Lilyvale, The Rocks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lilyvale |
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Lilyvale, 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, NSW
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| Location | 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1845–1847 |
| Architectural style(s) | Colonial Regency |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Lilyvale | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1558 |
| Type | Cottage |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Lilyvale is a historic building in The Rocks, a famous area in Sydney, Australia. It was built between 1845 and 1847. Today, it is a restaurant.
This special building is located at 176 Cumberland Street. It is owned by Property NSW, which is part of the Government of New South Wales. Lilyvale was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 10, 2002. This means it is protected because of its important history.
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History of Lilyvale
Lilyvale was first built as a town house for a man named Michael Farrell. He was an innkeeper, which means he ran a place where people could stay. Michael bought the land on Cumberland Street in 1838.
The house was probably finished in 1847. It replaced an older, smaller brick building that was there in 1845. Even though it was meant to be a family home, Lilyvale quickly became a tavern and a boarding house. A tavern is like a pub, and a boarding house is a place where people can rent rooms.
Over the years, the building had different names. In 1885, it was called the Cumberland Hotel. Later, it was known as Clare Tavern and Athol Blair. We don't know exactly where the name Lilyvale came from. But people were using this name when the property was officially checked in 1928.
The way Lilyvale was built shows how building rules changed in New South Wales. New laws in 1837 and 1845 aimed to prevent fires. These rules were based on old laws from London. They changed how buildings looked, making them more simple and strong.
Lilyvale is an important example of how house styles changed. It shows the link between the older Colonial Regency style and the newer Victorian Italianate style.
What Lilyvale Looks Like
Lilyvale Cottage is a three-storey house made of brick. It was built around 1847. It is a great example of the Colonial Regency style.
This style is seen in the parapet on the first floor. A parapet is a low wall that hides part of the roof. The house also has a very neat and balanced look with its windows and doors.
Lilyvale is a unique example of the Regency style. It has a verandah on the ground floor. A verandah is an open porch, usually with a roof. It also has a large gabled roof, which means the roof has a triangular shape. This roof covers attic rooms at the top.
The building is made with strong brick walls. The floors and roof are made of timber (wood). The attic rooms get light from three windows at the back of the house.
Inside, there is a hallway in the middle. Rooms open up on each side of this hallway. The hallway leads to the original staircase, made of cedar wood. This staircase goes up to the other floors and to the attic. Many original features are still there. These include cedar wood details, fireplaces, doors, windows, and plasterwork on the walls and ceilings.
Building Details
- Style: Colonial Regency
- Storeys: Three floors
- Outside Walls: Brick
- Inside Walls: Brick and timber (wood)
- Floors: Timber (wood)
- Roof: Timber shingles (small wooden tiles)
- Ceilings: Original lath and plaster (a traditional way to build ceilings), with decorative ceiling roses and cornices.
- Stairs: Original timber (wood) stairs
Changes Over Time
Some changes were made to the front verandah a long time ago. The wooden posts were cut shorter to add a new brick fence. But overall, the building still looks very much like it did when it was first built.
In 1987, the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) restored the building. They put new timber shingles on the roof. They also replaced chimney pots and window shutters. The inside of the house was also updated. A new toilet area was added at the back. Most of the old plaster on the outside was removed, and the brick walls were painted.
Why Lilyvale is Important
Lilyvale is very important to the history and science of New South Wales. It also adds to the special heritage of The Rocks area.
Lilyvale Cottage is a beautiful and rare example of a Colonial Regency style house in the city. It is in good condition because it was carefully restored in 1987. It still has many of its original parts and materials.
This cottage is part of a group of 19th-century houses on Cumberland Street. Together, they show what a traditional street in The Rocks looked like a long time ago.
Lilyvale (176 Cumberland Street), along with the Butchery Building (178-180 Cumberland Street) and Hart's Building (10-14 Essex Street), are an interesting group. They show how different types of small buildings were developed in The Rocks between 1840 and World War I. They help us imagine the lively streets and buildings of early Sydney.
Lilyvale was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 10, 2002, because it meets several important rules:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: Lilyvale is part of a group of 19th-century houses on Cumberland Street. These houses together show the different types and sizes of buildings in The Rocks from 1840 to World War I.
- It is a beautiful and well-designed building: Lilyvale is a great example of a three-storey brick house in the Colonial Regency style, built around 1845. Buildings like this are very rare in the city center today.
- It is a rare example: Lilyvale is a rare example in the city center of a free-standing, three-storey brick house in the Colonial Regency style, built around 1845.
