Harper's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harper's Mansion |
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| Location | Wilkinson Street, Berrima, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1834–1844 |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian |
| Owner | National Trust of Australia (NSW) |
| Website | http://harpersmansion.com.au/ |
| Official name: Harper's Mansion; Harper's Hill | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 1 March 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1500 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | James Harper |
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Harper's Mansion is a beautiful old house and museum located in Berrima, a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. It's famous for its classic Georgian style. Today, Harper's Mansion is looked after by the National Trust of Australia (NSW), which took ownership in 1978. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002, meaning it's a very important historical place.
Contents
The Story of Harper's Mansion
Building a New Home
James Harper and his wife Mary first bought land in Berrima in 1832. On this land, James built the Surveyor General Inn in 1834. He became the owner of this inn in 1835. Before this, he was a publican (someone who runs a pub) in Sutton Forest. He was also the Chief Constable there until 1835.
In 1834, James bought a large piece of land, about 100 acres (40 hectares). This is where he built what we now call 'Harper's Mansion'. The house was most likely built between 1835 and 1836. It had a single-story verandah (a covered porch) and a separate brick kitchen. By 1844, there was also a stable and a fenced garden.
How the Mansion Was Built
About 100,000 clay bricks were made right on the property to build the house. The stone used for building was probably taken from a local quarry. At that time, skilled workers were building the Berrima courthouse and jail. James might have hired some of these same tradesmen. The National Trust believes the house was designed using a pattern book for a Georgian townhouse. This style was very popular in the colony back then.
Changes Over Time
Sadly, James Harper passed away in 1845. He had some money problems, possibly because he spent too much and was affected by a tough economic time in the 1840s. Berrima didn't grow as quickly as he had hoped. Many land blocks were sold to people who just wanted to make money, but not many buildings were put up. The streets weren't even cleared until 1837.
After James Harper's death, a man named William Hutchinson took over the house in 1846. Harper's wife, Mary, later married James McDermott. She moved into the Surveyor-General Inn, which her family owned for many years.
From 1853, the house was rented by the church. It was used as a presbytery, which is a home for priests, for St Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic Church. At this time, the property was well-kept. It had a flower garden with fruit trees, a gardener's cottage, a well, and a horse paddock.
Church Ownership and Disrepair
The Catholic Church bought the house in 1856 and owned it until 1970. It continued to be a presbytery until the 1880s. Sixteen priests and two bishops lived there until around 1900. In 1898, the priest moved to Moss Vale. The house was empty until 1903. Then, four Sisters from the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart used it as a convent (a home for nuns) until 1909. They had opened a school in Berrima.
Between 1909 and 1970, the Church rented the house to different people. During this time, Harper's Mansion slowly fell apart. In 1950, the two-story verandah, which had replaced the original single-story one, collapsed. The upper floor was no longer used, and its broken windows were stuffed with sacks. The original separate brick kitchen had also fallen down. A fuel stove was put in a room near the front door. A small shed made of corrugated iron near the back door served as a laundry and bathroom. Water had to be pulled from the well using a rope and bucket.
Restoration and New Life
In 1970, the Church sold the now very run-down property to Mr. and Mrs. W. G. E. Williams. They wanted to fix up the house. However, they soon realized how huge the job was and decided to sell it.
The Mittagong Shire Council wanted the house restored. They applied for a special grant and then gave it to the National Trust of Australia (NSW). The Trust bought the property in 1978. A famous team of heritage architects, Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners, worked for seven years to restore the mansion. Harper's Mansion officially opened to the public in 1985. It was a house museum from 1985 to 1999.
From 1999 to 2006, a local landscape designer named Michael Jackman leased the property and lived there. He created the large and beautiful garden you see today, including the maze. The garden was designed to look like what might have been there in the 1830s, using plants known to be available at that time.
In 2007, Harper's Mansion opened to the public again. More work was done on the garden. Information from the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales Colonial Plant List helped decide what plants would have been there originally. In 2011, the main flower bed was changed to include old-fashioned roses. Many of these roses were available before the mid-19th century. Some examples include Aimée Vibert (1828), Belle Isis (1845), and Charles de Mills (before 1790).
What Harper's Mansion Looks Like
Harper's Mansion is a two-story house made of brick. It is built in the Georgian style and sits on two acres (about 0.8 hectares) of land.
The house has five sections across the front and two sections deep. It has a hipped roof that is now covered with corrugated iron. Stone quoins (corner stones) and a fancy front door with a fan-shaped window and side windows make the house stand out. The house originally had a single-story verandah at the front. Later, a balcony was added to this verandah. Now, both are gone, and only a stone-paved terrace remains.
Inside, the house still has most of its original wooden features and plasterwork. The doors have six panels, and the chimney surrounds have round decorations. Behind the house, there used to be a separate brick kitchen and stables. There is also a privy (an old-fashioned toilet building) that is still there.
In front of the house, you can still see parts of the old squared cottage garden. It had a path going straight through it, and there is evidence of a fence and gateposts.
The two acres of land include a modern garden that fits well with the old house. It has many plants that were common in country gardens in the 1800s. A special feature at the back of the house is a fun maze.
It's amazing that the house has stayed almost the same, except for the verandah being removed. This adds to its importance. The mansion still has its original ceilings and cornices (decorative moldings), original painted plaster on the walls, and its original ceiling rose (a decorative center piece on the ceiling). The skirting boards, stairs, floors, and balustrade (stair railing) are also original. These old features make the heritage property very special.
Why Harper's Mansion is Important
Harper's Mansion is considered one of the best examples of a colonial Georgian house still standing in New South Wales. It's a very important part of the historic town of Berrima. It shows what a Georgian house looked like and is a rare, high-quality example in the region. It also has strong connections to the Harper family and the Roman Catholic Church, and to the early development of Berrima.
Harper's Mansion is one of the most well-known buildings in Berrima. It's recognized for its Georgian design and its history, which goes back to 1834. James Harper built the house for his family. For 120 years, it belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. Even with its long use by the Church, it has kept Harper's name. Most people know it as Harper's Mansion. Descriptions from the mid-1800s even called it Harper's Hill. The property has always been a prominent landmark in Berrima.
Harper's Mansion was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002. This means it met certain important standards:
- It shows how cultural or natural history developed in New South Wales.
Harper's Mansion is important because it's a great example of a colonial house from the 1830s. It's also a rare example of a suburban house from that time that still has its full garden and many original interiors. Its historical link to James Harper and the Church is also very important. James Harper (1806-1845) was a well-known local person. He was a district constable in Sutton Forest. The Harper family also built the Surveyor General Inn, and James was its first owner. In 1844, Harper was chosen to be part of the Berrima District Council.
- It shows great design or creative skill in New South Wales.
The beautiful design of Harper's Mansion is very important for Berrima's recognition as a historic town. The house and its grounds accurately show what a property from the 1800s looked like. Harper's Mansion is a noticeable landmark in the historic townscape of Berrima.
- It has a strong connection with a particular community or group in New South Wales for social, cultural, or spiritual reasons.
Harper's Mansion is socially important because it represents a home built by middle-class colonists in the first half of the 1800s. Even though James Harper built it for his family, the property was connected to the Roman Catholic Church for 120 years, mainly as a home for priests. This gives the property a special religious meaning.
- It shows the main features of a type of historical place or environment in New South Wales.
Harper's House is one of the best examples of a Colonial Georgian house still existing in New South Wales. It represents an important part of the history of Berrima's settlement.
See also
- List of National Trust properties in Australia
- List of rose cultivars named after people
