Coutt's Sailors Home facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coutt's Sailors Home
Heritage boundaries
Location	16 Bond Street, Newcastle, City of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1882–1882
Architect	George Brown
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Enterprise Park and Coutt's Sailors Home (former); Coutts Sailors Rest Home; Convict Lumberyard
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	22 March 2011
Reference no.	1842
Type	Housing & Quarters
Category	Maritime Industry
Builders	Robert Muirhead
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Coutt's Sailors Home is a special old building in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a home for sailors, a health clinic, and government offices. Today, it is a private home.

The building was designed by George Brown and built in 1882 by Robert Muirhead. It is also known as Coutt's Sailors Rest Home. This important building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 March 2011. This means it is protected because of its historical value.

History of the Sailors' Home

Early Days in Newcastle East

The area where Coutt's Sailors Home is located, Newcastle East, has a very long history. It was once a penal settlement, which was like a prison colony. Many important early sites were here, including Australia's first mine and the first hospital.

The Convict Lumber Yard was also very close by. Convicts worked there from 1814 to about 1850. This yard was a busy place for skilled workers. Newcastle's first wharf was also in this area, helping the port grow.

Newcastle's Growing Port

From the 1820s, shipping became very important in Newcastle. The city grew as a major seaport, especially because of the coal trade. Ships needed places to be serviced, and many jobs were created around the port.

These jobs included piloting ships, lighthouse keeping, and customs work. The Newcastle Customs House was built in 1876, showing how important the port was. Coutt's Sailors' Home is also connected to this rich maritime history.

Why Sailors Needed a Home

In the late 1800s, sailors often stayed in Newcastle for a long time while their ships loaded coal. They could be in port for up to three months. Without a safe place to stay, they faced many dangers.

People realized there was a great need for a safe place for sailors to sleep and relax. A newspaper in 1881 pointed out that Newcastle, a big shipping port, did not have a Sailors' Home. Other cities, like Liverpool in Britain, had already built such homes.

The Idea of a Sailors' Home

A Sailors' Home had already been built in Sydney in 1864. These homes were part of a worldwide movement to help sailors. They offered clean, cheap places to stay for sailors of all backgrounds.

These institutions were seen as essential for any large port. They provided a safe haven for sailors, improving their living conditions.

Reverend James Coutts' Vision

In 1880, Reverend James Coutts, a local church minister, started pushing for a Sailors' Home in Newcastle. He cared deeply about sailors because his own wife was a sailor's daughter.

Reverend Coutts offered to donate £1,000 and raise another £1,000 if the Government of New South Wales would provide land. Sir Henry Parkes, a famous politician, agreed to grant a suitable site. The land was given to trustees to manage the new home.

Building the Home

The Sailors' Home was built with money from the public and some government help. A building committee was formed in 1881. Newspapers encouraged people to donate, reminding them how important sailors were to Newcastle's success.

The public didn't donate as much as hoped, so the building plans were changed to be simpler. The foundation stone was laid on 17 March 1882. This was such a big event that the government declared a public holiday! People came from all over to watch. A special bottle with newspapers and coins was placed under the stone, but it has since been lost.

Design and Completion

The building was designed by George Brown, an architect from Sydney. Robert Muirhead was the builder. Construction happened quickly, and the public followed its progress in the newspapers.

The building was finished on 18 December 1882. It was described as a brick and concrete building with two wings. It had many rooms, including offices, reading rooms, dining rooms, and a large kitchen. The upper floor had 6 bedrooms that could fit about 70 people. It also had a "Smokers' room" and a wide hallway with a great view of the harbor.

Life at the Home

In June 1883, a tea party was held to welcome sailors to the new home, attended by about 500 people. A ball was also held to celebrate the opening. The Coutts Sailors' Home women's auxiliary was formed to help.

Reverend Coutts passed away in 1884, but the building remained a reminder of his efforts to help others. Between 1882 and 1897, two more wings were added to the building. In 1897, a separate residence for the Superintendent (the person in charge) was built.

Changes Over Time

By the early 1900s, the home faced competition from other boarding houses. It wasn't as popular as expected. The building also started to decline in condition.

In 1933, the people managing the home said they could no longer keep it going. Fewer ships were coming to Newcastle, making the home less needed. The land was then given to the Newcastle Hospital.

Sister Kenny's Clinic

In 1936, plans were made to turn the Sailors' Home into a clinic for Sister Elizabeth Kenny. She was an Australian nurse who found a new way to treat polio, a serious illness. She believed in exercising the affected limbs, which was different from traditional treatments.

From 1938 to 1941, the building became the Sister Kenny Poliomyelitis Clinic. Sister Kenny traveled widely, setting up clinics in Australia and America. However, her clinic in Newcastle was short-lived.

Other Uses and Neglect

After the polio clinic moved, there were plans to turn the building into a maternity hospital. But this idea was dropped because of dust and dirt from the nearby railway station and power plant.

For the next ten years, the building was mostly empty. During World War 2, it was used to store air raid safety equipment. Later, parts of it were used by hospital staff and for social club meetings. In 1949, there were plans to turn it into a Nurses' Home, but this didn't happen.

In 1952, the hospital returned the land to the State Government. The government then used the building for various offices, including departments for Education, Health, and Mines. During these changes, parts of the building were altered, and some original features were hidden.

The Chapel Controversy

In the 1980s, people were upset when they found out that a former chapel on the property was being used as a men's toilet. This chapel was likely built around the same time as the Sailors' Home in 1882. Chapels were important places for sailors of all faiths.

The chapel had been changed into a toilet in the 1950s. When a new government department took over in 1984, there were plans to restore the chapel. Many people in the community wanted it to be a chapel again.

Recent History and Restoration

In recent times, the building was used by government services and as a center for volunteer groups. In the 1990s, efforts were made to protect the building and the nearby convict lumber yard.

Reports showed that the building needed a lot of repairs, costing millions of dollars. There were ideas to turn it into a Maritime Museum, but this didn't happen. Local councils and health groups committed funds for urgent maintenance.

For several years, the State Government tried to give the building to Newcastle City Council, but the council declined due to the high repair costs. In 2001, the building was given to the Awabakal Aboriginal Land Council. They considered turning it into an Aboriginal art gallery and restaurant, but these plans didn't happen. The property remained empty and neglected until 2014.

In January 2014, Alastair and Diane Kinloch bought the old building. They completely renovated it, and by December 2015, it became their family home.

Building Description

The 1882 Sailors' Home is a two-story building built in the Victorian Italianate style. This style often features grand, balanced designs. The walls are made of brick with plaster. The roof is now made of corrugated asbestos, but it was originally galvanized iron.

The front of the building, facing Bond Street, has three main sections. The main entrance is in the middle section. A verandah was added to the first floor in 1897. This verandah has decorative cast iron columns. Some parts of this verandah have been enclosed. The original front door with its semi-circular window above is still there.

The back of the building, facing Scott Street, is dominated by the former Superintendent's Residence. This two-story brick building was also designed in the Victorian Italianate style in 1897. It has long windows with decorative tops and bottoms. The first-floor balcony of this residence was removed in the 1950s.

Inside the Building

The inside of the 1882 Sailors' Home has a balanced layout. A central hallway leads to rooms on each side. The main staircase, which originally went up to the dormitories (sleeping rooms) for sailors, is still there. Many of the original dormitory rooms are also still intact.

The Superintendent's Residence has a different layout, with a hallway on one side leading to rooms. Both buildings have well-proportioned rooms with tall windows. While some parts have been changed over the years, many original features like skirting boards and internal doors remain.

Changes Over the Years

• 1883–1897: Two wings were added to the south side, creating a U-shaped courtyard. These were first one story, then later became two stories.
• 1897: The Superintendent's Residence was built.
• 1936–1938: The Sailors' Home was changed to the Sister Kenny Poliomyelitis Clinic.
• 1950: The former chapel was turned into a toilet block.
• 1950s: The building was changed to be used as NSW Government offices.
• 1960s–1970s: More changes were made for the Education Department. Many original features were covered up or changed.
• 2014–2015: The building was completely renovated to become a private home.

Why It's a Heritage Site

The former Coutts Sailors' Home is very important historically for Newcastle, New South Wales, and possibly all of Australia. It shows different periods of history, including the convict era, maritime activities, health care, and government use.

It is most important for its role as a Sailors' Home. This shows how important Newcastle's shipping history was. It also represents a worldwide movement from the 1860s to help sailors in ports around the world.

The Sailors' Home was one of only two such places in New South Wales (the other being in Sydney). This makes it very rare. It highlights Newcastle's status as a major port for both national and international trade. It also shows how much people respected sailors when shipping was vital for trade and communication.

The Sailors' Home is one of several buildings in Newcastle East that show the area's strong connection to the sea. Important people linked to the site include Reverend James Coutts, who helped start the home, and architects George Brown and Frederick Menkens. Sister Elizabeth Kenny, famous for her polio treatment, also used the building for her clinic.

Part of the site was once the convict lumber yard, which was very important to Newcastle's early history as a penal settlement. This means there might be archaeological evidence from that time, which can teach us about the past. The building also shows how designs and construction methods changed over time.

Aesthetically, the building is one of the largest and most complete examples of the Victorian Italianate style in Newcastle. Even though it has been changed, it still shows its original beauty and design.

The local community values the site and its history. For example, people were very upset in the 1980s when they found out the former chapel was being used as a toilet. This shows how much the site means to them.

The former Sailors' Home is very rare because it was the only one of its kind built outside Sydney. It is also a great example of the Victorian Italianate style of architecture.

See also