Collits' Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collits' Inn |
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Collits' Inn, pictured in 1989
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| Location | Hartley Vale Road, Hartley Vale, City of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1823 |
| Architect | Pierce Collits |
| Architectural style(s) | Old Colonial Georgian |
| Official name: Collits' Inn; Collitts Inn; Golden Fleece Inn | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 455 |
| Type | Inn/Tavern |
| Category | Commercial |
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Collits' Inn is a very old building in Hartley Vale, Australia. It used to be a place where travellers could stay, like a hotel or a pub. Today, it is used for events, accommodation, and as a restaurant.
Pierce Collits designed and built the inn in 1823. It is also known as Collitts Inn or the Golden Fleece Inn. This historic site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is a very important building that needs to be protected.
The Story of Collits' Inn
Pierce Collits was sent to New South Wales in 1801. His wife, Mary, came with him. In 1803, she received a piece of land. Pierce was later pardoned in 1810. He became a successful farmer, raising many animals. He also held different government jobs.
In 1821, the Collits family was allowed to move their cattle over the Blue Mountains. Pierce stayed as a chief constable until 1823. That same year, two new roads were built over the mountains. Collits built his inn near where these roads met. It quickly became a very important stop for travellers.
A Busy Stop for Travellers
Until 1832, Collits' Inn, also called the Golden Fleece, was the main place to stay on the old western road. It was also a big spot for buying and selling farm animals. Pierce Collits had large paddocks for his cattle and sheep. By 1828, he owned 360 cattle and 300 sheep.
The inn was very successful for about ten years. Important people like governors visited it. In 1830, it even became a post office. But after 1834, the inn became less popular. This was because a new, easier road was built. Pierce Collits then opened new inns in other towns.
Later Years and Owners
The Hartley Vale property became a farm after 1834. Pierce Collits owned it until he passed away in 1848. In the 1860s, another family, the Whalans, bought the farm. They used it as a private home for many years.
In 1911, Job Commens bought the farm and called it Mount York Farm. He and his family farmed there until 1920. In 1946, S Pilarcik, an immigrant from Croatia, bought the property. In 1986, the government placed a special order to protect the inn. This means it is a heritage site. In 1998, the property was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart.
What Collits' Inn Looks Like
Collits' Inn is a single-story building. It is built in an old style called Old Colonial Georgian. This style often has a simple, balanced look. The inn is made of wood and brick.
The Collits Inn property includes several old buildings. There is the main Inn, stables, a barn, and other smaller buildings. These buildings are on about 30 acres of land.
Old-Style Charm
The inn is a great example of an old roadside inn. It has many features of the Georgian style. It has a pleasant size and a balanced front. There is a stone-paved porch (verandah) under a special kind of roof. It also has small-paned windows and simple chimneys.
The inn still has some of its old gardens. It is set behind a row of tall pine trees near the road.
How Well Preserved is it?
Experts have looked at the area around Collits' Inn. They believe there are many old things buried underground. These things could tell us more about the people who lived and worked there long ago.
The inn building itself is mostly in good condition. Some small changes have been made over the years. But it still looks much like it did when it was first built. It is important not to disturb the ground around the inn. This helps protect any hidden historical items.
Keeping the Old Look
The goal is to keep the area around Collits' Inn looking like a simple old farm. This means having gardens with plants from the 1800s. It also means keeping the paddocks and old apple orchards. Any new plants should be types that grew in the area a long time ago.
Why Collits' Inn is Important
Collits' Inn and its buildings are very important to Australia's history. They are special because of their history, how they look, the old building methods they show, and their importance to people.
A First for the Blue Mountains
The inn was built around 1823 by Pierce Collits and his family. It was the first inn built west of the Blue Mountains. Its location was perfect for people and animals using the new roads over the mountains. Pierce Collits was an important early farmer and government worker in the area.
The inn was well-known and busy until a new road was built in 1832. After that, the buildings and land stayed with the Collits family as Mount York Farm until 1875. The Collits family later owned other inns nearby.
Links to Famous People and Events
Collits' Inn has strong links to many important historical figures. This includes early governors of New South Wales. It was also a central point for all roads crossing the mountains for many years. It even had the first country post office. The old cemetery nearby is also connected to the first people who settled west of the Blue Mountains.
Beautiful Old Style
The buildings at Collits' Inn are very well preserved. The inn itself is a great example of an old roadside inn. It shows the Old Colonial Georgian style with its balanced look, stone porch, and special roof.
The inn's location is also beautiful. It sits in a quiet valley below the Blue Mountains. Its view of Mount York adds to its special look.
Old Building Secrets
The inn shows many old building materials and techniques. The way some parts of the inn were built with brick is very rare in New South Wales. Experts can learn a lot by studying the old bricks, stone, and woodwork. The inside of the inn is also quite original. There is a high chance of finding old items buried around the site. This makes it a great place for archaeological research.
Important to People
Collits' Inn has been important to many different groups of people over the years.
- Early Travellers: At first, it was vital for all early travellers and settlers west of the mountains. It offered a place to rest and meet others.
- Local Community: When it was a farm, it was important to the Hartley community. It reminded them of the first farming and inn-keeping family in the area.
- Modern Interest: Since the 1930s, especially after a musical called "Collits' Inn" was made, more people have become interested in its history. Visitors often write in guest books about how much they value the inn.
- Collits Family: The many descendants of the Collits family still see the inn as a very important part of their family's past and future.
Collits' Inn is a rare and important historical site. It helps us understand how the colony grew westward in the early 1800s. It also shows us what life was like in an early roadside inn.
