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 is now a museum you can visit. Kenneth Mackenzie designed and built this house. Today, the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales looks after it. Meroogal was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's an important historical place.
Discovering Meroogal's Past
Meroogal was built in 1886 for Mrs. Jessie Catherine Thorburn. She was a widow and moved in with her four daughters. The house was quite grand for Nowra at the time. Jessie's oldest son, Robert Taylor Thorburn, helped pay for it. He had money from a goldmine he owned.
Who Designed and Built Meroogal?
Jessie's brother, Kenneth Mackenzie, designed the house. He also likely built it or watched over the construction. He had built other buildings nearby before. The house first stood on a large piece of land, over one hectare.
Why Was Meroogal Built?
The family decided to build Meroogal when Robert Taylor Thorburn got married in 1885. They wanted to move to town for business and social reasons. Robert bought the land in September 1885. The family moved into Meroogal in May 1886. Jessie Catherine and her daughters lived there. Robert and his wife moved to another house in Nowra.
Life at Meroogal Through the Years
From 1886 to 1900, the people living in the house changed a bit. But by 1900, it was Jessie Catherine and her four daughters again. Their names were Annabella Jane (Miss Belle), Georgina Isabella (Miss Georgie), Jessie Catherine (Miss Kate), and Fanny Kennina (Miss Tottie).
In 1914, some of the land was used for a water reservoir for Nowra. This was the first time parts of the original property were sold. Over time, most of the original land was used for other buildings.
When Jessie Catherine died in 1916, her second daughter, Mary Susan Macgregor, and her husband moved nearby. They lived in a small house called Kintore, which was built on Meroogal land. The two families spent a lot of time together. Kintore was later destroyed by fire in the 1970s.
Many family members and visitors stayed at Meroogal between 1916 and 1939. Two of the original sisters passed away during this time. Mary Macgregor then moved into Meroogal. When Miss Kate died in 1940, Miss Tottie moved to live with relatives. Helen Macgregor, Mary's daughter, became the main person living there from 1945 to 1969.
The women who lived at Meroogal kept the house running smoothly. They divided tasks among themselves. They also had active social lives with friends and local groups. Their personalities and interests can still be seen in the house today. Their diaries, scrapbooks, and other personal items are still there.
From the late 1940s, people rented rooms in the house. The two back bedrooms were used by tenants. Between 1941 and 1959, the garden also became smaller. The flower garden and backyard were kept.
From 1978 to 1985, Meroogal was used as a holiday house by June Wallace, Mary Macgregor's granddaughter, and other family members. Today, the NSW Government owns Meroogal. It is open to the public as a house museum on certain days.
Exploring Meroogal's Design
Meroogal is a two-story house built in the late Victorian style. It has weatherboard walls and a corrugated iron roof. There are verandahs and balconies on two sides. A separate wing was built for servants.
What Meroogal Looks Like
The house stands on stone foundations. Inside, the floors are made of original hardwood. The wooden parts like doors and frames are made of cedar. The house has fancy decorations on the roof edges. It also has cast-iron railings on the verandahs and balconies. The windows have arched tops, and there are french doors.
Inside, the walls have wallpaper. The ceilings are panelled. The doors have four panels, and the staircase is made of cedar. The fireplaces are made of cast iron. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. Two of them have wooden balconies and cast-iron fireplaces.
The servants' wing has three rooms and a verandah. It connects to the kitchen by a short, covered walkway. A picket fence surrounds the house with gates on each street.
The Beautiful Garden
Two large jacaranda trees shade Meroogal. The garden has glazed border tiles around its flowerbeds. The garden was very important to the Thorburn and Macgregor families. They even won a prize in a garden competition in the 1960s.
The garden was once much larger, over one hectare. But parts of it were sold between 1941 and 1959. The flower garden and backyard were saved. Since the Historic Houses Trust took over, they have restored the garden. It now looks like it did in the late 1920s. Fences and flowerbeds have been rebuilt. Many different plants have been brought back. In spring, you can see roses, iris, and other beautiful flowers. There are also fruit trees like plum, apple, and pear trees. The garden today is about one-tenth of its original size.
The House's Contents
The things inside Meroogal tell many stories about the family. They show what the family liked and what they chose to keep. Even though some furniture has changed, the rooms still feel like a Victorian home. This is especially true with the paintings, pictures, and photographs. The house has items from every generation of the family. Some things were even brought from their old home, Barr Hill.
Over the years, some furniture was sold or given away. But Meroogal still has the most complete collection of Victorian furniture and household items known in a city area in New South Wales.
Changes Over Time
- 1886 - 1936: The house was painted and decorated often.
- 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: The Kintore cottage was built for the Macgregor family.
- 1939: Sewerage was connected, and changes were made.
- Around 1939: An outdoor toilet was removed.
- 1941-1959: The large garden was divided, making it smaller.
- After 1950: New decorations were added.
- 1958: Gas was connected.
- Around 1977: The Kintore cottage was destroyed by fire.
- Around 1980: The stables were taken down.
- 1984: A new picket fence was built, similar to the old one.
Why Meroogal is Important
Meroogal is very important to our history and culture. The house, along with its old documents and family memories, helps us understand how families lived. It shows how people and their belongings changed over four generations. Meroogal is like a historical object itself. It shows us the tastes and lives of the family who lived there.
Meroogal was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it meets important standards for historical places.
A Glimpse into History
Meroogal is important because it shows us what Nowra was like in the 1800s. It is also connected to several important families in the area.
Beautiful Design and Creativity
Meroogal is beautiful and adds a lot to the look of Nowra. Its design is clever, showing how ideas from America were used here.
Learning from the Past
Meroogal can teach us a lot about the lives and roles of women in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also shows us what family life was like from when it was built until 1956. It is a great example of a large town house with other buildings.
A Rare Historical Treasure
Meroogal is a rare example of how Victorian styles continued and changed in a house from that time.
See also
- Historic house museums in New South Wales
