Louisaville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louisaville |
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| Location | 2 Wells Street, Balmain, Inner West Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Louisaville; Inglefield House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 189 |
| Type | historic site |
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Louisaville is a special old house located at 2 Wells Street in Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It's also known by its older name, Inglefield House. This historic home was built by William Carss. Because it's so important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's protected and its history is valued.
Contents
The Story of Louisaville
Early Land Owners
The land where Louisaville stands has a long history. In 1800, a surgeon named William Balmain was given a large area of land, about 550 acres. This land covers most of what is now Balmain.
A year later, in 1801, the land was given to another surgeon, John Gilchrist. He never lived in New South Wales. In 1823, Gilchrist tried to sell the land.
Dividing the Land
The sale didn't go well. So, Gilchrist gave his agent in Sydney, Frank Parbury, the power to manage the land. Parbury hired a surveyor, John Armstrong, to divide some of the land into smaller pieces.
In 1836, 22 small plots were put up for sale. These plots were mostly in Balmain East. Parbury sold them for Gilchrist, who was still living far away.
Waterview House and New Owners
Frank Parbury himself leased or bought 10 acres of land. He built the very first house in the Balmain area there in 1835. It was called Waterview House.
Later, George Cooper bought Waterview House. He was in charge of customs. But in the early 1840s, he faced financial problems and went bankrupt. He had borrowed money from Matthew Henry Marsh. Because Cooper couldn't pay, Marsh took over the Waterview Estate.
Building Inglefield House
In 1841, the land was divided again. It became part of Marsh's sale in 1843. Two merchants from Melbourne, Joseph Herring and Lesley Alexander Moody, bought some plots.
William Carss then bought three of these plots in October 1849 for 80 pounds. The economy was getting better, which likely helped Carss. He built a house on the land sometime between 1849 and 1855.
When Carss sold the land in 1855, the price jumped to 1200 pounds. This big increase showed that a significant house had been built. The sale papers called the new house "Inglefield House."
Changes by James Yeend
Zachary Ingold bought the house next. He then sold it to James Yeend in 1857. Yeend was a well-known innkeeper in Sydney and an important citizen of Balmain. He was also an alderman for the Municipality of Balmain.
In the early 1860s, Yeend sold a narrow strip of his land. This allowed Wells Street to be built. James Yeend died in 1864, but his wife continued to live in the house. You can still find places named after him today, like Yeend Street.
Renaming to Louisaville
Yeend's widow stayed in Inglefield House until 1880. Then, William Harris Ariell bought the three plots for 400 pounds. Ariell decided to rename the house "Louisaville" after his wife, Louisa.
Ariell passed away in 1882. However, the house was made bigger between 1887 and 1896. A new entrance porch was added, along with other parts on the western side. A separate wooden building was also built during this time.
The House Through the Years
Old maps from the late 1880s and early 1890s show Louisaville on a large block of land. It was set back from Wells and Waterview Streets. The house had a front verandah facing Wells Street. Several parts were added to the northern end of the building.
Louisa Ariell lived in Louisaville until she died in 1931. Her daughter, also named Louisa, then inherited the property. In 1940, she sold the house to Charlotte and William Holloway.
Since then, the land around the house has been divided into three smaller pieces. The house itself has also had some changes and additions. A new fence and garden were added along Wells Street.
Saving Louisaville
In the early 1980s, Louisaville was in danger of being torn down. But people wanted to save it. The state government put a special order on Louisaville in 1980 to protect it. This was made a permanent order in 1984.
Instead of being demolished, the land around Louisaville was divided. New townhouses were built there. The house itself was then restored and made even better by its new owners.
What Louisaville Looks Like
Louisaville is a one-storey house with an attic. It has walls made of stone and smooth plaster. The roofs are sloped and covered with corrugated steel. There are also stone chimneys.
A window that sticks out from the roof, called a dormer, is on the northern side. It has a timber frame and double-hung windows.
The Verandah and Front
An open verandah stretches across the front of the house. It's raised off the ground with stone steps and a stone floor. Wooden posts hold up the verandah roof, which is also made of corrugated steel.
The verandah has a wooden railing. Part of the eastern end is enclosed with timber boards. The front of the house has pairs of French doors made of timber and glass. These have wooden shutters. There are also windows with 12 small panes of glass.
Sides and Back of the House
A single-storey section extends from the western side and back of the house. This part faces a paved outdoor area. The back of the house has two tall stone chimneys. It looks out onto an open grassy yard.
A long, two-storey building is located at the back of the property. It has a sloped roof, timber-framed windows, and a small verandah. A narrow driveway runs from the southern corner to Waterview Street. Another small building is next to the paved patio.
The Garden and Entrance
The house is set back from Wells Street. There's a strong timber fence and gate at the front. This sits on a base of rocks and stone. A terraced garden is between the fence and the house.
The garden has several old trees. These include a large magnolia grandiflora and a Sydney Cove Fig. Stone steps lead up to the gate. A concrete path goes through the garden to the front door of the house.
Recent Changes
You can see different changes and additions that have been made over time. A skylight was added to the front roof. Modern services have also been put in at the back.
The large building at the back has been changed too. It now has a garage door on its eastern side. The concrete and brick paving and patio areas are newer additions to the property.
Why Louisaville is Important
Louisaville at 2 Wells Street is important for its history and its beautiful design. It's a great example of a Victorian Regency style house. It was built between 1849 and 1855.
Even though the land has been divided and some changes have been made, the house still looks much like it did originally. It keeps its stone and plaster walls, chimneys, and open verandah. The roof shape and window patterns are also original.
The house looks even better because of its lovely garden and old trees. These features make a positive contribution to the local area.
Heritage Listing
Louisaville was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
