Gough Whitlam's birthplace facts for kids
Ngara was the birthplace of Gough Whitlam, who later became the Prime Minister of Australia. This important house was located at 46 Rowland Street in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The name "Ngara" comes from the Darug language of the Aboriginal people from the Sydney area. It means "to listen, hear, and think."
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Building the Whitlam Family Home
Gough Whitlam's parents, Harry Frederick ("Fred") and Martha ("Mattie") Whitlam, bought the land for their new home in December 1914. Mattie's father, Edward, was a skilled builder. He built and likely designed the house for them. The plans were ready by February 1915, and the house was finished by May 1915.
Ngara was a beautiful brick house built in the Edwardian style. It had a special terracotta tile roof and lovely wooden details.
Gough Whitlam's Birth
The Whitlam family moved into their new home around May 1915. Edward Gough Whitlam was born there on 11 July 1916. Family stories say he was born on the kitchen table! He was the first of two children; he had a younger sister named Freda.
At this time, Fred Whitlam worked for the Australian government. In 1917, he was promoted and had to move to Sydney. So, the family sold Ngara on 25 October 1917.
Family Visits to Kew
Even after moving, the Whitlams sometimes returned to Melbourne for holidays. They would visit relatives in Kew. Gough Whitlam would walk with his uncle to his grandparents' house.
Later, when Gough Whitlam was much older, his political party reportedly wanted to hold an event at the house for his 90th birthday. However, the owner at the time, Mrs. Swinnerton, was a strong supporter of a different political party. She politely declined, saying she couldn't have "all those Labor people here." Mrs. Swinnerton was known for telling everyone on the street that Gough Whitlam was born in her house.
Efforts to Save the House
For a long time, Ngara was not officially recognized as a heritage site. This meant that a permit was given to demolish it. Demolition work had already started in mid-2014. Parts of the house, like the wooden fittings and fireplaces, were taken apart.
However, a public campaign quickly began to save the house. People wanted to protect it because of its link to Gough Whitlam. The Victorian Heritage Council then placed a temporary order to protect the site.
After a public hearing, Heritage Victoria decided the house was not important enough for permanent protection. But the local council, the City of Boroondara, tried to protect it with their own heritage rules. In November 2015, the Boroondara Council voted to keep the house under a heritage overlay, which would protect it.
Sadly, on 3 May 2016, the Victorian Minister for the Environment overruled this decision. On Friday, 13 May 2016, the house was completely bulldozed.
The Ngara Institute
In early 2014, an organization called the Ngara Institute was created. It was named after Gough Whitlam's birthplace, Ngara.
