Lennox House, Parramatta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lennox House |
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Lennox House in 2014
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| Location | 39 Campbell Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Architect | David Lennox |
| Official name: Lennox House; David Lennox's House | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 751 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | possibly James Houison |
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Lennox House is a historic home built around 1855 in Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by a famous bridge builder named David Lennox. The house is also known as David Lennox's House. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999, which means it's a very important building to protect.
Contents
The Story of Lennox House
David Lennox bought the land for this house in 1854. The house was then built the next year, in 1855. It was his special home after a long career.
Who Was David Lennox?
David Lennox (1788-1873) was a skilled bridge builder from Scotland. He came to Australia in 1832. Before moving here, he worked on many big bridges in Britain. These included a huge suspension bridge and a large stone-arch bridge.
When he arrived in Sydney, his amazing work quickly caught the eye of the Surveyor-General, Thomas Mitchell. Mitchell was so impressed that he hired Lennox to build bridges for the government.
Lennox's Amazing Bridges
David Lennox became the Superintendent of Bridges in 1833. He then started building many stone bridges that are still standing today!
- Lennox Bridge at Lapstone Hill: This was his first bridge in Australia, built in 1833. It's the oldest bridge still used on the Australian mainland! For many years, it carried all the traffic from Sydney to the west.
- Lansdowne Bridge: Built over Prospect Creek near Liverpool, this bridge was finished in 1835. It was so well built that it still carries traffic on the busy Hume Highway today.
- Parramatta River Bridge: Lennox also designed and built a large stone arch bridge over the Parramatta River in Parramatta. This bridge was completed in 1839.
Lennox also built other important structures, like the Queen's Wharf in Parramatta. This quay was a busy terminal for ships traveling between Sydney and Parramatta. He used convict labor for all his projects, and he was known as a kind boss.
Life After Bridge Building
In 1844, David Lennox moved to Melbourne, Australia. There, he continued his work, building 53 more bridges! His most famous one there was the first Prince's Bridge over the Yarra River. It was the largest bridge he ever built.
Lennox retired in 1853 at 66 years old. He received a large payment as thanks for his incredible work. He returned to New South Wales in 1855 and settled in Parramatta. He designed Lennox House himself, and it was built around this time. He even had a small workshop in his backyard where he continued to create things from wood and stone.
David Lennox lived in Lennox House with his daughter, Jane. He was a quiet person but very determined. He died in 1873 at the age of 85.
The House After Lennox
After David Lennox passed away, his daughter sold the house in 1875. Over the years, the house had a few different owners and was rented out.
In the early 1990s, thanks to the efforts of researchers and the National Trust of Australia, Lennox House was given special protection. This means it's now a protected heritage site. Visitors in the past noted that the house still had its original wallpapers and a special cabinet said to have been made by Lennox himself. His workshop also looked much as he had left it.
What Lennox House Looks Like
Lennox House is a large brick house with a special outer coating called stucco. It has one main floor and three rooms in the attic. There are enclosed porches, called verandahs, at the front and back. The roof is made of corrugated iron, and it has stuccoed chimneys with terracotta pots.
The house is on a piece of land that is mostly flat. Behind the house, there are some older outbuildings and a garage. The driveway leading to Campbell Street is original to the house.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, Lennox House has seen some changes:
- Between 1881 and 1895, the original large property was divided into smaller sections.
- Around 1900, photos show the house had an open verandah with wooden columns and a small garden.
- By 1917, the house was described as an "old brick house with an iron roof" and a long section at the back. It also had five smaller buildings outside.
- At some point, the verandahs were enclosed.
- The back of the house was updated in the 1940s.
Why Lennox House is Important
Lennox House is very important because it was the home of David Lennox, a pioneering engineer and master craftsman. He designed and lived in this house. It shows us a part of his life and his skills. The house is historically and beautifully significant, representing a piece of New South Wales' past.
Lennox House was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, ensuring its protection for future generations.
