Chimney Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chimney Cottage |
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Chimney Cottage circa 1932
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| Location | 31-37 Queens Avenue, Mount Wilson, City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 2786, Australia |
| Built | 1932–1932 |
| Built for | Gregson family |
| Architect | Charles Jefferson |
| Architectural style(s) | Log Cabin |
| Official name: Chimney Cottage | |
| Type | Local Environmental Plan |
| Criteria | a, c, f |
| Designated | 27 Dec 1991 |
| Reference no. | MW028 |
| Type | Garden Residential |
| Category | Parks, Gardens and Trees |
| Builders | Kirk brothers |
Chimney Cottage is a special old building in Mount Wilson, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1932 by the Kirk Brothers and designed by Charles Jefferson for the Gregson family. Today, it's a lovely place where people can stay, like a cozy farm getaway! You might also hear it called The Loft or Blueberry Lodge at Chimney Cottage.
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What is Chimney Cottage?
Chimney Cottage is a historic building in Mount Wilson. Mount Wilson is a beautiful village known for its gardens. It's part of the World Heritage Blue Mountains area, not far from Sydney. The area has amazing bushland, rainforests, and historic homes.
The cottage was first a small log cabin. It was a tea-room kiosk in the 1930s. This made it a very important local spot. The original design was inspired by Charles Jefferson, Mrs. Margaret Gregson's father.
You can still see parts of the old tea-room. There's a fold-down counter where Margaret Gregson served tea and lunch. A special stable door was used for guests to enter. There's even a rough boot scraper by the door! The building gets its name from a large stone fireplace and chimney.
Margaret Gregson ran the tea-room for many years. Visitors would often enjoy their meals on the pretty lawns. Signs on the main road would guide people to "To Chimney Cottage."
Sadly, Margaret Gregson became very sick and the tea room closed after she passed away. Her friend, Emma Lulu Ashdown, who had lived at Chimney Cottage for many years, also passed away around the same time. Edward Gregson and his daughters stayed at the cottage until 1946, when they sold it.
In 1963, Duncan ("Jock") Lumsden bought Chimney Cottage. He was a Scottish World War II veteran. His family helped the local school stay open because they added more students. Jock's son, Fraser, was a great bricklayer. He built "The Studio" building on the property. After 1974, Chimney Cottage became a popular place for artists. Many talented artists, like Clifton Pugh, spent time there.
Who Owned Chimney Cottage?
Over the years, Chimney Cottage has had several owners:
- Edward Gregson
- Duncan ("Jock") Lumsden
- Langer Edward ("Ted") Avery and Helen Ruth Avery
- Carstairs (a hotel owner from Katoomba)
- Bruce Knott and Margaret Wickins (the current owners)
Staying at Chimney Cottage
In 1986, Helen Ruth Avery started the first bed and breakfast at Chimney Cottage. Guests could stay in a building called Blueberry Lodge. Later, in 1988, the Avery family added new buildings. This allowed them to offer more rooms, including "The Loft."
Blueberry Lodge (The Studio)
Duncan Lumsden built the original building called "The Studio" in 1974. It was later renamed Blueberry Lodge. It was meant to be an art studio for him, his daughter Fiona, and other artists. Fiona Lumsden grew up at Chimney Cottage. She learned a lot about the local birds, animals, and plants.
Fiona became a very talented artist. Her work has been shown in many places, including the Australian Museum and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden. In 1986, Helen Avery turned this rustic building into a bed and breakfast.
The Loft
Ted and Helen Avery built "The Loft" in 1988. It is located across from Waterfall Reserve in Mount Wilson. At first, only the upstairs part was used for living. The downstairs was a two-car garage.
The Gardens of Chimney Cottage
In the late 1990s, Ted and Helen Avery hired a full-time gardener, Jon Guyver. He helped them design and build the beautiful gardens around Chimney Cottage.
Stone Fences
Chimney Cottage has many lovely stone fences. They give the property an elegant look. In the mid-1980s, Ted and Helen Avery hired a local stone mason, Peter Hodginson, to build these fences.
Blueberries
Ted and Helen Avery started planting Blueberry bushes at Chimney Cottage in 1982. They even got a special license to use water to irrigate the blueberry farm. The blueberries from "Chimney Cottage Farm" were sold to hotels and clubs in the late 1980s.
Azaleas
In 1986, Ted and Helen Avery also planted many Azalea flowers. These add lots of color to the gardens.
Chestnut Trees
The Gregson family, the first owners, planted Chestnut trees on the grounds of Chimney Cottage.
Rimon Property
In the mid-1980s, Ted and Helen Avery bought the property next to Chimney Cottage. It was called "Rimon" and was about 5 acres. Rimon needed a lot of work. Ted Avery invested a lot to fix up the house and develop the gardens.
For many years, the Avery family used Rimon as a home for staff working at Chimney Cottage. This included their gardener, Jon Guyver. The property has an open field, some rainforest, and a natural spring. The gardens at Rimon have many different kinds of plants. Ted Avery and Jon Guyver planted trees, shrubs, and rare bulbs. There's also a small organic orchard with lemon, lime, apple, and other fruit trees.
