Hassall and Jefferis Cottages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hassall & Jefferis Cottages |
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Cutter's Inn 1828
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| Location | Old South Road, Mittagong, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1827–1842 |
| Official name: Hassall & Jefferis Cottages; Cutter's Inn; Kangaroo Inn; Government or Mittagong Farm Home; Child Welfare Home | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 491 |
| Type | Other - Residential Buildings (private) |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | George Cutter (first inn); William Sherwin |
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The Hassall and Jefferis Cottages are historic buildings in Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia. They have had many uses over time. First, they were an inn and a stop for horse-drawn coaches. Later, they became a children's home. Today, they are private homes.
These cottages are also known as Cutter's Inn and Cottage No. 8 and Cottage No. 11. They were built between 1827 and 1842. The buildings are an important part of the history of the Mittagong area. They are listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of their special history.
A Journey Through Time
Who Lived Here First?
For thousands of years, the Southern Highlands area, including Mittagong, was home to the Gundungurra or Gandangarra people. They lived in small family groups and had a deep connection to the land.
The Gundungurra people left behind signs of their lives. These include scarred trees where bark was taken for canoes, grinding grooves on rocks for tools, and places where they lived. Many of the first roads used by European settlers followed old Gundungurra pathways. It's possible the Old South Road, where these cottages are, was once one of these ancient paths.
Early Days: From Land Grant to Inn
The land where the cottages stand was first given to Robert Plume in 1822. This makes it one of the earliest land grants in the area.
In 1827, George Cutter built the first inn here. It was called the Kangaroo Inn, also known as Cutter's Inn. This inn was made of timber and faced the main road. It was the very first place south of the Razorback Range where travellers could stop for a rest and a drink. It quickly became one of the most famous inns of its time.
However, in 1830, the main road was moved by Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell. This meant fewer coaches came by, and the inn's business slowed down. In 1836, the famous explorer Charles Sturt bought the property and lived there for a few years.
William Sherwin bought the property in 1839.
The Mail Coach Era
After 1840, the inn became a mail coach staging post. This means it was a place where mail coaches, like those run by Cobb & Co., would stop to change horses and deliver mail. This continued until 1867, when the railway reached Mittagong.
The stone building that was once the coach house has the year 1842 carved into its main archway. This building is now known as "Jefferis." A brick cottage was built next to it after 1842, likely for the coachman to live in.
Other old buildings, built around the late 1840s to 1850s, are known as "Hassall." These include a kitchen and other rooms. The main "Hassall" building, which might have replaced the original Cutter's Inn, was built around 1865-1870.
A Home for Children
After 1875, the property stopped being an inn. It was sold and used as a home for children who needed care. Later, it became a government farm for boys.
In the early 1900s, many changes were made to the site. New buildings were added, and services were updated. The Jefferis building became "Mittagong Farm Homes Cottage No. 8," and the Hassall building became "Farm Home Cottage Number 11."
The Farm Homes closed in 1976. The buildings were left empty and damaged in the 1980s. Because of their historical importance, they were protected in 1986.
Restoring the Past
In 1989, the Hagan family bought the property. They worked to restore the buildings to how they looked around 1911. This was chosen as the best period to restore them to, as many changes had happened after 1907.
In 2001, a new garage was built in the style of the 1840s buildings. Also, a new enclosed area for farm machinery was approved. The Hassall cottage and its gardens have also been greatly improved in the 1990s.
In 2005, there were plans to build more hangars at a nearby airstrip. The Heritage Council made sure that these plans would not harm the historic Cutter's Inn property. Conditions were put in place to protect the buildings from vibrations.
The property was put up for sale in 2016.
What the Cottages Look Like
The Hassall and Jefferis buildings are on Old South Road in Mittagong. They are in a quiet, semi-rural area, surrounded by gardens. The Old South Road used to be the main road to the south, but now it's a smaller road.
The site is important because it was one of the first land grants in the area. It was also home to one of the earliest and best-known inns. Explorer Charles Sturt probably lived here between 1836 and 1838.
The buildings today show parts from the 1840s, as well as changes from later times. They tell a story of how their use and style have changed over the years.
Gardens and Surroundings
The property has about 80 acres of land. Around 7 acres are established gardens surrounding the main house (the former inn) and cottages.
The area includes paddocks with scattered eucalyptus trees and a background of bushland. The gardens feature large lawns, lines of tall Lombardy poplars, and groups of other trees like Asian pears and cypress trees. Hedges also define parts of the inner lawns.
The Jefferis Building (Coach House)
The Jefferis building was once a two-storey stone carriage house. It has a verandah on both levels. It was likely first built as a one-storey building with a small loft, horse stalls, and space for two coaches. The year 1842 is carved into its stone archway. A brick cottage from the 1840s is attached to it, probably for the coachman.
Over the years, the Jefferis building has been changed many times to become a home. A doorway was added to connect the cottage to the carriage house, making them one building. It now has a large gable roof over the entrance, with windows and French doors. The old carriage entrances have been filled in, and new windows added. A kitchen, bathroom, and laundry were put in, and the floors were tiled.
The Hassall Building (Cutter's Inn)
The Hassall building is a single-storey building with attic windows, built around 1827. It is made of sandstone brick and has four bedrooms and living rooms.
The front part of the Hassall building might have replaced an earlier structure, possibly the original Cutter's Inn.
Other Structures and Discoveries
There are also three other single-storey brick buildings that are important. One might have been an original kitchen from around 1845-1865. These buildings seem to be extensions of the Hassall building.
The space between these three older buildings used to form a courtyard behind Hassall. This area was once enclosed by a two-storey addition, which has now been removed. During the restoration work, a well and an old brick-lined water tank were found in this area.
The property also has two carefully restored one-bedroom cottages.
Why These Cottages Are Special
The Hassall and Jefferis Cottages are very important historically. They are some of the oldest buildings still standing from the original village of Mittagong.
They connect us to important people from colonial times, like Charles Sturt. They also show the history of the mail coach industry, which used the buildings as a stop for coaches and an inn. Even with changes, the buildings from the 1840s-1860s are rare examples of roadside inns and stables from that time.
These buildings show a key time in the history of transport and communication in New South Wales, before railways were built in the late 1860s. Their later use as a government home for children also shows how social welfare policies changed over time.
The Hassall & Jefferis Cottages were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because they meet several important criteria:
- They show the history of New South Wales: Built around 1842-1865, they show the early history of the Southern Highlands and the importance of the Old South Road. They link to important figures like Charles Sturt and institutions like Cobb & Co., showing the history of transport and mail. Their use as a home for young people also adds to their historical importance.
- They are beautiful and show great design: The buildings and their rural setting are visually important in the valley. They would have been clearly seen from the road, which was important during the coaching days. It's considered important for the public to be able to see these buildings clearly.
- They have a strong connection to the community: These buildings are socially important to the Mittagong area. They might be the only surviving commercial complex from the early settlement before the main road was moved and the railway arrived. Their use as a children's home also has social meaning for the local community and the children who lived there.
- They are rare: They are a rare example of a surviving roadside coach stop and inn.
- They represent important types of places: They are a good example of roadside stage coach buildings, including a carriage house, stables, and other living areas, showing how they looked and worked in the 1840s-1860s. They also represent the first property used for the care of children in the Southern Highlands, showing a method of care that was new at the time but is no longer used.
