Lake Innes House Ruins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Innes House Ruins |
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Oil painting of Lake Innes house in 1839 when it was at the peak of its productivity
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| Location | The Ruins Way, Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1831–1848 |
| Owner | Office of Environment and Heritage |
| Official name: Lake Innes House ruins and environs | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological-terrestrial) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 997 |
| Type | Homestead Complex |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
| Builders | Major Archibald Clunes Innes |
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The Lake Innes House Ruins are the remains of a large home and farm near Port Macquarie, Australia. It was built between 1831 and 1848 by Major Archibald Clunes Innes. Today, it's an important historical site where you can learn about early Australian settlement.
The ruins are about 11 kilometres south of Port Macquarie. They show what's left of the main house, stables, and other buildings. These include cottages for workers, a farm, a place where bricks were made, and a boathouse. The site tells a rich story about how New South Wales was settled. It also shows how people lived in the 1800s, including the use of convict labour. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service looks after the site, and it's open for everyone to visit.
Contents
History of Lake Innes House
Major Archibald Innes's Story
Archibald Clunes Innes was born in Scotland in 1800. He joined the army at just 13 years old. In 1822, he came to Sydney on a ship carrying convicts. He later worked in Tasmania and helped catch escaped convicts.
In 1825, he became an assistant to the governor of New South Wales. He also worked as a judge. Later, he was in charge of the convict settlement at Port Macquarie. In 1829, he left the army and married Margaret, whose father was a high-ranking government official.
In 1830, Archibald and Margaret moved to Port Macquarie. He was given a large piece of land, about 2,568 acres. He also got contracts to supply food to the many convicts living in the area. At this time, Port Macquarie was a major convict settlement.
Over the next ten years, Archibald built up his property. His house started small but grew into a huge mansion. By 1840, it had 22 rooms. It was known as one of the most luxurious homes in the area. It even had modern features like an underground water tank, a bathroom, and hot water.
During the 1830s and 1840s, Lake Innes House was a lively social hub. Major Innes often hosted important guests. In 1847, even Sir Charles Fitzroy, who was the Governor of NSW, visited with his wife.
Major Innes became very wealthy. He bought many sheep and cattle farms across northern New South Wales. One of his properties, Furracabad, later became the town of Glen Innes, named after him. He also grew the first sugar in the area and planted grapevines.
Major Innes believed Port Macquarie would become a big port city. However, the river entrance was too dangerous for many ships. Also, the road to the Tablelands was very difficult to use. These problems, along with an economic downturn in the 1840s, led to his financial troubles. The government also stopped sending convicts to NSW. This meant Major Innes lost his food contracts and his cheap convict labour. In 1853, he left Lake Innes House. He worked as a gold commissioner and judge in other towns. He passed away in Newcastle in 1857.
Life at Lake Innes House
We know a lot about Lake Innes House from the diaries of two young women who lived there. The most famous diary was written by Annabella Boswell. She was Major Innes's niece and lived there from 1843 to 1848. Another diary was kept by Louisa Isabella Parker, who visited the house often.
Annabella wrote that the house had 22 well-furnished rooms. There was also a separate building called the "bachelor's hall" with a sitting room and three bedrooms. Annabella even drew a map of the house. She described a wide verandah (porch) facing the lake. The drawing-room was a large square room with windows opening onto the verandah.
Louisa Parker also described her first visit to the house as a child. She recalled arriving in a carriage pulled by four horses. The drive led through white gates and well-kept hedges. She saw an observatory tower among tall trees.
She described a beautiful garden with flowers and a summer-house. Inside the house, there was a grand hall with pictures. To the left was a library full of books. On the other side was a large dining room with a long table. It had three sparkling chandeliers and pictures of historical scenes. Louisa remembered seeing statues of famous figures like Lord Nelson.
The drawing-room was very fancy, with gold-figured satin chairs. A long hallway led to the bedrooms. Mrs. Innes's room was there, and another fine room was for the Governor and his wife when they visited. There was even a "French room" with special curtains. At the end of the hall was a bathroom with running water. Steps led to other rooms, including a schoolroom and a play-room.
More steps led up to the observatory, which offered a great view of the lake. Behind the house was a brick courtyard with the kitchen. The butler's rooms were above the kitchen. Many other buildings made the homestead feel like a small village. There were carriage houses, stables, and homes for the workers. The orchard had lots of fruit, and a vineyard made wine. Visitors were always coming and going.
The Piper of Lake Innes House
Annabella often wrote about Bruce, the piper, who played music for everyone at the house. She once said that "Bruce played some pibrochs (bagpipe tunes) early for Mr Macleay’s benefit. I had no idea the bagpipes could sound so beautiful." She loved how the sound changed when the piper walked outside.
The piper was Peter Bruce, who came from Scotland around 1840. His family was famous for playing the bagpipes. His father and uncle were well-known pipers. Peter and his brother, John, both good pipers, moved to Australia.
Even though Peter played for guests, he was also a servant. Annabella mentioned he helped the butler serve food. But his main job was farming. She wrote that he was in charge of the fields where oats, lucerne, maize, and Indian corn grew.
In 1844, Peter Bruce married Helen, a maid who worked for Annabella's cousin. Their wedding was held in the drawing-room at Lake Innes House. Helen Sanderson was also from Scotland. Peter and Helen had several children while living at Lake Innes. In the early 1850s, they moved to the goldfields near Bathurst and then to Beechworth. They finally settled in Benalla in Victoria, where Peter became a farmer. He kept playing the bagpipes, and his obituary said he was "one of the best pipers in the colony."
Workers at Lake Innes
Many of the people who worked at Lake Innes House were convicts. Even the two butlers mentioned in the diaries were convicts. Annabella said the butler's name was Lahey, and his wife was her aunt Margaret Innes's maid.
The butler was James Lahey, an Irishman who arrived in Australia in 1838. He had been a soldier. James was assigned to Major Innes and worked as his butler for several years. After he was pardoned, he continued to work for Innes. He later became a hotel owner in Wauchope and then a farmer.
Another butler was George Wilson. Louisa Parker described him as a tall Scotsman and a former soldier. He wore a butler's uniform and was always helpful. George Wilson was a convict sent to Australia in 1838. He was 43 and had been a soldier and indoor servant. He was sent to the Port Macquarie convict settlement. He got his "Ticket Of Leave" in 1847, which allowed him to work for himself. It was probably then that he started working at Lake Innes.
When the Innes family moved to Newcastle in 1853, George went with them. He continued to work for the family even when he was old. He passed away in Port Macquarie in 1876.
Annabella also mentioned Mrs. Halloran, whose husband was a convict servant. She said: "At the poultry yard were two cottages... one for the Hallorans. There were pig-sties and sheds for the poultry... Halloran was a quiet elderly Irishman. I don’t quite know how his wife found her way to the colony but there she was and she was a decent, industrious creature, more than content to find herself so comfortably provided for, and quite happy among pigs and fowls."
James Halloran was an Irish convict who arrived in Sydney in 1840. His record mentions that his wife and children asked to join him in the colony. The Hallorans had a son at Lake Innes in 1842. James received his pardon in 1846, and the family later moved to Sydney.
Not all convicts were as well-behaved. Richard Young was a former soldier who became a famous bushranger (an outlaw) sometimes called “Gentleman Dick.” He was assigned to Major Innes in 1837 but ran away two years later.
After the Innes Family
After Major Archibald Innes died in 1857, his son Gustavus Innes inherited the property. Gustavus became a clergyman and did not live at the house. His mother and sister lived there for two years.
The house was then rented out. Dr. Frederick McKellar lived there from 1860 to 1863. Then Thomas George Wilson rented it from 1863 to 1867. He tried farming, but it wasn't successful. After him, Dr. John Cash Nield rented the property. He bought machinery and successfully grew sugar for some time.
In 1871, Gustavus Innes sold the farm to Henry Zions, a tailor from Sydney. Henry did not live there but rented the estate to Rev. Charles Campbell Kemp. Kemp planted more grapevines. His son, Beilby Kemp, wrote a book describing his stay at the lake around 1872. At that time, the house was still livable, though plants were growing around it.
Rev. Kemp died in 1874. After this, the house slowly fell apart over the next 20 years. In 1896, a big fire destroyed the house completely. A newspaper reported that the old residence, built by Major Innes using convict labour, burned to the ground. The building had not been lived in for over 25 years and was already almost a ruin.
By 1908, Captain Philip Charley owned the property. He decided to turn it into a horse stud farm, which was quite successful. When he died in 1937, his children inherited the estate. One of his sons, Noel Charley, built a timber mill nearby, using wood from the property.
Today, the National Parks and Wildlife Service protects the property. It is open to the public to explore.
What You Can See at Lake Innes Today
Lake Innes House and its related sites are on a piece of land between Lake Innes and Innes Swamp. The main site is 11 kilometres south of Port Macquarie. The house was built on high ground, giving it a great view. The area has dry forests and swampy areas with tea-trees and reeds around the lake. When Lake Innes House was active, it had beautiful gardens and clear views across the lake.
Annabella Boswell's diaries from 1843-1848 mention a vineyard and a "new flower garden." She wrote about using hollyhocks for a birthday dinner table in 1843.
Today, you can't see much of the famous garden above ground. However, the paths and layout might still be hidden beneath the surface. Near the house, there are two huge clumps of giant bamboo. These were common in large gardens of that time.
The House and Other Buildings
The ruins of the house and stables are the main things you can see from Major Innes's property. But there are also other sites nearby. These include the remains of servants' cottages, a village for estate workers, a farm, and a brick-making site. There were also special roads made of logs (corduroy roads) and a boathouse by the lake.
The house had two main sections that formed an L-shape. The living rooms faced west to enjoy views of the lake. The bedroom wing faced south to stay cool from the sun. Behind the house was a courtyard. Here you would find the kitchen, rooms for male visitors (the bachelors' hall), servants' quarters, a laundry, a wine cellar, a dairy, and an underground tank for water. At the end of the bedroom wing, there was a bathroom with hot water and toilets. What you see today is only a small part of the original 22-room mansion.
The Stables
Next to the house, to the north-east, were the stables. They were connected to the house by a shared wall. This complex had stables for many horses, space for carriages, and storage for horse gear. It also had living areas for the stable workers. The stables are in better condition than the house. Many of their walls still stand almost to roof height.
Annabella's diaries also mention a separate schoolroom where the Innes children were taught.
Both the house and stables were built from handmade bricks. These bricks were likely made on the property using clay from nearby. The buildings also used a lot of wood for roofs, floors, doors, and verandahs. However, most of the wood has not survived.
The ruins are in poor condition today, but the site has high archaeological potential. This means there's a lot to discover by digging. Because the area wasn't developed much after Major Innes left, you can still clearly see the main house and stables. Evidence of brick making, food production, and servant homes are all visible. Even with some past digging, the archaeological remains are mostly untouched, as shown by excavations in 1999.
Why Lake Innes House is Important
Lake Innes House ruins are a very important historical site for understanding early Australian settlement before 1850. It shows how a large estate worked in early New South Wales. The ruins are powerful because they remind us of a grand past. We also have detailed diaries, like Annabella Boswell's, that describe daily life there.
The site is a rich source for studying Australian architecture, gardening, farming history, and how homes were set up in the early 1800s. It's rare because it hasn't been changed much since the house was abandoned. Also, we have old journals, drawings, and plans that help us understand it. The house ruins are one of only a few large colonial house ruins in New South Wales.
The Lake Innes Estate is important for both its natural environment and its history. It has important wetland areas and is home to koalas and other threatened animals.
The site also has rare historical evidence. It shows the layout of a large seaside estate, including untouched outbuildings, industrial areas (like brick-making sites), and living spaces for convicts, servants, guests, and residents.
The combination of written records and physical remains makes Lake Innes Estate a great place for research. It helps us understand both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal history in the area.
Historically, the site is linked to important colonial figures like Major Innes, the Macleays, and Annabella Boswell.
The local community in Port Macquarie cares deeply about Lake Innes Estate. People have been interested in protecting it since the 1940s and 1950s.
The Lake Innes Estate is also great for learning and education. It helps us understand many local and state historical topics. These include Aboriginal history, how human settlement affected the environment, the role of convicts, the growth of the middle class in Australia, and the development of towns like Port Macquarie.
Lake Innes House ruins and its surroundings were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Historical Significance
The site is important because it shows the history of New South Wales. It is directly linked to Major Archibald Innes, who was a very important businessman in NSW during the 1830s and 1840s. He owned a huge farming empire. He was an example of the wealthy landowners who were powerful in NSW between 1820 and 1845. The site also shows the history of land settlement in the New England region.
Major Archibald Innes (1800-1857) was a key person in the development of Port Macquarie and the New England area. He was one of the largest and wealthiest landowners in NSW. The town of Glen Innes in northern NSW was named after him.
His efforts to make Port Macquarie a major port for the New England region were very important for the settlement of that area.
Margaret Innes, Major Innes's wife, likely influenced the design of the house and garden. She was interested in science, like her father.
The building of Lake Innes Estate shows the rise of wealthy classes in NSW as convict transportation was ending.
Major Innes's wealth and the construction of his house depended on convict labour. Convicts also supplied goods to the Port Macquarie convict settlement. The end of convict transportation played a big part in the decline of Lake Innes House and Major Innes's businesses.
In terms of land settlement, Lake Innes Estate is rare. It's an example of an 1840s estate where you can still see all the different parts of a large farm in the landscape. The estate also shows the impact of the end of convict transportation on individuals and the colony.
Design and Achievement
The stables are unusually large and well-designed. Even though they are now ruins, they are unique for colonial buildings in Australia outside Tasmania. The site is one of only a few seaside estates built in NSW during the colonial period. It shows how people thought about landscape design and planning at the time. This includes where buildings were placed, where roads were built, and the construction of a lookout tower.
Community Connection
The site has been important to the people of Port Macquarie and others interested in Australian history for over 100 years. Its historical, emotional, and romantic appeal has made it famous as a heritage site.
The Birpai Local Aboriginal Land Council is very interested in managing the Lake Innes Peninsula. They especially care about finding and protecting Aboriginal sites. Sites along Lighthouse Beach are very important to the local Aboriginal people.
People started visiting the ruins as early as 1900, and visits have continued ever since. The popularity of guided tours shows strong local interest in the site.
The Port Macquarie Historical Society has been interested in the site since the 1950s. They have important items and documents related to the site, including Annabella Boswell's diary.
News coverage of the conservation work and archaeological digs has helped keep public interest alive. Professor Graham Connah's investigations at Lake Innes have involved many students and volunteers since 1993. The site has been important for their training.
The Hastings City Council sees Major Innes as a possible focus for tourism in Port Macquarie. Major Innes and places linked to him are considered very important in the local community. Motels, roads, and other features in the area are named after him.
Research Potential
The site is a unique resource for studying Australian architecture, gardening, farming history, and how homes were set up in the early 1800s. The roads are good examples of convict-built engineering works that are still untouched in NSW. The house has rare remains of an early bathroom and boiler room. These had hot and cold water and possibly a sewage system.
Rare and Unique Aspects
The house ruins are one of only a few large colonial house ruins in NSW. It is rare because we have old records like journals, drawings, and plans that describe it. The Lake Innes Peninsula also has important natural features. It has a healthy koala population and habitat, as well as other threatened animal species.
Much of the wetland area is protected and is one of the few major coastal wetlands in NSW not affected by drainage projects.
The potential for scientific research into both the natural and cultural aspects of Lake Innes Estate is rare in New South Wales. The extent and condition of the archaeological remains, including standing ruins, are unique and offer a special research opportunity in NSW.
