Jarvisfield, Picton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jarvisfield
Location	Old Hume Highway, Picton, Wollondilly Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1815–1864
Built for	Major H C Antill
Architect	William Weaver
Owner	Wollondilly Shire Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Jarvisfield; Wilton
Type	State heritage (landscape)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	305
Type	Historic Landscape
Category	Landscape - Cultural
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Jarvisfield is a very old and important place in Picton, Australia. It used to be a large farm and is now a popular golf course. The main house was designed by an architect named William Weaver. It was built between 1815 and 1864.

This historic property was once known as Wilton. Today, the Wollondilly Shire Council owns it. Jarvisfield is so special that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it is protected for future generations.

The Story of Jarvisfield

The Antill Family Arrives

Jarvisfield was the home of the Antill family for over 120 years. They lived there from about 1817 until at least 1937. The story begins with Major H. C. (Henry Colden) Antill. He was born in New York in 1779. Henry joined the British Army in 1796. He was very brave and even received a medal for his courage in India.

In December 1809, Major Antill came to Sydney. He arrived with Governor and Mrs. Macquarie. Governor Macquarie appointed Henry as his Aide-de-Camp. This meant Henry was like a personal assistant to the Governor.

Building a New Home

Major Antill left the army in 1821. In 1822, he was the first person to receive a large land grant in the Picton area. This area was then called Stonequarry. Antill built his first simple home there in the 1810s. He later built a bigger family house around 1823-1824.

He first named his new home Wilton. This was after his father's estate in America. But he later changed the name to Jarvisfield. This was to honour Governor Macquarie's first wife, Jane Jarvis. Major Antill knew Jane Jarvis from India. The name Jarvis Field came from a property Macquarie owned in Scotland.

Major Antill's Life in Picton

From 1831 to 1833, Antill was a director of the Bank of New South Wales. He also became the Police Magistrate for the County of Camden. This was an important job, like a local judge. He held this position until he died in 1852.

Major Antill also renamed the town of Stonequarry. He called it Picton after General Sir Thomas Picton. This general was a hero of The Battle of Waterloo. Antill settled on his land, raising sheep, pigs, and cows. He was a very important person in the Picton area. He was a magistrate, a leader in the local church, and supported the local school. Major Antill died in 1852. He was buried in the family tomb overlooking Picton.

The Antill Family Generations

At least three generations of the Antill family lived at Jarvisfield.

• Henry Colden Antill (1779–1852)
• John Macquarie Antill Senior (1822–1900)
• John Macquarie Antill Junior (1866–1937)

Henry Colden Antill was born in New York. His family had moved from England to America. Henry came to Sydney in 1810. He married Eliza Wills in 1818. In 1825, he settled on his Jarvisfield estate near Picton. In 1844, he divided part of his land. This helped to create the town of Picton. Henry died in 1852. He had six sons and two daughters.

John Macquarie Antill Sr. was born in Liverpool in 1822. He became a Police Magistrate in Picton. He held this job until he died in 1900. In 1851, he married Jessie Hassall Campbell. John Sr. inherited Jarvisfield in 1858. He built a new home for his family there in 1864. He started the famous Jarvisfield Ayrshire Stud in 1875. This was a special farm for breeding Ayrshire cattle. Jessie and John Sr. had 11 children.

John Macquarie Antill Jr. was Henry's grandson. He was born at Jarvisfield in 1866. John Jr. became a surveyor. He joined the local army group in 1887. He fought in the British Army in India in 1893. He also fought in the Boer War in South Africa. He was a war hero. Later, he was an Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General. In World War I, he was a brigade major in Turkey. He retired from the army in 1924 as a Major-General. He spent some years at Jarvisfield. Major-General Antill died in 1937.

Jarvisfield Today

In 1967, the Antill Park Golf Club was started on the Jarvisfield site. The historic homestead became the club house. The golf club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012.

What Jarvisfield Looks Like

The Golf Course Estate

The main part of the original 2000-acre land grant still remains. Today, it is managed as a golf course. It is located near the town of Picton.

The golf course has 18 holes. It is a challenging course with many pretty holes. Some parts are next to water. The clubhouse is in the middle of the Antill Park Country Golf Club. It looks out over the 9th hole and 10th tee.

Gardens and Old Trees

The house is surrounded by large grounds. These used to be gardens and farmland. Now, they are part of the golf course. Not much of the original garden remains. However, some old native pine trees are still there. These include hoop pines and Bunya pines. They are important old trees.

Many old trees, both foreign and native, were planted by the Antills. They are still there today. There are also newer trees planted by the Golf Club. The old trees near the house show what kind of plants were common on early farms in the area. Some of these plants are now very rare in New South Wales. This includes the Chinese funeral cypress and the American Osage orange.

The Osage orange hedges are very rare in the Sydney area. Only two other examples are known. These hedges are north and south of the house. They were planted when the house was first used. They are important because they are part of the original design. They also show the Antill family's connection to the land.

The Homestead Building

The main house, now the Golf Club house, was built in 1863. John Macquarie Antill built it. It was named Jarvisfield to remember Governor Macquarie's first wife. The house's verandah looks out over the golf course. It is a nice place for people to relax and enjoy the views.

The house has two floors. It is made of brick and covered with plaster. It has a traditional Georgian Revival style. The main house has a hipped roof with brick chimneys. The verandah on the front and sides has flat timber columns. The front door has French doors next to it. There are also sash windows on the first floor.

The Old Barn

There is also a stone barn from the mid-1800s on the property. It has a simple gable roof. It is made of sandstone blocks. You can see the timber beams inside. When the site became a golf course, the barn was changed. It became a Pro-Golf Shop.

There is also a two-story stable building. It is made of sandstone blocks. It is located to the south-west of the main house.

Other Historic Buildings Nearby

• The former Razorback Inn (now Brookside Restaurant) is also nearby. It was built around 1850. It was an inn for travellers. Later, it became a guest-house and restaurant. Now, it is used for events.
• The Jarvisfield Store (now 470 Menangle Street, Picton) was built in 1863. It was part of the land where H. C. Antill developed the town of Picton. It used to be a small shop. Now, it has been fixed up and is an antiques shop.

Condition and Changes

The first simple home was built around 1810. A larger family house was built around 1824-1825. Both of these older houses were located a few hundred metres east of the current house. Part of the second house was still standing in 1937. The third house, which is the current one, was built in 1864-1865. The bricks for this house were made right on the property. In 1967, the estate became the Antill Park Country Golf Club. The third house became its clubhouse.

Over the years, the homestead has had some changes:

• Around 1910, an upper floor verandah was added. The ground floor verandah was changed.
• In 1964, the homestead was changed into the Golf Club house.
• Around 1985, some restoration work was done. This included fixing the drainage and the ground floor verandah.
• In 2012, the ground floor verandah was restored again. The roof was also repaired.

Why Jarvisfield is Important

Jarvisfield is a very important historical place. It shows how farms and landscapes developed in New South Wales. It still has the main part of the original farm land. It also has the third Antill house, an old sandstone stable, and many old trees. These trees were planted by the Antill family.

The old trees show what kinds of plants were used on early farms in the Cumberland Plain. Some of these trees are now very rare in New South Wales. This includes the Chinese funeral cypress and the American Osage orange. The Osage orange hedges are especially rare. Only two other examples are known in the Sydney area.

The Osage orange hedges are important because they are part of the original design of the place. They also show the strong connection to the Antill family.

Jarvisfield was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it is recognized for its historical value.

See also

• Australian residential architectural styles