Merriville House and Gardens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Merriville House & Gardens
Merriville House
Location	Kellyville Ridge, City of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1817–1855
Owner	Landcom; Mr Colin R Wade
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Merriville House & Gardens; Hambledon Cottage; Hambledon; Maryville
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	91
Type	Homestead Complex
Category	Farming and Grazing
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Merriville House property boundaries

Merriville House & Gardens is a heritage-listed home located in Kellyville Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. It was built between 1817 and 1855. This historic site is also known as Hambledon Cottage, Hambledon, or Maryville. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, recognizing its importance.

Discovering Merriville's Past

The land where Merriville House stands has a long history. For many years, the Darug Aboriginal people were the traditional owners. The area was once a natural woodland with many native trees and animals. Waterways flowed freely towards the Hawkesbury River.

Early European Settlement in Kellyville

The first European settlers arrived in the late 1700s. Matthew Pearce received land in Seven Hills around 1794. Other large land grants were made nearby. In 1801, John Macarthur and Elizabeth Macarthur bought a large property called "Stock Farm." They later bought more land, creating "Seven Hills Farm." This is where Elizabeth Macarthur started breeding some of Australia's first Merino sheep.

In 1821, "Seven Hills Farm" became Crown land again. New grants were then given out. The area later became known as Kellyville Estate. This was because much of the land was owned by Hugh Kelly. He had a hotel on the Windsor Road called the Bird-in-Hand.

Merriville Farm's Beginnings

Merriville House and its land were first granted to Jonas Bradley in 1818. He was a former Sergeant in the New South Wales Corps. Jonas was a successful farmer and owned a lot of land. He was known for being the first person to successfully grow tobacco in the colony by 1823. His farming methods were even adopted by others.

Jonas Bradley expanded his farm by buying more land. A small brick building was built around this time. It might have been a home for a small family or a convict overseer. Jonas Bradley was very successful, owning many cattle and sheep. He even developed a special sheep dip to treat scabies.

The Bradley Family's Ownership (1818–1853)

Jonas Bradley eventually moved to Goulburn. His property was leased out for many years. After Jonas died in 1841, his son William inherited the land. William lived in Goulburn, so he leased the property. In 1853, he sold the 380-acre property to Elias Pearson Laycock.

William Bradley was a very successful farmer and businessman. He helped found the city of Goulburn. He also supported the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. He was a member of the Parliament of New South Wales.

Elias Laycock's Time (1853–1866)

Elias Pearson Laycock became the new owner in 1853. The property became known as "Maryville" during this time. This name might have come from Grace's mother, Mary Longfield. It is believed that Elias Laycock built the current Merriville House in the mid-1850s. It was likely built partly over the site of the original 1818 house.

In 1866, Elias Laycock sold the property to Robert Pearce.

The Pearce Family's Era (1866–1955)

The Pearce family was very important in the district. They were known for their orchards. It is thought that they made significant additions to Merriville House. A large timber building was added to the brick house around this time.

Robert Pearce expanded his estate in 1873. He acquired the nearby "Hambledon" land. Robert died in 1914, and his wife Euphemia inherited Merriville. She leased it to their son, Albert Charles Hillas ("Charlie") Pearce. The Pearce family had a large family with 11 children.

Charlie Pearce later subdivided the property. He used the remaining land for grazing animals. Some old timber buildings for animals and fences can still be seen today. When Charlie Pearce died in 1952, the property went to his widow, Ellen. Farming was becoming difficult, so Ellen continued to sell off parts of the land. Merriville was finally sold in 1955.

The Scharkie Family (1955–1980s)

Charles Scharkie bought Merriville in 1955. He also bought a nearby property called Mungerie Park. Charles was a former Mayor of Manly. Merriville was run as a successful dairy farm for several years.

The house was in need of repairs when the Scharkies bought it. Charles's son, Ian Scharkie, and his wife, Janne, came to live at Maryville. Ian's brother, Robert ('Bob'), bought Mungerie Park. Bob ran a dairy and a transport business. Later, Ian and Bob created the Mungerie Park Golf Course.

Ian Scharkie inherited Maryville from his father. The family's properties were once very large. When Merriville was sold out of the family, it was only 40 acres. The Scharkie family mistakenly called the property "Merriville" instead of its original name, "Maryville."

Recent Changes to Merriville

In the late 1980s, the NSW Department of Housing bought Merriville. Then, Landcom purchased the house and about 200 acres. The current owners bought it in 1993.

Landcom also bought the land around the house. In the late 1990s, this land was divided for new homes. This changed the area from farmland to a suburban neighborhood. Merriville's address is now 1 Eire Way, Kellyville Ridge.

Exploring Merriville House

Merriville House is surrounded by a beautiful, old garden. It has many historic plants and trees.

The Garden and Setting

The house is set on a hill above Windsor Road. It is framed by large Moreton Bay fig trees and bamboo. These trees are as old as the house itself. The garden has many different plants. These include coral trees, Peruvian pepper trees, and rough-barked apple trees. There are also large shrubs like oleander, camellias, and bougainvillea.

The House's Design

Merriville House is a single-story house built in the late Colonial Georgian style. It has verandahs at the front and back. The house has cedar wood details and windows with twelve panes and shutters. A timber annex is attached to one end. This annex is believed to have been built before 1831. It was used as a school by Reverend Wilkinson.

The house walls are made of sandstone brick. Its foundations are also made of stone. The verandah floors are made of brick tiles. The verandah roof is supported by elegant timber columns.

The Kitchen Outbuilding

Behind the main house is a two-story brick kitchen cottage. This building might be the original Hambledon Cottage. Its design suggests it is older than the main house. It has a special roof shape called a jerkin-head roof.

Condition of Merriville

Merriville House and its grounds are very important. They hold clues about life in the 1800s. One old building from the early period still stands behind the main house. The land around the house likely contains hidden historical features. These features could tell us more about the farm's history.

However, much of the surrounding farmland has been developed for housing. This means the original rural setting is mostly gone. It is hard to find specific old buildings or farm structures now. This is because many have been removed or covered by new developments.

Researchers have found that there are not many old records about Merriville. This makes it hard to know its full history. But, any discoveries made during future work could help us learn more.

Changes Over Time

• Around 1817: Hambledon Cottage was built.
• Around 1831: A timber annex was added.
• Around 1855: The main Merriville House was built.

Why Merriville is a Heritage Site

Merriville House and its surroundings are very important to the history of New South Wales.

• Rare and Intact: The buildings are rare examples of early and mid-1800s architecture. They show how homes were built during the Colonial Georgian and Victorian Georgian periods.
• Understanding Rural Life: The house and its landscape help us understand how people lived and farmed in Australia long ago. It shows a different scale of life compared to larger estates like Rouse Hill House.
• Important People: The property is linked to important early settlers like Jonas Bradley. He was known for successfully growing tobacco in the colony.
• Pearce Family Connection: The Pearce family, who were major orchardists, owned the property for about 100 years. They were very influential in the area.
• Showing Change: The property shows how a rural farm area changed over time. It became part of the growing suburban city.
• Archaeological Potential: The buildings and land may hold hidden information. This could teach us more about colonial farming, landscape design, and architecture.

Merriville House & Gardens was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Images for kids

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  Building that was part of the original Jonas Bradley property, located behind Merriville House