Carthona, Kensington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carthona |
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Carthona_Kensington.jpg)
Carthona, pictured in 2015
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| Location | Todman Avenue, Kensington, City of Randwick, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Queen Anne |
| Official name: Carthona | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 555 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Carthona is a special old house in Kensington, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was built a long time ago, in 1910. This house is so important that it's now on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's officially protected because of its history and unique style.
Contents
The Story of Carthona
Carthona was built around 1910 by a person named Mr. Frank Gallagher. For many years, until 1986, the house stayed with the same family.
In 1986, a group called the National Trust of Australia (NSW) asked for Carthona to be protected. They wanted to make sure this special house would be kept safe. So, on February 21, 1986, a temporary protection order was put on the property. This gave people time to study how important the house was.
Later, on February 19, 1988, a permanent protection order was placed on Carthona. This made its protection official. Finally, on April 2, 1999, the house was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This is a list of places that are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales.
What Carthona Looks Like
Carthona is a single-story house made of brick. It sits on a strong base made of sandstone. The house is built very well.
Outside the House
The front of the house has special brickwork with two different colors and neat lines of mortar, called "tuckpointing." The veranda (a covered porch) and the triangular part of the roof (called a gable) have pretty wooden decorations. These details are typical of the Federation Queen Anne style.
The roof is made of slate tiles and has a hipped shape, which means it slopes down on all sides. The top of the roof has terracotta ridge capping. The tall chimneys are still there. They have a rough plaster finish and terracotta chimney pots on top.
The front door has special glass panels on the sides (sidelights) and above (fanlight). These panels feature beautiful leaded glass designs. The windows are made of timber and open by sliding up and down (double-hung sash windows). The windows at the front of the house have colored glass with etched star patterns.
Inside the House
Inside Carthona, almost all the original details are still there. The ceilings have fancy plaster decorations with designs of Australian plants and animals. The doors, door frames, and skirtings (the trim along the bottom of the walls) have a special finish that looks like wood grain.
The fireplaces are also very nice. The one in the drawing room is made of fine marble. The fireplaces in the bedrooms and dining room are made of timber with pretty tiled surrounds.
Condition and Changes
As of 2011, the house was in good physical condition.
Over the years, some changes have been made to Carthona:
- In 1986, some old kitchen and bathroom parts were removed. The back veranda was made bigger and enclosed, and a garage was built.
- In 2009, the back of the house was extended, a new deck was added at the back, and some changes were made inside.
Why Carthona is Special
Carthona is a great example of the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture. It was built around 1910 for a plasterer (someone who works with plaster).
The house still has almost all its original features. This includes the slate roof with terracotta ridge capping, the chimneys with their rough finish, the leaded glass, and the etched colored glass windows. Inside, the ornamental plaster ceilings with Australian plant and animal designs, and the wooden details with their grained finish, are still perfectly preserved.
Because of its unique style and well-kept original details, Carthona was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
