Hunting Lodge, Rouse Hill facts for kids

The Hunting Lodge is a special old building in Rouse Hill, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, which means it's an important part of history that needs to be protected. This small, unique building has a long story connected to some of the earliest farms in the area. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

History of the Hunting Lodge

The land where the Hunting Lodge stands was first given to Governor Bligh in 1806 by Governor King. This was confirmed later by Governor Macquarie. Governor Bligh owned this land as his private property and called it Copenhagen Farm, named after a sea battle he was involved in.

Later in the 1800s, the property was owned by S. H. Terry (1833-1887), who was a landowner and politician. It's thought that he might have built the lodge around the 1860s. Because of Terry, the Hunting Lodge is closely connected to other important old homes nearby, like Rouse Hill House and Box Hill House. Terry himself was born at his family's farm at Box Hill.

There's a local story that Governor Bligh built the lodge because he was the first owner of the land. However, it seems more likely that the Terry family, or one of their stonemason tenants, built it. They used the land around it as an orchard. Another idea is that Henry Ferdinand Halloran built it. He looked after the property for seven years and was known for building interesting and unusual structures on his estates.

Until the 1970s, the lodge had a small moat around it. This moat was probably there to keep animals away and maybe to protect the building from fire. We don't know exactly when the moat was built, but it has since been filled in by the current owner. Also, in the early 1970s, there was a line of wattle trees leading from the gate to the house, which have also been removed.

What the Hunting Lodge Looks Like

The Hunting Lodge is a small, one-story cottage made of sandstone. It has a unique design that looks a bit like a tiny castle or a fancy old house, with a small attic space. This style is sometimes called Gothic or Baronial, and it was often used for decorative buildings known as "follies."

Changes Over Time

As mentioned, the lodge used to have a small moat around it until the 1970s, which was later filled in. There was also an avenue of wattle trees that led to the house, which are no longer there. It's also believed that some parts were added to the house over the years that didn't quite match its original style.

Why the Hunting Lodge is Important

The Hunting Lodge is considered very important for its history and its unique design. Here's why:

• It's connected to some of the very first farms in the Rouse Hill area, including Copenhagen Farm, Box Hill, and Rouse Hill House.
• It might have been built by S. H. Terry, an important politician and landowner from the 1800s.
• It's rare to find a 19th-century hunting lodge like this still standing. Its Gothic/Baronial design and the remains of its moat make it even more special.

Only three original buildings from those early farms still exist today: Rouse Hill House, Box Hill House, and the Hunting Lodge. The Hunting Lodge was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, meaning it's protected for future generations.