History House, Sydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History House, Sydney |
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History House, 2007
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| Location | 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1853–1872 |
| Built for | George Oakes |
| Architect | George Allen Mansfield |
| Owner | Royal Australian Historical Society |
| Official name: History House; Wickham House | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 692 |
| Type | Terrace |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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History House, Sydney is a special old building in the heart of Sydney. It's located on Macquarie Street in the city centre of New South Wales, Australia. This building has had many lives! It started as a fancy home, then became a doctor's office, and later a clubhouse. Today, it's home to the Royal Australian Historical Society, a group that studies Australia's past.
The building was designed by an architect named George Allen Mansfield and was built between 1853 and 1872. It's also known as Wickham House. Because of its importance, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's a protected building due to its historical value.
Contents
The Story of History House
How the Land Was Used
The land where History House stands was once part of the Governor's large private garden, called the Domain. This was back when the first Governor lived in First Government House (from 1788 to 1845).
After the Governor moved to a new, grander home, the old garden land was divided into smaller blocks in the late 1840s. These blocks were sold for building houses. The specific piece of land for History House was bought in 1849 by Joseph Nottingham Palmer.
Over the next few years, the land was sold a few times to important people in Sydney society. By 1853, the price of the land had gone up a lot, partly because of the gold rush which brought more people to Sydney needing homes.
Building a Grand Home
The house we now call History House was designed in 1871. The architect was George Allen Mansfield, and he designed it for his uncle, George Oakes. George Oakes was a well-known politician and a person who owned large farms.
This house was one of the last fancy Victorian-style townhouses built on this part of Macquarie Street. It was probably finished in 1872.
The Owner and Architect
George Oakes bought the land in 1857. At that time, he was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, which is like a state parliament. He spent some time overseas in the 1860s. When he came back in the early 1870s, he became active in politics again.
In 1872, he was elected to represent East Sydney in the Legislative Assembly. He likely used his new Macquarie Street house as a city home when Parliament was meeting, as his main family home was in Parramatta.
His nephew, George Allen Mansfield, was a very important architect of that time. He designed many school buildings and large hospitals. Mansfield also helped make architecture a proper profession in New South Wales. He was a founder and president of the Institute of Architects. His original drawings for History House, from December 1871, still exist today.
What the House Looked Like
When it was first built, History House was a typical fancy home for a wealthy family.
- On the ground floor, there was a beautiful entrance hall, a drawing room, and dining rooms. These were the public areas where guests would be entertained.
- Upstairs, on the first and second floors, were a study, bedrooms, and dressing rooms.
- The front verandah and balconies offered great views of the Botanic Garden and the harbour.
- A back section of the house held the service areas, like the kitchen, and rooms for the servants. There was a separate staircase for servants so they could move around without disturbing the family.
- The kitchen was in the basement and could be reached from the front of the building or from a lane at the back.
From Home to Offices
The house didn't stay a private home for long. By 1879, it became the home of the Reform Club, a social club that George Oakes helped start.
George Oakes sadly died in 1881. After his death, the house was owned by his son, Arthur, who was a doctor. The house was rented out for a few years, first to a politician, then to another club called the Warrigal Club.
From 1892 to 1922, History House was used as a boarding house, which was common for many large homes on Macquarie Street at that time. In 1922, a doctor named George Armstrong bought the house and used it as his consulting rooms.
In 1927, another famous surgeon, Dr. George Bell, bought the house. He lived there and also used it for his doctor's office. By 1952, the city had become busier, so Dr. Bell and his wife moved out, but he continued to use the house for his practice. When the Royal Australian Historical Society bought the house in 1969, it was being used by a group of doctors and was known as "Wickham House." The building was strong, but many changes had been made inside to create smaller rooms for offices.
A New Home for History
The Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) was founded in 1901. For many years, they didn't have their own building. They met in different places and eventually got rooms in the Department of Education building.
In 1941, the Society bought its first own building. However, by 1957, it became clear that their building would be needed for a big new development. After long talks, the RAHS eventually had to move. "Wickham House" (now History House) became available, and the RAHS was able to get it in exchange for their old building.
To make the house suitable for the Society, some renovation work was done. The old service wing at the back was removed to make space for a lift and fire stairs. A new auditorium and an extension on the first floor were built. The main public rooms were restored to their original beauty. The upstairs floors were turned into offices, a library, and a museum.
The Society moved into its new home in 1970, and the building was officially renamed "History House." It was opened by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Paul Hasluck, on 12 November 1971.
Since then, a lot of effort has gone into keeping History House in great condition. It's a rare example of the beautiful townhouses that once lined Macquarie Street. The outside of the building has been repaired. The drawing room and dining room, which are now used for public events, have been redecorated to look like they would have in the house's original time. During work in 1985, the original paint colours in these rooms were found and restored. Much of the house's beauty comes from its amazing woodwork. The main staircase, doors, and door frames are made of cedar wood with carved mahogany details. The entrance hall floor has a special pattern made from about a dozen different types of wood!
Heritage Listing
History House was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in New South Wales.
