Glenalvon House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glenalvon House
Glenalvon, in 2009
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
New South Wales Heritage Register
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
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Glenalvon House is a very old and special home in Campbelltown, Australia. It was built in 1841 by Michael Byrne. This beautiful house is also known simply as Glenalvon.

Today, Glenalvon House is owned by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. It is managed by the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society Inc. They run it as a museum where you can visit and learn about its past. The house was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, which means it's officially recognized as an important historical place.

The Story of Glenalvon House

The first drawings of Glenalvon House appeared on town maps in November 1840. Michael Byrne, who owned several pubs, built the house around this time. He owned the land, which was about one acre, since 1831. The stables, which are also part of the property, were likely built a bit later.

Michael Byrne, the Builder

Michael Byrne was born in Ireland in 1800. His father was sent to Australia in 1802 because of his involvement in a rebellion in Ireland. Michael became an apprentice to Lawrence Butler, who managed the NSW Government Lumber Yards in Sydney.

Later, Michael Byrne became a successful businessman in Campbelltown. He owned seven pubs in the town. In 1841, he built Glenalvon, which was known as the finest stone house in Campbelltown. However, he faced financial difficulties in 1844. Michael Byrne passed away in 1878 and was buried in Campbelltown.

New Owners and Changes

By the 1840s, Michael Byrne and his family were having money troubles. To help pay off a debt, Michael gave Glenalvon House and a farm to his brother-in-law, John Keighran. John 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. The house was rented out to J. Kidd until 1878. Then, it was sold to the Fieldhouse brothers, who were important businessmen in Campbelltown. Edwin Fieldhouse and his family lived in "Glenalvin Hall," as it was sometimes called, from 1878 to 1891. The house stayed in the Fieldhouse family until 1920, when it was sold to the Bursill family.

Saving Glenalvon House

The Bursill family owned Glenalvon until 1965. At that time, the State Planning Authority bought it to protect its historical value. 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 like Clive Lucas made sure to research the building's original design before making any changes. They even used special techniques to find out the original paint colors! From 1970 to 2010, the Oakham family lived in the house. The stables are now used by the Campbelltown and Airds District Historical Society as a resource center.

Today, the State Planning Authority has sold Glenalvon to the Campbelltown City Council. The Campbelltown & Airds District Historical Society now looks after the building and its garden. They organize displays, meetings, and special events for the public.

What Glenalvon House Looks Like

Glenalvon House is a beautiful example of Georgian style architecture.

The Garden

The house sits in a lovely, old garden with some historic plants. You can see tall Cook's pine trees, silky oak trees, and Californian desert fan palms.

The House's Design

Glenalvon is a two-story house made of finely cut sandstone. It has a balanced, or symmetrical, front. The front porch, called a verandah, has a stone floor and is held up by round stone columns. The roof, which was once made of wooden shingles, is now covered with corrugated iron.

The main door is in the middle of the front of the house. There are French doors on either side of the main entry that open onto the verandah. The five windows on the top floor have two parts that slide up and down, with nine small glass panes in each part. At the back of the house, there's another verandah with flat wooden columns.

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 stable roof is also corrugated iron and has decorative wooden trim. The wooden frames inside the roof were built without nails, using special joints and pegs. There are also cellars located under the house.

Inside the House

Inside, Glenalvon House has many original features made of cedar wood. This includes six-paneled doors and special window frames. The first-floor fireplaces have marble surrounds, while the ground floor has sandstone mantels. There's also an original geometric staircase.

Condition of the Property

Glenalvon House and its grounds are in excellent condition. They had a lot of restoration work done in 1969 and have been very well looked after since then. The house still has many of its original parts from the 1840s, and you can still see how the property was originally laid out.

Why Glenalvon House is Important

Glenalvon House is a very important historical site for many reasons.

A Glimpse into the Past

It's one of the oldest townhouses still standing in Campbelltown. It shows us what life was like for early families in the area. The house has been a home for almost 160 years, and even with some changes, much of its original design from 1840 is still there.

Beautiful Architecture

Glenalvon is a wonderful example of a Colonial Georgian sandstone house. The stables are also very beautiful. The house and its grounds together help us imagine what early townhouses looked like with their large, landscaped gardens. It adds a lot to the historic look of Campbelltown.

Connecting with the Community

The house is important because it was home to several well-known Campbelltown families. It helps us understand the early way of life in the original town.

Learning from Old Buildings

Glenalvon is also valuable for showing us how buildings were made in colonial times. It used local materials and skilled workers, including stonemasons.

A Rare Survivor

It's rare to find an 1840s townhouse like Glenalvon that still has so much of its original structure and grounds. It truly shows how grand these houses were when they were first built.

A Great Example

Overall, Glenalvon House is an excellent example of an 1840s townhouse built in the Colonial Georgian style.

See also

• Australian residential architectural styles