Macarthur House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macarthur House |
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Macarthur_House, Parramatta in 2019
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| Location | 8 Melville Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, Sydney New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1855–1856 |
| Architect | James Houison (1850s house); Arthur William McKenzie Mowle (1923 wings); David Sheedy (1981-2 works) |
| Official name: Macarthur House; Morton House; Pemberton Grange | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 50 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | James Houison |
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Macarthur House is a very old building in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia. It used to be a home and a school, but now it's used as offices. It was built a long time ago, between 1855 and 1856. Famous architects like James Houison helped design it. It's also been known as Morton House and Pemberton Grange. Because it's so important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.
Contents
A Glimpse into Macarthur House's Past
Early Days: Land and First People
The land where Macarthur House stands was first home to the Wallumedegal tribe. These Indigenous people spoke a dialect of the Darug language.
When Europeans arrived, the Parramatta area became popular for farming. This was because of its rich soil, which was great for growing crops.
In 1791, Robert Webb received 60 acres of land from Governor Phillip. This land included the spot where Macarthur House is today. This was one of the very first land grants in Australia.
Webb sold his land to Captain Thomas Melville in 1794. Later, Melville's daughter, Jennett, received the land as a gift when she married surveyor George Evans. The land was used for farming for many years.
From Farm to Family Home
The farm changed owners several times between 1794 and the 1850s. It was still used for farming during this period.
In 1855, the large farm was divided into 56 smaller pieces of land. John Morton Gould bought one of these pieces in July 1855. Soon after, he built a new home, which he called Morton House. This was the first building on the site.
The stone mansion was built between 1855 and 1856. It was designed by James Houison, a top architect of the time. Morton House was a grand home for its era.
In 1859, Gould offered his new home for rent. Later, in 1862, Henry Harvey, a miller, bought Morton House. He lived there until he passed away in 1874.
After Henry Harvey, the Rev. Thomas Spencer Forsaith bought the house in 1874. He lived there at different times until 1898. After him, various people rented Morton House until 1910.
The King's School Era
In 1910, Rev. Percy Stacy Waddy, the headmaster of The King's School, bought Morton House. He was headmaster from 1906 to 1916. During his time, the school grew a lot.
The school used Morton House as a boarding house for students. In 1916, it was renamed "Macarthur House". This was to honour Rev. George Farfowl Macarthur, who had helped reorganise the school years before. He was also the son of Hannibal Macarthur from the nearby Vineyard estate.
In 1923, new two-storey dormitory wings were added to the house. These were designed by Arthur William McKenzie Mowle, the school's architect. The house was used by the school until 1964.
In 1965, the school sold Macarthur House for development. Many of the school buildings on the site were taken down. The land was divided into smaller lots for new homes.
The Pike Family's Restoration Efforts
Richard Pike bought Macarthur House after 1965. He also bought an extra piece of land to make the house's property larger. Pike was a high school teacher who wanted to restore the house.
He worked hard to bring the house back to its original Georgian style. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) helped him with advice and skilled workers.
In 1969, a fire damaged one of the back wings of the house. This caused a lot of smoke and water damage. The staircase and upstairs ceilings were badly burned.
Most of the big restoration work was finished by 1975. Pike tried to use the house for wedding receptions to help with costs, but the local council said no. Neighbours didn't want commercial activities in the area.
In 1980, Macarthur House was given special protection under the NSW Heritage Act. This meant any changes needed approval from the Heritage Council.
Around 1980, more restoration work began. A new wing was built on the east side, designed to match the old style. This wing included a kitchen and other rooms. The roof was also replaced in 1984.
Richard Pike, at 93 years old, sold Macarthur House to its current owners in 2016.
Macarthur House Today
As of 2019, Macarthur House is used as serviced offices. This means different businesses can rent office spaces inside the historic building.
What Macarthur House Looks Like
Macarthur House is a large house built in the Old Colonial Georgian style. It has a balanced design, but a two-storey bay was added to the east side later.
There's a stone verandah on the ground floor. It has an iron roof supported by thin cast columns. Inside, much of the wood is polished cedar, including the original staircase.
A stone ballroom with Gothic details was added to the west side in 1870. On the east side are the remains of the old kitchen wing. This kitchen wing was rebuilt in 1981 to look like its original sandstone design.
The windows usually have 12 panes, a common style for the time. All the windows have shutters. The doors have four panels.
A single-storey wing at the back, on the western end, was built as a chapel in 1875. It still looks much the same today.
A small shed outbuilding was built by the owner after 1975. It was used for storage and as a garage. It's made of rough timber with a skillion (sloping) corrugated roof.
When a private owner bought the house in 1966, it was in poor condition. The owner spent a lot of money to restore it to its former grand appearance.
Changes Over Time
- 1875: A stone ballroom and a conservatory were added to the west side.
- 1911: A new timber-framed dormitory was built (and later moved).
- After 1916: The kitchen wing was changed a lot by The King's School.
- 1923: The timber dormitory was moved, and a new two-storey brick dormitory wing was built.
- 1931: New electrical wiring was put in.
- 1933: A new hot water system was installed.
- 1934: Renovations and repairs were done, possibly including a two-storey addition to the east side.
- 1935: The back courtyard was paved with bricks.
- 1950s-60s: More buildings were added, but all were taken down by the mid-1960s.
- 1965-6: Buildings from The King's School period were demolished.
- 1969: A fire damaged one of the back wings.
- 1970s: First floor ceilings and the stone hall ceiling were re-covered with plaster. The original ceilings were cedar boards. The cedar staircase was also restored.
- 1974: A new basement space was created under the back courtyard.
- 1975: Major restoration work was finished, including on the eastern kitchen wing. The 1934 addition was rebuilt or covered in stone.
- 1981-2: A new attached east wing (kitchen, breakfast room, storage, and attic room) was built. It used some old stone blocks and new ones. The front verandah was also rebuilt.
- 1984: The house roof was covered with corrugated zinc-coated steel.
Why Macarthur House is Important
Macarthur House is a great example of a house built by the famous builder James Houison. It's one of the few large Victorian homes left in the Parramatta area. It has strong ties to well-known local families and The King's School.
Built in 1857, it was owned by several important people and families. From 1922 to 1966, The King's School owned it and renamed it "Macarthur House". This was in honour of Reverend George Fairfowl Macarthur, a former headmaster.
Macarthur House was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because:
- It shows us about history: This building is important for understanding the history of New South Wales.
- It is rare: It's one of only five known buildings designed by James Houison. It's also a good example of the Old Colonial Georgian style, which is quite rare.
- It represents a style: It's a good example of the Old Colonial Georgian style of architecture.
