Charing Cross, Queens Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charing Cross |
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Charing Cross, Queens Park
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| Location | 11 Victoria Street, Queens Park, Waverley Municipality, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1860 |
| Official name: Charing Cross | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 449 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Charing Cross is a special old building in Queens Park, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It started as a family home, then became a pre-school, and is now a house and a childcare center. This historic place was built way back in 1860. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of the state's history and needs to be protected.
Contents
History of Charing Cross
How Waverley Got Its Name
The area where Charing Cross is located is called Waverley. This name comes from a famous book by a Scottish writer named Sir Walter Scott. A man named Barnett Levey came to Sydney in the 1820s. He liked the city so much that he decided to stay and start a business.
In 1831, Barnett Levey was given 60 acres of land. He built a large two-story house on this land in 1827. He named it Waverley House, after his favorite book. This house became a well-known landmark and gave its name to the whole area. Barnett Levey also started Sydney's first permanent theater. He spent all his money on his projects and sadly passed away in 1837. Waverley House was later used as a Catholic school before it was taken down in the early 1900s.
Growing Up in Waverley
The area officially became the Waverley Municipality in 1859. By the 1880s, trams were running to the nearby beaches. This made Waverley a popular spot for picnics. Waverley Park had a great oval, which was used by the local cricket club.
Waverley Cemetery was built in 1877. It's in a beautiful spot near the ocean and is the resting place for many important historical figures. In 1866, a record book for New South Wales mentioned that Waverley had several factories. These included places that made soap, candles, and even fireworks! There were also four quarries that dug up excellent stone.
The Charing Cross Homestead
Charing Cross homestead was built in the 1860s. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in the entire Waverley area. Over the years, the building has been changed to fit different uses. The back of the building was updated to become a professional childcare center. The front of the house and the upstairs area were used as a private home.
In 1984, the owner asked for help to fix up the front of the house. Money was provided, and the restoration work was finished in 1985. Because of this help, a special order was placed on the property in 1986. This order helps make sure the building is protected and kept safe for the future.
What Charing Cross Looks Like
Charing Cross is a two-story building. It has a central hallway and a two-story porch, called a verandah. Not much of the original inside of the building remains today.
Changes Over Time
- 1985 – The front of the building was restored. This work was done by Stonehill Restorations, with an architect named David Sheedy watching over the project.
Why Charing Cross is Important
Charing Cross is very important because it is one of the oldest buildings in the Waverley area. It was built in the 1860s, which means it has seen a lot of history unfold.
Charing Cross was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This listing helps protect its historical value for everyone.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
