Horsley Homestead facts for kids

Horsley Homestead is a very old and special house located in Dapto, New South Wales, Australia. It is a heritage-listed site, meaning it is protected because of its historical importance. The homestead was built between 1842 and 1909. Over the years, it has been a family home, a museum, and even a place for special events like weddings. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 4, 2000.

The Story of Horsley Homestead

Early Settlers and the Weston Family

The story of Horsley Homestead began in 1818 when William Frances Weston, his wife Elizabeth, and their son John arrived in the Illawarra region. They were among the first free settlers there. Governor Macquarie gave them 500 acres of land in Dapto. William Weston named his new property "West Horsley Place" after his home back in Surrey, England.

William Weston passed away in 1826, leaving his wife and five children. The 1828 census shows Elizabeth Weston and her children still living on the property. They had 500 acres, with some land cleared for farming and 35 cattle.

A Growing Community and New Owners

In 1830, Elizabeth Weston married Thomas Williamson. By 1841, Horsley had become like a small village. The Williamsons lived there, and Elizabeth Weston rented out homes to 21 families, totaling 84 people.

On January 13, 1842, Governor Gipps officially approved the land grant from 1818. The property was then given to William and Elizabeth Weston's daughters, Elizabeth and Augusta. The first part of the main house, with four rooms, was built around this time.

In 1843, Elizabeth Weston Jr. married Andrew Thompson, and the homestead became their home. Later, in 1866, John Lindsay bought West Horsley Place from Augusta Brooks (who was Augusta Weston). He renamed the property simply "Horsley."

The Lindsay Family and Dairy Farming

John Lindsay's son, George Lindsay, turned Horsley into a successful dairy farm. He had a famous herd of Ayrshire cows. George was very good at showing his cows and won many awards at local and Sydney agricultural shows. He also bought a butchery business and a piggery for his son, John Hessel Lindsay.

George Lindsay lived to be 91 years old, passing away in 1947. His son, Arthur Lindsay, then inherited the property.

New Chapters for Horsley

In 1968, Ron and Judy Holloway bought 27 acres of the property, including the homestead, from Arthur Lindsay. A few years later, in 1972, the land was sold to developers. Mr. and Mrs. C. Neaves bought Horsley Homestead with 2.59 hectares (about 5.7 acres) to restore it and open it to the public.

Marlene Neaves created a museum at Horsley and gave tours until at least 1985. As part of the museum, an old building called the "Old Albion Park Store" was moved to the Horsley site.

From 1985 to 1992, Peter and Prue Fyfe owned Horsley. They lived there and also used it as a place for events like wedding receptions. Since 2001, Rodney and Mary Young have owned the property, making it their private home.

What Horsley Homestead Looks Like

The Main House and Its Surroundings

Horsley Homestead sits on a gentle slope, facing north. From the house, you can see Robins Creek and Mount Kembla in the distance. The property has several old farm buildings lined up along the ridge.

The main house is built in a style called Georgian, using bricks that were once covered in a white lime wash. It was built in two main parts. The first part, from around 1842, had a central hallway with two rooms on each side. Later, more rooms were added to the east and west. The front and back verandahs were used to reach these new rooms. Inside, you can see beautiful cedar wood details.

Kitchen, Dairy, and Farm Buildings

Behind the main house, there is a separate kitchen building made of stone. It has a stone floor, a large open fireplace, and a room for maids. Some people think this kitchen might even be older than the main house, perhaps the first small cottage built on the site.

Next to the house, there's a detached dairy (also called a creamery) made of bricks similar to the house. This building was used to make cheese and butter around 1880. The house, kitchen, and dairy all have slate roofs.

The farm buildings are lined up in a row. The stable, made of stone, is the furthest east. It still has its original wooden stalls and stone floor, though its roof was changed to corrugated iron. The upper part of the stable was used to store corn.

Across the driveway is a milking shed made of timber and corrugated iron. The parts used for milking cows have been removed. Next to it is a reinforced concrete silo, built in 1909, which was very modern for its time. The silo has a new hexagonal wooden roof.

The furthest building to the west is a large cow shed. It's special because it's the only one in the area where cows were tied up using traditional fixtures.

Even though the original 500-acre property has been divided many times, the remaining 2.071 hectares still hold the original farm buildings and important landscape features. The buildings have been well cared for and are still in great condition.

Why Horsley Homestead is Important

Horsley Homestead is considered a very important historical site in New South Wales. It's a rare example of a 19th-century farm complex that is still mostly complete.

A Glimpse into History

Horsley Homestead shows us what life was like for early settlers in the Illawarra region. It was one of the first properties where the owners lived on the land themselves. It also shows how small communities grew around farms in the early 1800s.

The Lindsay family, who owned Horsley for many years, were important leaders in the dairy industry. They helped develop new ways of farming and raising dairy cows. The Illawarra region became famous for its advanced farming techniques, supplying milk to Sydney.

Beautiful Design and Unique Features

Horsley Homestead is a beautiful landmark with its historic garden and buildings. The garden has important old trees like a Bunya Bunya Pine and five Morton Bay Fig Trees. The farm buildings are also special, including the house with its separate kitchen and dairy, the stables, milking shed, and the old silo and cow shed.

Connecting with the Community

Horsley Homestead has always been important to the local community. In the 1970s and 80s, it was a museum and a venue for events, allowing many people to visit. The current owners have also opened the house to the public for fundraising events. Because of its long history and community involvement, Horsley is well-known and highly valued by people in the area.

Learning from the Past

The site can teach us a lot about the history of New South Wales. For example, the silo and chaff cutting area show how farmers started using new technology to feed their dairy herds all year round. The Lindsay family at Horsley were pioneers in these new farming methods.

Because the site has been occupied since 1818 and is still mostly untouched, it has great potential for archaeological discoveries. This means experts could dig there to find old objects and learn even more about its past.

Rare and Special Features

Horsley Homestead is rare because it's a largely complete 19th-century dairy farm complex in the central Illawarra, which was once a major dairy farming area. It has unique structures that are hard to find elsewhere, such as:

• An early reinforced concrete silo.
• A cow shed where cows were individually tied up.
• A 19th-century stone stable with original wooden stalls.
• A brick dairy (creamery).

The site shows how dairy farming was done in the 19th century through its buildings and how they are placed in the landscape. The old trees and gate posts also show what major gardens and farms looked like in the 1800s.