Cintra House, Maitland facts for kids
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Cintra House
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Quick facts for kids |
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| Location | 34 Regent Street, Maitland, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1878–1879 |
| Architect | Buildings and extensions: John Wiltshire Pender; Garden: Mr R Culbert (Sydney landscape architect) |
| Official name: Cintra – House, Garden and Stables | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 31 August 2012 |
| Reference no. | 01892 |
| Type | Villa |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | House, Stables, Fence & Garden – Robert James; 1887 Ext. – H Noad; Underground water tanks – I Morris |
Cintra House, also known simply as Cintra, is a beautiful old home in Maitland, Australia. It's a special building because of its history and amazing design. Built between 1878 and 1879, it was designed by architect John Wiltshire Pender. The lovely garden was created by R. Culbert, a landscape architect from Sydney. Cintra House is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2012.
Contents
Cintra House: A Look Back
How Cintra House Began
Cintra House was first built as a private home for Benn W. Levy in 1878. He was part of the important Levy and Cohen merchant families. These families were well-known in Maitland and around the world for their businesses.
In 1887, Benn Levy moved to London. His cousin, Neville Cohen, then took over Cintra. Neville asked the original architect, J. W. Pender, to design some additions. The house grew from 23 rooms to 31 rooms, including a billiard room and more bedrooms.
Cintra as a Hospital
Later, in 1917, the Cohen family sold Cintra to the Long family. Five sisters from the Long family lived there. During World War One, they turned Cintra into a private hospital. Nurse Eileen Long ran the hospital until the late 1930s or early 1940s. After that, it became a private home again.
Restoring Cintra's Charm
In 1965, Richard and Yvonne Long took over Cintra. They worked hard to restore the house and garden. They painted, fixed the garden, and repaired fences. In 1988, some parts like bathrooms and the kitchen were updated.
The verandah, a covered porch, was also carefully restored between 1990 and 1992. They used a strong wood called Tallowwood to replace the old, damaged wood. The garden still has many of its original plants and features, showing how it looked long ago.
The Cohen and Levy Families' Impact
The Cohen and Levy families were very important to the growth of Maitland. They were Jewish merchants who helped expand trade in the area. Their company, David Cohen & Co., became very successful.
Benn Levy and Neville Cohen were descendants of the company's founders. The families were also known for their generosity. They supported charities, local groups, and hospitals. For example, they helped establish the Maitland Synagogue, the first Jewish temple outside of Sydney.
What Cintra House Looks Like
The House Itself
Cintra is a large, two-story house built in the Victorian Italianate style. This style was popular in the late 1800s. It sits on its original land, with driveways, paths, and gardens still in their first layout.
The house is made of brick with a slate roof. It has 31 rooms, balconies, and verandahs, covering a huge area. A tall, three-story tower reaches 14 meters high, topped with fancy iron decorations. This tower once held a large water tank, which helped supply water to the house and garden.
The balconies have iron roofs supported by tall, fluted cast iron columns. These columns were made by a company in Redfern. You'll also see lots of detailed cast-iron lace railings and decorative screens. The iron decorations on the verandahs look like grapevines with leaves and fruit.
Inside, the house has two main staircases. The main one in the entrance hall has beautiful cedar wood railings and decorative newel posts. The rooms are very tall, with high ceilings and fancy cedar wood details. Many rooms have marble fireplaces with patterned tile hearths. The bathrooms even had hot and cold running water!
The original owners filled the house with luxurious items, like expensive gas light fixtures and fancy door handles made of ebony and gold. The kitchen, laundry, and a strong room are in a separate wing of the house. There's also a cellar underneath the house.
The Beautiful Garden
Cintra's garden still has its original driveways, stables, and coach house. You enter the garden through old wrought iron gates. These gates lead to a heart-shaped lawn with a circular driveway. In the center of the lawn are two terracotta urns on stands.
A gravel driveway goes around the house to the coach house at the back. The garden has formal lawns and paths. You can still see original palms and bird-of-paradise flowers, along with other plants popular in the Victorian era.
In the past, there was a croquet and bowls lawn, and later a tennis court. These have been removed to bring back the original lawn. Many old trees, like Bunya Bunya, hoop pine, and jacarandas, grow throughout the grounds.
The Stables and Coach House
At the back of the house is a two-story brick building. This building was the coach house and stables. It had a place for carriages, a room for harnesses, and stalls for two horses. The rooms were well-ventilated with louver windows. Upstairs, there was a hay loft and a room for the groom. This building was also connected to the water supply.
Cintra House Today
Cintra House and its garden are kept in excellent condition. The goal is to keep the property looking as authentic as possible. Some very old trees have been replaced with younger ones for safety. The front fence has also been replaced, but it looks exactly like the original one from the 1890s.
The paths and driveway are maintained with local river gravel, just like they were originally. There might even be old foundations of a summer house buried in the garden, and the underground water tanks are still there.
Cintra House is very special because it's still on its original land. Almost all the original buildings are still standing, except for the summer house. The garden layout is also mostly the same. This makes Cintra House a wonderfully preserved example of a Victorian-era home.
Why Cintra House is Important
Cintra House, its garden, and stables are important because they show us what a grand Victorian home looked like. It's a beautiful example of the Italianate style, with its fancy details and large size. It's a well-known landmark in Maitland.
The house also tells us about the history of the Hunter Valley region. It shows how towns grew and businesses expanded long ago. It's connected to the famous architect J. W. Pender, who designed the house and its additions.
Cintra House is also important because of its strong connection to the Levy and Cohen families. They were key figures in trade and business in New South Wales and the United Kingdom. They also played a big role in the Jewish community in Maitland and Sydney.
This house is rare because it's so well-preserved. It still has its original layout, many original rooms, and the stables and garden are largely unchanged. It's a great example of its architectural style and how people lived in the late 1800s.
Cintra House helps us understand the history of New South Wales. It shows how important families contributed to the community and how architecture developed in the region. It's a true treasure from the past.
