Denham Court (homestead) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Denham Court |
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| Location | 238 Campbelltown Road, Denham Court, City of Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1820–1829 |
| Architect | John Verge |
| Official name: Denham Court | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 212 |
| Type | Homestead Complex |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
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Denham Court is a very old house and farm estate in Denham Court, Australia. It's located in the City of Campbelltown area of New South Wales. The famous architect John Verge designed parts of it. The house was built between 1820 and 1829. Today, Denham Court is a private home and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back: Denham Court's Story
The land where Denham Court stands has a long history. Even in the 1850s, local Aboriginal Australian groups, including the Cubbitch Barta clan, held special gatherings called corroborees here.
When the first European settlers arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788, they found the soil wasn't good for farming. They soon looked west to the Cumberland Plain for better land. Early farms were set up near rivers like the Nepean and Hawkesbury.
By 1804, much of the Cumberland Plain was settled. Governor King then looked to the "Cowpastures" area. This land was named after cows from the first fleet that had wandered off and were found there in 1795. It was kept free for these wild cattle to grow in number.
In 1805, a rough road was made from Prospect to the Cowpastures. This road became known as Cowpasture Road. It is now part of the Camden Valley Way. Important people in the colony visited the area and wanted to own some of this rich land. They saw it as perfect for grazing animals.
John Macarthur, a key figure in Australia's early wool industry, received the first big land grant in the Cowpastures in 1805. He was given 10,000 acres (4,000 ha). He also used another 2,000 acres (810 ha) belonging to a friend. This meant Macarthur controlled a large area of prime land.
Later, in 1820, Governor Macquarie planned to create a town in the area. He wanted to name it Campbelltown after his wife. The town officially started in 1831. When the railway line to Goulburn opened in 1858, Campbelltown grew quickly. It became a central hub, making it easier to transport goods to Sydney.
The large estates in this region were mostly sheep and cattle farms. They also grew wheat and other crops until the 1850s. The grand houses were often built on hills. This gave them amazing views and showed off the owner's importance to anyone passing by. This farming lifestyle continued until the late 1990s.
The Denham Court Estate
Denham Court sits on a 500-acre (200 ha) land grant. This grant was first given by Governor Macquarie to Richard Atkins.
Richard Atkins (1745-1820) was a legal officer known as the Deputy Judge Advocate. He arrived in Sydney in 1791. He held important roles like registrar of the Vice-Admiralty Court and superintendent of police. He was reappointed Judge Advocate in 1800. Governor King believed no one else in the colony was as good for the job. Atkins was a tall and impressive man when he was sober. However, he was not very knowledgeable about law. He was recalled to England in 1810.
In 1812, Captain Richard Brooks bought the property. He added more land, including 50 acres (20 ha) and three 200-acre (81 ha) grants. He settled on the land in the mid-1820s. The original Denham Court house was one storey. But in 1832-33, Captain Brooks made it much bigger. He added a two-storey central part and two single-storey wings. This new design was by architect John Verge. It was inspired by a house also called "Denham Court" in Middlesex, England.
Richard Brooks (1765?-1833) was a sailor, merchant, and settler. He started working for the East India Company at a young age. He became a ship captain. He first came to New South Wales in 1802. He made several trading trips to the colony. He built up many business interests there.
In 1813, Brooks was shipwrecked near the Falkland Islands. He then sailed to Buenos Aires for help. In 1814, he came to New South Wales as a free settler with his wife, Christiana, and their children. He started a successful business supplying meat and other goods to ships and the government. He also became a justice of the peace in 1817.
In 1823, Brooks moved from Sydney to Denham Court. The estate became a lively social spot in the 1820s and 1830s. Brooks and Christiana had six daughters. They worked hard to make Denham Court famous. John Verge added grand wings and a new central part to the house. Captain Brooks even had a private chapel built on the estate. This is now St. Mary the Virgin church on Church Road.
John Verge also designed the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin, built in 1833. It is located slightly west of the house.
Richard Brooks died on 16 October 1833. His wife, Christiana, died on 12 April 1835. They were both buried in a vault at Denham Court. The church of St Mary the Virgin was built to cover their burial place.
By the late 1830s, Denham Court was becoming a small village. It had a mill, a church, and a hotel. After some years as a ladies' boarding school, it became the home of Richard Blomfield, the son of Christiana and Thomas.
Margaret Browne, who grew up at Denham Court, wrote the first book on gardening in Australia. She was known as Mrs Rolf Boldrewood.
From the 1860s, most of the land was divided and sold. In 1884, Richard Blomfield's son, Andrew, oversaw a huge subdivision of the Denham Court property. It was then 1,368 acres (554 ha). He created 444 blocks, leaving the old house on only 26 acres (10.4 ha). But not many of these blocks sold.
The house itself didn't sell until 1890. Mr. J. C. Mayne bought it with 200 acres (81 ha). The Mayne family lived there until 1957.
In 1970, Mr. Mayne's niece, Miss Gowan Flora MacDonald, inherited the property. She had a big debate with Campbelltown City Council about naming the suburb "Denham Court." She wanted the name to only apply to the historic house and farm. She suggested "Edmondson Park" instead, to honor John Edmondson (VC), a local war hero. Liverpool Council agreed, but Campbelltown Council did not. They argued that "Parish of Denham Court" was a historic name for the whole area. The argument continued until 1976, when the full name "Denham Court" was finally approved for the suburb.
Since the 1970s, the suburb has seen many large mansions built on big blocks of land. Roads like Brooks Road, Blomfield Road, and Dickson Road are named after people connected to the old estate.
Around 1975, the Oakey family bought the 78-hectare (190-acre) property. Dr. Keith Oakey restored the house. He furnished it with a wonderful collection of old furniture and art. In 2010, this antique collection was sold for over $2 million.
The Oakey family put the estate up for sale in 2010. Dr. Keith Oakey passed away in 2012. The property, now 2.42 hectares (6.0 acres), was sold to former Socceroo Jason Culina and his wife, Terri. They later sold the property in April 2014.
What Denham Court Looks Like
The Land Around the House
Today, the property is 2.42 hectares (6.0 acres). In 2010, it had beautiful gardens and a tennis court.
The land is much smaller than its original 500 acres (200 ha) in 1810. The surrounding area has been developed with new homes. This means the once wide views from Denham Court are now partly blocked.
Denham Court faces east, looking over the valley of the Georges River. You can still see old plough lines on the grassy slopes below the house. Wheat and grapes used to grow here.
An informal line of trees runs downhill from the front of the house. These include kurrajongs and other types of trees.
A very special feature of the garden is a palo blanco tree (Picconia excelsa). This tree is related to the olive and comes from the Canary Islands. It is a large tree that grows north of the house. This species is very rare in New South Wales. Only 22 specimens are known in all of Australia. This tree is even endangered in its natural home.
Inside the Grand House
The house has a two-storey central part in the Grecian style. On each side, it has single-storey sections with curved windows. The central part has cool stone and white plaster. It features a Roman Doric portico over the main entrance.
The entrance hall is paved with stone laid in a diagonal pattern. A stone staircase leads to the upstairs rooms. The hall has paneled doors and niches with candle lamps. Two glass doors are on either side of the main front door.
The house has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. It also has living areas, including a ballroom, a large formal dining room, a large formal living room, and a library. There is also a big rumpus room that looks out over the swimming pool. The nearby suburb of Denham Court is named after this historic property.
The Old Coach House
Near the main house, there is a sandstone coach house. It has a loft upstairs.
Heritage Importance
Denham Court is considered one of the most interesting and important early country houses in New South Wales. It was first granted to Judge-Advocate Richard Atkins. Later, Captain Richard Brooks, a trader, bought it. He and his family moved to Denham Court in 1820. The back buildings of the house are thought to be even older than 1820. The main front part of the house was designed by John Verge in 1832. The garden still has some old plants from the colonial and Victorian eras. This includes the rare palo blanco tree.
Denham Court was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
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