Experiment Farm Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Experiment Farm Cottage |
|
|---|---|
Experiment_Farm_Cottage_119.jpg)
Experiment Farm Cottage
|
|
| Location | 9 Ruse Street, Harris Park, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | mid-1790s-c. 1834 |
| Built for | John Harris and family |
| Architectural style(s) | Old Colonial Georgian |
| Owner | National Trust of Australia (NSW) |
| Official name: Experiment Farm Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 768 |
| Type | Homestead Complex |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
| Builders | John Harris |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Experiment Farm Cottage is a very old and important house in Harris Park, Sydney, Australia. It's one of the oldest buildings still standing in Australia, built around 1834. This cottage is located on the site of Experiment Farm, which was Australia's very first European farm. This farm was created through Australia's first ever land grant (when land was given to someone). Today, Experiment Farm Cottage is a house museum. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Contents
History of Experiment Farm Cottage
The First Farm Experiment
In 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip chose a man named James Ruse for a special experiment. The goal was to see how long it would take a person to grow enough food to support themselves. Ruse was given 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) of cleared land. He also got help to clear another 5 acres (2.0 ha).
He received two sows (female pigs) and six hens. For 15 months, he was given food and clothes from the public store. After this time, he was able to support himself successfully. Because of his hard work, he was given an extra 30 acres (12 ha) of land.
John Harris and His Many Roles
In October 1793, James Ruse sold his farm to a surgeon named John Harris. Harris was the person who built the strong colonial cottage you see today. He already owned the land next to the farm.
John Harris was a very busy man in the early colony. He worked as a Magistrate (like a judge) and a Deputy Judge Advocate (a legal officer). He was also the Superintendent of Police and a Naval Officer. He became one of the richest farmers in the colony. He owned many large properties across New South Wales.
Harris was born in Ireland. He spent at least ten years as a surgeon's mate in the Navy. He sailed to New South Wales in his own small boat. He was also a soldier in the New South Wales Corps. He even worked as a lawyer in his roles as judge advocate and magistrate.
As a public servant, he was the head policeman in the early 1800s and again in the mid-1820s. As a naval port officer, he collected taxes and was a government spy. He sometimes built things for the government, like a road in 1803 and a toll house in Parramatta in 1829.
Harris also showed skills as an architect and engineer. He oversaw the building of a government schooner (a type of ship) called "Integrity". He also helped build the Sydney Court House and his own large homes. He was a farmer and an explorer. He even helped start the Bank of New South Wales, which was the colony's first bank. He did many of these jobs while working as a surgeon.
The Indian Bungalow Style
The cottage is built in the style of an Indian Bungalow. John Harris saw these types of houses in Bengal, India, where English officers lived. These bungalows were designed to be comfortable in hot climates. They had features like pitched thatched roofs, verandahs (porches), and raised bases.
The verandah often went all the way around the house. Parts of it were sometimes enclosed for privacy and shade. These features helped keep the house cool and protected from heavy rain. Experiment Farm Cottage, built by Harris in the mid-1790s, has many of these same qualities.
The National Trust Takes Over
The property stayed in the Harris family until 1921. At that time, the land was divided up, and the suburb of Harris Park was created.
In 1961, the National Trust of Australia (NSW) bought the site. A special Women's Committee, including women like Dame Helen Blaxland, raised the money needed. Experiment Farm Cottage was the very first property the National Trust (NSW) bought.
The Trust restored the cottage and filled it with furniture from the colonial period. In 1963, it opened to the public as Australia's first house museum. It focused on showing Australian colonial furniture. Over the years, more land around the cottage was bought and cleared. This helped make the area look more like John Harris's original farm.
In 2013, the cottage had a big restoration project. This work helped fix problems and improve the building. It was reopened to the public in July 2013, celebrating 50 years since its first public opening.
What Experiment Farm Cottage Looks Like
Experiment Farm Cottage is an Old Colonial Georgian style house. It has a balanced front and a low, sloping roof that extends over the verandah. The front door has six panels and is surrounded by glass panels on the sides and a curved window above.
The cottage is set in a small garden with some old trees. These include jacaranda and lemon-scented gum trees. There are also fruit trees and other garden plants. Since 2001, a 19th-century style garden has been rebuilt in front of the cottage. This garden is based on old photos and records.
The eastern end of Ruse Street, which is near the cottage, is now closed off. A new, narrower road was built to the east of the cottage. This new road looks like a gravel farm track. Farm-style fences are along this road and Alice Street to the south.
The area around Experiment Farm Cottage today is mostly a residential neighborhood. It has houses built in the early 1900s, like California bungalows. This area was the last part of the Harris Farm estate to be divided into smaller blocks. Its boundary roughly matches the 30 acres (12 ha) of land originally given to James Ruse in 1788.
Experiment Farm Cottage is carefully looked after by experts to keep it in good condition.
Changes Over Time
- 1788-1793: James Ruse started Australia's first experimental farm here.
- 1793: Surgeon John Harris bought the farm and added it to his "Harris Farm." He continued to grow crops and clear the land.
- Around 1834: The current cottage was built.
- 1920s: The Harris estate was divided into smaller blocks, creating the suburb of Harris Park.
- 1961: The National Trust (NSW) bought the cottage to turn it into a house museum. They restored and furnished it with colonial items.
- 1970s-1980s: The government bought and removed some houses next to the cottage. This helped make the area look more like the original farm.
- 2000-2001: A 19th-century style garden and carriage drive were rebuilt. Ruse Street was changed to improve the cottage's setting.
- 2013: The cottage had major restoration work. It was reopened to the public to celebrate 50 years as a museum.
Why Experiment Farm Cottage is Important
Experiment Farm Cottage and its site are very important to Australia and New South Wales. Here's why:
- First European Land Grant: It's part of the very first land given to Europeans in Australia.
- Early Farming Success: It's linked to the first successful farming efforts in Australia. Governor Phillip's "experiment" here showed that settlers could support themselves. This success encouraged more people to settle in the Parramatta area.
- Historic Farm: It was part of "Harris' Farm," one of the large properties owned by important families in the early colony.
- Architectural Style: The cottage is a beautiful example of a colonial bungalow from around 1834. Its design shows how verandahs were integrated into houses, which became a key feature of Australian architecture.
- Visual Importance: The cottage is in a prominent spot. It shows how buildings were placed to connect with the landscape, facing north towards the Parramatta River.
- Historical Information: The site has old parts of the building and archaeological remains. There are also many records that tell us about the farm's history, including old fences, roads, and gardens.
- Important People: It's connected to key figures like Governor Phillip, James Ruse, and John Harris, who helped shape early Australia.
- Community Value: The local community highly values this place. People have worked hard to protect it, showing how important its history is to the identity of Harris Park.
Experiment Farm Cottage is a rare and excellent example of an early colonial farmhouse. It shows us a lot about how people lived and farmed in the early days of Australia.
