Merton (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merton |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | 4883 Jerrys Plains Road, Denman, Muswellbrook Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1825–1910 |
| Official name: Merton | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 159 |
| Type | Homestead Complex |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
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Merton is a very old and important place in Denman, Australia. It used to be a farm, a horse breeding center, and even a small village. Today, it's a private home. This special site was built between 1825 and 1910. It's so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's protected because of its history and value.
Contents
Merton's Story
Early Days with William Ogilvie
Merton began as a land grant given to Commander William Ogilvie. He was a brave officer who served in the Royal Navy. He even fought under the famous Lord Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
Commander Ogilvie retired from the navy and moved to New South Wales in 1825. He came with his wife and four children. Soon after arriving, he asked for a large piece of land in the Hunter Valley.
He was given about 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) near where the town of Denman is today. He named his new property "Merton" after Lord Nelson's home in England.
The First Cottage
In 1826, the first Merton cottage was built. It was a small house with four rooms. The walls were made of Sandstone from a nearby hillside and whitewashed.
At first, the floor was just earth, but later wooden floors were added. The room dividers were made of wood. The roof was originally made of timber shingles, but it was later changed to thatch.
This homestead became the heart of the first village in the Upper Hunter Valley. It had important buildings like a courthouse, a church, a school, and a cemetery.
Changes Over Time
Commander William Ogilvie passed away in 1859. His family leased the property for some years. By 1875, Merton was bought by the White family, who were well-known pioneers in the area.
Reginald White owned Merton in 1896. He built a second, larger brick house. This house was made even bigger at different times. A big expansion happened in 1910 for a visit from the Prince of Wales.
Under the White family, Merton became famous for breeding racehorses and cattle.
Recent Years
In the last 30 years, Merton has had a few different owners. L. Porter owned it around 1950, then P. Feeney. Since 1986, the Carter family has owned the property.
The Carter family has been working hard to restore Merton. Before they bought it, the property had been left empty and damaged.
Many original buildings still stand today. These include the first Merton Cottage from around 1825 (which is no longer used) and the White family's large homestead from the late 1800s. These buildings are very important historically.
What Merton Looks Like
Merton has two main buildings that tell its story.
Merton Cottage
The first building is Merton Cottage, built around 1825. It's not used anymore. This cottage has strong sandstone walls.
When it was first built, it had earthen floors, but these were later replaced with wooden ones. The inside walls were made of wooden slabs.
The White Family Homestead
The second building is the White family's homestead. It was built in the late 1800s. It's designed in a style called Victorian Filigree. This style often features decorative ironwork on verandahs.
How the Buildings Changed
Over the years, Merton has been changed and updated:
- 1826: The original cottage was small, with four rooms, whitewashed sandstone walls, and an earthen floor.
- Later: Wooden floors were added, and wooden partitions were used for rooms. The roof was first timber shingles, then thatched.
- Around 1859-1880: Reginald White bought the property. He built the second brick house. This house was made larger several times, especially in 1910 for the Prince of Wales's visit.
More recently, some parts of the house have been changed. There are new timber and metal-roofed additions on the side. Some parts of the verandah (porch) decorations have been changed. Some of the brickwork has been painted. In the last 10 years, there have been many repairs and restoration works.
Why Merton is Important
Merton is a "heritage-listed" site. This means it's officially recognized as important and is protected.
Historical Importance
Merton is very important to the history of the region. It was first settled by one of the area's founding families, the Ogilvies. Later, it was owned by the White family, who were very successful farmers and landowners.
The property still has buildings from its earliest days. It has been used as a farm continuously since it was first settled. This helps us understand how farming changed in the Upper Hunter Valley over the last century.
Social and Scientific Value
Merton is also important to the families who lived there, like the Ogilvies, Whites, and Porters. Their descendants can connect with their family history at this site.
From a scientific point of view, Merton can teach us a lot. Studying the site can help us understand what life was like for successful farmers in the 1800s and 1900s.
Unique Features
Merton is quite rare because it still has evidence of its first settlers. The complex includes the very old settler's cottage and the late 19th-century homestead with its gardens. It even has an early 20th-century ballroom. These buildings show how two important Hunter Valley families grew and succeeded.
The early cottage is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the area. Merton is located on a hill overlooking Denman, in a beautiful setting. It has a strong connection to Commander William Ogilvie, who was one of the first people to receive land from the Crown in the Upper Hunter in 1825.
Merton was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
