Glenalvon House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenalvon House |
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Glenalvon, in 2009
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| Location | 8 Lithgow Street, Campbelltown, City of Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1841 |
| Built for | Michael Byrne |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian (Victorian) |
| Owner | Department of Planning and Infrastructure |
| Official name: Glenalvon; Glenalvon and Stables | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Criteria | a., c., d., e., f., g. |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 4 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Michael Byrne |
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Glenalvon House is a very old and special home located in Campbelltown, Australia. It was built in 1841 by a man named Michael Byrne. This beautiful house is also known as Glenalvon or Glenalvon and Stables. Today, it is owned by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
Glenalvon House is a great example of the Victorian Georgian style of building. It used to be the family home of Michael Byrne, who owned pubs. Now, the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society looks after it. You can visit Glenalvon House as a museum to learn about its history and see how people lived long ago. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it's so important.
Contents
The Story of Glenalvon House
Building a Home in Campbelltown
Glenalvon House first appeared on town maps in November 1840. It is believed that Michael Byrne, who owned several pubs, built the house around this time. He built it on a piece of land that he received in 1831. The stables, which are also part of the property, were likely built a bit later. This is because they look a little different from the main house.
Michael Byrne's Life
Michael Byrne was born in Ireland in 1800. His family came to Australia in 1802. When he was young, Michael learned about working with wood and building. Later, he became a successful publican, owning seven pubs in Campbelltown. He built Glenalvon in 1841, and it was considered the finest stone house in the town. Michael Byrne passed away in 1878.
New Owners and Changes
By the 1840s, Michael Byrne faced some money troubles. He owed a lot of money to his brother-in-law, John Keighran. To pay off some of this debt, Michael gave John the Glenalvon property and a farm. John Keighran and his wife, Catherine Byrne, moved into Glenalvon around 1853. They raised thirteen children there!
After John and Catherine passed away in 1858, their sons, John and Patrick, inherited the property. They had to mortgage the house to pay off debts. The house was then rented out to different people.
The Fieldhouse Brothers
In 1878, the Fieldhouse brothers bought Glenalvon. They were important businessmen in Campbelltown and owned many properties. Edwin Fieldhouse and his family lived in Glenalvon from 1878 to 1891. Later, Edwin became the sole owner. The house was rented out again until 1920 when the Bursill Family bought it.
Protecting a Piece of History
The Bursill family owned Glenalvon until 1965. Then, the State Planning Authority bought it to protect its history. In 1969, an architect named John Fisher was asked to help restore Glenalvon and other old houses in Campbelltown.
In 1970, the house and stables were carefully restored. Experts studied the building to understand how it was originally built and what colours it was painted. This helped them restore it accurately. The house was rented out for many years. Today, the Campbelltown and Airds District Historical Society manages Glenalvon House and its garden. They use it for displays, meetings, and special events.
What Glenalvon House Looks Like
The Garden
Glenalvon House is surrounded by a lovely old garden. It has some very old trees, like tall Cook's pines, silky oaks, and Californian desert fan palms. These trees add to the historic feel of the place.
The House Itself
Glenalvon is a two-storey house made of beautifully cut sandstone. It has a balanced look, which is typical of the Georgian style. The front porch, called a verandah, has a stone floor and is held up by round stone columns. The roof was once made of wooden shingles but is now covered with corrugated iron.
The main entrance is in the middle of the front of the house. There are French doors with shutters on either side of the entrance, which open onto the verandah. The five windows on the top floor have two parts that slide up and down. At the back of the house, there's another verandah with flat wooden columns.
The Stables
Behind the house, you'll find the old stables. They are also made of sandstone and have a central gable (a triangular part of the wall under the roof) on the front. The roof of the stables is also covered in corrugated iron. Inside the stables, the wooden roof beams were built in a very old way, without using nails! There are also cellars (underground rooms) beneath the main house.
Inside the House
Inside Glenalvon, you can see original cedar wood details. This includes six-panelled doors and special window frames. The fireplaces on the first floor are made of marble, while the ground floor ones are sandstone. There's also an original staircase with a unique pattern.
Condition and Upgrades
Glenalvon House and its grounds are in excellent condition. They were carefully restored in 1969 and have been well looked after since then. Even though the garden can sometimes get a bit overgrown, the house still looks much like it did in the 1840s. This means it has kept most of its original features.
Why Glenalvon House is Special
Glenalvon House is very important because it is one of the oldest townhouses in Campbelltown. It shows us what life was like almost 160 years ago. The house and its stables are a well-known landmark in the area. Even with some small changes, most of the original building from 1840 is still there. The garden also helps us understand how these old townhouses were set up with their large, beautiful grounds.
Glenalvon House is special for many reasons:
- It shows us history: It's one of the oldest townhouses in Campbelltown and is connected to important early families.
- It's beautiful: It's a great example of a Colonial Georgian sandstone house, and its grounds add to the historic look of Campbelltown.
- It connects us to people: It has strong ties to several important Campbelltown families and shows us how people lived long ago.
- It teaches us about building: It shows how buildings were made in colonial times, using local materials and skilled workers, including stonemasons who were convicts.
- It's rare: It's one of the few 1840s townhouses that still has so much of its original building and grounds intact.
- It's a great example: It's a perfect example of an 1840s townhouse built in the Colonial Georgian style.
