Meroogal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meroogal |
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View from Worrigee Street
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| Location | 35 West Street, Nowra, City of Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1886–1886 |
| Architect | Kenneth Mackenzie |
| Owner | Historic Houses Trust of NSW |
| Official name: Meroogal | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 953 |
| Type | historic site |
| Builders | Kenneth Mackenzie |
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Meroogal is a special old house in Nowra, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1886 and was once a family home. Today, it is a house museum, meaning you can visit it to see how people lived long ago. The house was designed and built by Kenneth Mackenzie. It is now owned by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. Meroogal is considered very important to history and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Meroogal's Story
Meroogal was built in 1886 for Mrs. Jessie Catherine Thorburn, a widow, and her four daughters. They were Annabella Jane (Miss Belle), Georgina Isabella (Miss Georgie), Jessie Catherine (Miss Kate), and Fanny Kennina (Miss Tottie). At the time, Meroogal was one of the grandest homes in Nowra.
Why Meroogal Was Built
Mrs. Thorburn's eldest son, Robert Taylor Thorburn, helped pay for the house. He had money from a goldmine he owned. The family decided to move to Nowra from their farm, Barr Hill. They wanted to be closer to town for business and social activities. Mrs. Thorburn's brother, Kenneth Mackenzie, designed the house. He also likely oversaw its building.
Family Life at Meroogal
When Meroogal was finished in May 1886, Mrs. Thorburn and her daughters moved in. Robert and his wife moved to another house in Nowra. The house stayed in the family for many years. Different family members lived there over time. For example, in 1916, Mrs. Thorburn's second daughter, Mary Susan Macgregor, and her husband moved into a small cottage called Kintore on the Meroogal land. The families often ate meals together.
Sadly, Kintore cottage was destroyed by fire in the mid-1970s.
Changes Over the Years
Many family members and visitors stayed at Meroogal for long periods. As the years passed, some of the original sisters died. Helen Macgregor, Mary Macgregor's daughter, became the main person living in Meroogal from 1945 to 1969. Her sisters often visited.
The women who lived at Meroogal were very active in their community. They had busy social lives with friends and local groups. Their personalities and interests can still be seen in the house today. You can find their diaries, scrapbooks, and other personal items.
From the late 1940s, parts of the house were rented out to tenants. The original land around Meroogal was also made smaller over time. It was once a large property, but much of it was sold for other buildings.
Meroogal Today
From 1978 to 1985, Meroogal was used as a holiday house by family members. Today, the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales owns the property. It is now open to the public as a house museum. This means visitors can explore the house and learn about its history.
What Meroogal Looks Like
Meroogal is a two-story house built in the Victorian style. It has wooden walls and a corrugated iron roof. It features lovely verandahs and balconies. Inside, the floors are made of original hardwood, and the wooden details are made from cedar.
Special Features of the House
The house has fancy wooden decorations called bargeboards. It also has pretty cast-iron railings on the verandahs and balconies. The windows have arched tops, and there are French doors. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, two of which have balconies.
A separate part of the house, called the servants' wing, has three rooms. It was connected to the kitchen by a short, covered walkway.
The Garden at Meroogal
The house is surrounded by a picket fence. Two large jacaranda trees shade the garden. The garden was very important to the families who lived there. They even won a prize for it in a newspaper competition in the 1960s!
The garden today is much smaller than it used to be. It has been restored to look like it did in the late 1920s. You can see beautiful flowers like roses, irises, and larkspurs. There are also fruit trees like plum, apple, and pear trees.
The House's Contents
The items inside Meroogal tell a story about the family. They include furniture, paintings, pictures, and photographs from different generations. Many items were brought from the family's old farm, Barr Hill.
Even though some furniture was sold over the years, the house still feels like a Victorian home. It has one of the most complete collections of Victorian-era furniture and household items known in urban New South Wales.
How Meroogal Changed Over Time
- 1886 – 1936: The house was often painted and decorated.
- Around 1890s: A new kitchen and storage room were added.
- Around 1909: Jacaranda trees were planted.
- 1912: Telephone lines were added.
- Around 1912: Town water was connected.
- 1916: Kintore cottage was built for the Macgregor family.
- 1939: Sewerage was connected, and changes were made for it.
- 1941-1959: The large garden was made smaller as parts of the land were sold.
- After 1950: New decorations were added.
- 1958: Gas was connected to the house.
- Around 1977: Kintore cottage was destroyed by fire.
- Around 1980: The stables were taken down.
- 1984: A new picket fence was built around the house.
Why Meroogal is Important
Meroogal is very important for understanding history. It shows us how four generations of one family lived in the house. It also gives us clues about their tastes and daily lives.
Historical Importance
Meroogal helps us learn about Nowra in the 1800s. It is also connected to several important families from the area.
Beautiful Design
The house is beautiful and adds a lot to the look of Nowra. Its design shows how ideas from America were used in Australian architecture.
Learning About the Past
Meroogal helps us understand the lives and roles of women in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It shows us what family life was like from when the house was built until 1956. It is a great example of a large town house with other buildings nearby.
A Rare Example
Meroogal is a rare example of how Victorian styles continued and changed within a house from that same time period.
