Matta House facts for kids

Matta House is a special old home in Matta Flat, South Australia. It's listed as a heritage building, meaning it's important to protect its history. Today, it's part of a museum where you can learn about the past.

Matta House: A Glimpse into History

Building a Home for a Mine Manager

Matta House was built in 1863. It was made for Edward Austin Horn, who was the manager of the Matta Matta Mine. This mine was located just north of the house. The Matta Matta Mine operated for about ten years, from 1860 until 1870.

The house was originally built using strong rubble stone. Its roof was made of wooden shingles. Later, the shingle roof was covered with galvanised iron. However, in 1975, the roof was changed back to red cedar shingles, like it was in the beginning.

From Home to Museum

Around 1965, the Kadina Rotary Club bought Matta House. They wanted to turn it into a museum. The Northern Yorke Peninsula Agricultural Bureau also helped by providing money for the museum.

In 1966, a local group of the National Trust of South Australia was started in Kadina. The museum officially opened its doors on March 25, 1967. Now, the National Trust group manages Matta House. It is part of a larger museum called The Farm Shed Museum.