Faversham House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Faversham House |
|
|---|---|
Faversham House in 2018
|
|
| General information | |
| Address | 24 Grey St |
| Town or city | York, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°53′08″S 116°45′59″E / 31.8855°S 116.7663°E |
| Construction started | some time between late 1830s and 1844 |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Renovated | 1994 |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 2 September 1997 |
| Reference no. | 2876 |
Faversham House is a very old and important building in York, Western Australia. It's a "grand residence," which means it was a big, fancy home. It overlooks a street called Avon Terrace. The house was named after the hometown of its first owner, John Henry Monger Snr. His family built it in four main steps over many years. With almost 50 rooms, Faversham House was one of the biggest homes in York back when it was first built.
Contents
The Monger Family and Faversham House
John Henry Monger Snr's Early Life
John Henry Monger Snr came to the Swan River Colony in 1829. He was an immigrant whose journey was paid for. First, he built and ran a sawmill near Perth. This area was later named Lake Monger.
After that, he moved to York in 1836. There, he started building the first hotel in York. It was called The York Hotel. It stood on Avon Terrace, below where Faversham House would later be built. In 1838, he officially bought the land for £100. By 1841, he opened a general store across from his hotel.
Monger's Business Success
At his store, Monger traded goods for farm products. These included wool and sandalwood. He became one of the main people exporting sandalwood in the 1840s. This was during a time when sandalwood was very popular. His sandalwood storage yards were located below Faversham House.
In 1853, Monger paid for the town's first bridge. This bridge was at "Monger's crossing," also below Faversham House. After building his grand home, people in York started calling him the "Duke" of York.
A big party was held at Faversham House in 1857. It celebrated the return of John Henry Monger Jnr. He was John Henry Snr's son. He came back from London with his new wife, Henrietta Joaquina Manning.
How Faversham House Grew: Four Stages
Faversham House was not built all at once. It grew over many years in four main stages.
Stage One: The Original House (1836-1844)
The very first part of the house looked like a cellar or a strong storage bunker. It had barred windows. This makes people think it might have been built around 1836. At that time, settlers were worried about safety. By the end of 1844, people were living in it.
This first part was a single-story building. It was a storehouse with a living area. It was built into the side of a hill. The stone for it came from the other side of Grey Street. The roof was originally covered with sheoak shingles. This first home had five rooms: two bedrooms, a kitchen, an entrance hall, and a large storeroom. The storeroom had a wide door for moving barrels. It had only one entrance, and all its windows had bars.
Stage Two: Adding Two Storeys (1849-1851)
In the second stage, two more floors were added. This turned the first stage into a cellar. Convict workers helped build this part. This addition was finished before January 1852.
The house, with its new two storeys, can be seen in an old picture of York. This picture was published in The Illustrated London News in 1857. It was based on a drawing by Edmund Henderson.
Stage Three: Adding Wings (1868)
John Henry Monger Snr passed away in 1867. His son, John Henry Monger Jnr, then made the house even bigger. He added two gabled wings to the north and south sides. Gabled means they had pointed roofs. He also added verandahs, white-railed balconies, and tall gabled turrets.
The new north wing had a large billiards room. Bedrooms were built above it. The new south wing had a big dining room. Nurseries and a nanny's room were above the dining room.
Stage Four: The Final Additions (1907)
When John Henry Monger Jnr died in 1892, his oldest son, Alexander J Monger, inherited Faversham House. For some years, the property was rented out. Alexander was busy with business in London.
In 1903, Alexander Monger came back from London. He planned to sell the house. But after he married Florence McCracken in 1906, he decided to fix up the house instead.
During this stage, rooms for servants were added. A new wing was also built on the southern end of the house. This wing ran east and west. It included a kitchen and a dining room for the staff. These new parts were built using bricks made locally.
Faversham House in the 20th Century
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Monger lived in Faversham House for 30 years. During their time, the house was a popular place for social events and business meetings.
At the start of World War Two, Mrs. Monger gave Faversham House to the Australian Government. It was also given to the Red Cross. During the war, Faversham House was used as a hospital. It was a place where soldiers could recover from injuries.
In 1944, soldiers who had fought in the Middle East and New Guinea came to Faversham House to get better. In 1945, the property was rented to the Dutch government. They used it to house people escaping the war. The Returned and Services League of Australia also used Faversham House during this time.
After the war, the government no longer needed Faversham House. So, it was put up for sale. In 1961, the Methodist Department of Christian Education bought it for £500. On April 20, 1963, Faversham House officially opened. It became a Methodist conference center, a holiday home, and a place for education.
In February 1994, Glenn and Judith Darlington bought Faversham House. Over the next two years, they spent more than $300,000 to fix up the place. They used it as their family home.
Faversham House has been restored even more by its current owners, Richard and Nola Bliss. They bought the property in 2003. Today, they use Faversham House for weddings and as a place for people to stay.
Heritage Recognition
Faversham House is listed on several important heritage registers. This means it is recognized as a significant historical building.
- It is on the Shire municipal inventory (since December 31, 1995).
- The National Trust of Australia classified it (on November 1, 1976).
- It is on the Register of the National Estate (since March 21, 1978).
- It is also on the State Register Permanent (since September 2, 1997).
