Kurkulla facts for kids

Kurkulla is a heritage-listed house located on Evans Lane in Bowral, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in the early 1880s. This special home is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its important history.

History of Kurkulla

Early Owners and Schools

Kurkulla was built around 1880 for a woman named Lucy Berthon. She was a widow who ran a school in Marrickville. Mrs. Berthon had hoped to open a girls' school at Kurkulla. However, this plan did not happen, and she moved away in 1891.

After Mrs. Berthon left, a scholar named J. Lee Pulling started a boys' boarding school there. This school operated from 1891 until about 1895 or 1897. A famous student at this school was Cecil Healy, an Olympic swimmer and a hero from World War I.

Ada Evans's Home

The property was put up for sale many times starting in 1903. In 1909, a Sydney merchant named William Robert Evans bought it. He bought Kurkulla for his sister, Ada Evans. Both William and Ada loved gardening. They worked together to turn the property into a self-supporting farm.

Ada Evans was born in England in 1872. She loved the gardens around the house. She made them beautiful with a distinct European style.

A Pioneer in Law

Ada Evans made history in 1902. She became the first woman in Australia to graduate from law school at the University of Sydney. However, when she tried to become a lawyer, she was refused. At that time, the law did not allow women to hold such a position.

Ada fought hard for her right to practice law. Her efforts led to the Women's Legal Status Act of 1918. This new law allowed women to become lawyers in New South Wales. Finally, on May 12, 1921, Ada Evans became the first woman to be admitted to the Bar in New South Wales. This opened the legal profession to women for the very first time.

The Australian Law Journal later described Ada's struggle as "heroic pioneering for women in the profession."

Ada Evans lived at Kurkulla from 1909 until she passed away in 1947. She truly considered it her home. The lane where the property stands, Evans Lane, is named in her honor.

Later Owners

After Ada Evans died, Kurkulla went to her niece, Joan Kyngdon. Joan lived in the house until 1996.

Before 2006, the house was carefully restored. New additions were made, including a separate studio, a heated swimming pool, and a tennis court. The property has changed hands a few times since then, but it remains a beautiful and historic home.

About Kurkulla

The Homestead

Kurkulla is a single-story house made of painted bricks. It has an iron roof and a verandah on two sides (east and north). The house was built around the 1880s.

Inside, you can find shiny timber floors and large, well-proportioned rooms. The ceilings are 12 feet high and made of decorative pressed metal.

The house has a unique bay window on its north side. The verandah has timber columns with special carvings. The verandah floor is tiled. The east side also has a timber porch. The house is set back from the road, surrounded by many old trees.

Gardens and Setting

Kurkulla sits on 3 hectares (about 7.4 acres) of land. It is on a small hill near Bowral, with long views over fields and bushland. The property includes a pond and areas of woodland garden. There is also a group of black locust trees, which were popular for creating shelter belts in the 1800s.

A gravel driveway leads to the house. It is surrounded by green lawns and flower beds. You can see old-fashioned flowers like flag irises and roses. There are also smaller shrubs and hedges. Tall trees like Monterey pines and a large Bunya Bunya pine provide shelter.

The garden feels very private. The grounds also feature a heated swimming pool and a tennis court. There is a separate guest pavilion overlooking the tennis court and a greenhouse. A sheltered outdoor area is located between the house and a guest studio.

The Studio

Next to the main house, there is a newly built studio. This studio is self-contained, meaning it has everything needed for a comfortable stay.

Why Kurkulla is Important

Kurkulla is considered a significant part of New South Wales's history. It is important because it was the home of Ada Evans. She was the first woman to become a lawyer in New South Wales. Her hard work helped open up the legal profession for women across Australia.

Kurkulla also shows how towns like Bowral developed in the 1800s. It is a good example of a late 19th-century homestead. The house still has many of its original features, which adds to its historical and aesthetic value.

Kurkulla was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.