.
Here are some important dates for the cottage:
- 1865 – The cottage was built.
- 1924 – The land was divided, and the cottage became the park ranger's home.
- 1928 – Some old sheds were taken down, and changes were made inside the cottage.
- 1930s – Stone walls, an arbor (a leafy archway), and stone seats were added to the garden.
Why Carss Cottage is Important
Carss Cottage is a very special place for a few reasons. It's one of the oldest buildings in the southern Sydney area, especially south of the Cooks River. It's actually the oldest building in the Kogarah area! This means it tells us a lot about how the area first grew and developed.
William Carss himself was an important person in Sydney in the 1830s. He was a master craftsman and helped start the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts in 1834, which was a place for people to learn new skills.
The cottage is also a rare example of a stone homestead from the mid-Victorian period in southern Sydney. It sits on a small hill near Kogarah Bay. Its beautiful, untouched setting makes it a key part of the area's charm and history.
Carss Cottage was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because it meets certain important rules:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
It's one of the oldest buildings in the area and shows how the Kogarah area first developed. William Carss was a significant figure in early Sydney.
- It has special beauty or shows great skill in its design.
It's a rare example of a stone house from its time. Its location and natural surroundings add to the beauty of Kogarah Bay.
- It is a rare or uncommon part of New South Wales history.
It is the oldest building in the Kogarah area and one of the oldest in southern Sydney.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
