Mamre (homestead) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mamre |
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Mamre, pictured in 2013
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| Etymology | Genesis 13:18 |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Homestead |
| Architectural style | Colonial Georgian |
| Location | Mamre Road, Orchard Hills, City of Penrith, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°47′25″S 150°46′04″E / 33.7903°S 150.7679°E |
| Construction started | 1822 |
| Completed | 1832 |
| Renovated | 1949; 1984 |
| Owner | Department of Planning and Infrastructure |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect |
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| Official name: Mamre | |
| Type: | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 264 |
| Type: | Farm |
| Category: | Farming and Grazing |
Mamre is a very old and special farm and home located in Orchard Hills, a suburb in Western Sydney, Australia. It was built a long time ago, between 1822 and 1832. This historic place was once a busy farm for growing crops, raising animals, and producing wool. Today, it is a home, a community center, and a place for growing plants. The New South Wales Department of Planning and Infrastructure owns Mamre. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because of its important history.
The Story of Mamre
Early Days and Wool Farming
The story of Mamre began in 1798. A colonial chaplain named The Rev. Samuel Marsden bought 38 acres (about 15 hectares) of land. He started trying to produce wool there. The name Mamre comes from the Bible, meaning "land which is promised."
In 1799, Marsden bought another 200 acres (about 81 hectares) and officially started the Mamre farm. By 1802, his land at South Creek totaled 333 acres (about 135 hectares). Most of this land was used for raising sheep and producing wool. It was a working farm with orchards, special pastures, and other crops.
Marsden received a large land grant of 1,030 acres (about 417 hectares) in 1804. He tried growing new crops like hemp and flax. Flooding in 1805 destroyed these crops, but the wool production continued. In 1807, Marsden took the first "weavable" wool from the colony to England. This wool was produced right here at Mamre.
Building the Homestead
The main house at Mamre was built between 1822 and 1832. It was not meant to be a permanent home for Marsden. Instead, it was a country cottage for the farm's managers.
The Mamre Homestead was originally a barn used for storing wool. It was built in the 1820s using bricks. The farm was known for its beautiful rose and cottage gardens. The Rev. James Hassell, Marsden's nephew, described it:
"Mamre, where I spent so many happy days with my uncle, was a farm on the South Creek... The house was a two-storey brick building with a good gravel drive in front. Beyond, several hundred yards, was a splendid orchard of twenty acres. The fruits surpassed any that I have seen these forty years. The grapes, chiefly muscatel, were very fine. Peaches, apples, pears, oranges, apricots and nectarines, were in abundance. Supplies were constantly sent to Sydney, in the season, in waggon-loads and sold well. Large crops of wheat, and oaten hay were produced on the farm. The horses bred at Mamre were very good and sold at high prices. I remember a carriage horse brought a hundred guineas, and few sold under 70 or 80 pounds. The farm and orchard were worked by assigned servants, numbering I should say, from twenty to thirty hands".
This quote tells us that Mamre was a very productive farm. It had a large orchard with many kinds of fruit. The farm also grew wheat and hay. Many horses were bred there and sold for high prices. Around 20 to 30 people worked on the farm and in the orchards.
A Family Home and Changes
When Samuel Marsden passed away in 1838, his only son, Charles, took over Mamre. Charles used the house as his permanent home.
In 1840, the Mamre farm was sold to Richard Rouse. He was an important public servant and a grazier (someone who raises livestock). In 1841, Rouse gave the farm to his daughter, Elizabeth Henrietta Rouse, as a wedding gift. She married the Hon. Robert Fitzgerald.
It is said that Richard Rouse put three pieces of paper in a hat to decide which child would get Mamre. Two were blank, and one had the name Mamre. Elizabeth Henrietta, the youngest daughter, drew the paper with Mamre.
The property stayed in the family for over 100 years. In 1890, the outside walls were covered. More significant changes happened in 1950-1951. Professor E. MacLaurin, a descendant, added a garage, a new chimney, and a laundry. He also replaced the staircase and many windows. In 1951, old timber buildings like the kitchen and wash house were taken down.
Mamre Today: A Place for Learning
In 1975, the NSW Planning and Environment Commission bought the farm. They leased it to Professor McLaurin until he passed away in 1978.
In 1984, the NSW Department of Planning leased Mamre Homestead and its 86 hectares (212 acres) to the Sisters of Mercy, Parramatta. Their goal was to create a training center for people who needed jobs. The project started in 1986.
Under Sister Mary-Louise Petro, the "Mamre Project" has helped many people. They offer training in office administration, information technology, hospitality, and customer service. The programs help people develop personally in a supportive environment. The homestead also provides job opportunities in the hospitality industry. Mamre Plains Ltd is a non-profit company started by the Sisters of Mercy in 1985.
Major restoration work on the homestead was finished by October 2016. This work helps to keep this important heritage site preserved for the future.
What Mamre Looks Like
The Main House
The Mamre homestead, built around 1830, is a two-story building. It is made of sandstone brick, but the outside is now covered. It is built in the Colonial Georgian style, which was popular a long time ago.
The house has a hipped roof made of corrugated iron. This iron was placed over the original timber shingles. A veranda wraps around three sides of the house (west, north, and east). It has a bell-shaped corrugated iron roof and a floor made of sandstone flags and timber.
The house has a rectangular shape. Inside, there is a central hallway with a staircase. There are eleven rooms and a single-story kitchen wing on the south side. The windows are made of timber and can be opened by sliding them up and down. Each window has six glass panes. There are two brick chimneys at each end of the roof.
Gardens and Other Buildings
Some of the original farm buildings are still there. They usually have timber frames and corrugated iron walls. There are also newer brick buildings used for the Mamre project and for visitors.
Around the house, you can still see some of the early trees that were planted. These include white cedars, Mediterranean cypress, large Canary Island oaks, and English oaks. There is also a large kurrajong tree. More recently, eucalyptus and pine trees have been planted south of the house. There is also a small plant nursery where plants are sold.
How Mamre Has Been Kept Up
As of February 1999, the house was in good condition. It was restored for the bicentenary in 1988. Digging around the house has shown many signs of old buildings and features.
The main house is mostly in its original form. Only a few of the very first outbuildings remain.
Recent Changes
- The house was restored to its original look in 1988.
- New outbuildings were added around 1988.
Why Mamre is Special
Mamre is a very important historical site for many reasons. It is recognized as a place of State significance in New South Wales.
A Glimpse into History
Mamre is important because it can teach us about the lives of Aboriginal people before Europeans arrived. It also shows how Aboriginal people adapted to new ways of life after contact.
The farm is historically significant because of its connection to The Rev. Samuel Marsden's early sheep breeding experiments. These experiments helped start the wool industry in New South Wales and Australia. Mamre is a rare example of an old farm and homestead from before 1860 that is still mostly intact. It helps us understand what early colonial farms and Georgian architecture looked like. The Mamre farmhouse is a well-known landmark in the St. Mary's area.
Mamre has strong links to its early owners, Samuel Marsden and Richard Rouse. Both were important figures in the early colony. Samuel Marsden also played a big role in missionary work in New Zealand. The property also has a strong and ongoing connection with the Sisters of Mercy and the MAMRE PROJECT, which is very important to the local community.
The South Creek area around Mamre is important for protecting endangered plants and animals. It can teach us about the river-flat forests, wetlands, and river habitats. These are some of the most threatened natural areas in Western Sydney.
Beautiful Old Architecture
Mamre is a great example of an early 19th-century homestead built in the Colonial Georgian style. It still has some of its original rural setting.
Important to the Community
Mamre is socially important because of its connection to famous colonial figures. It also represents early job opportunities in the area through farming and animal raising.
Learning from the Past
Mamre is important for research because it shows us building techniques and farming practices from the early 19th century. It is a relatively rare example of such a well-preserved site.
Mamre is a good example of a major colonial homestead with a large amount of land.
