Miss Traill's House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miss Traill's House
Miss Traill's House, pictured in 2018.
Location	321 Russell Street, Bathurst, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1845–
Architect	Henry Kitchen
Owner	National Trust of Australia (NSW)
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Miss Traill's House; Miss Traills House; All Saints Rectory; Entelly; Wyoming Lodge
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	1 March 2002
Reference no.	1501
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
Builders	Reverend Thomas Sharpe
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Miss Traill's House is a special historic home in Bathurst, Australia. It was built way back in 1845 by Reverend Thomas Sharpe. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about the past.

The house is named after Miss Ida Traill (1889-1976). She lived there from 1931 until she passed away in 1976. Ida Traill came from a family of early settlers in the area. Her great-grandfathers were chosen by Governor Macquarie to explore and settle this region. Ida Traill generously left her home to the National Trust of Australia. Now, it's a house museum filled with amazing items from her family. You can see her furniture, horse-racing souvenirs, and other cool things that tell the story of Bathurst's early days.

History of Miss Traill's House

Early Days in Bathurst

Long before Europeans arrived, the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people lived in the Bathurst area. They moved around in small groups, finding food along the Macquarie River. European settlers first came to this region after explorers crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813.

Lachlan Macquarie, who was the Governor at the time, officially named Bathurst a town on May 7, 1815. He named it after Lord Bathurst. Bathurst is actually Australia's oldest inland town!

Governor Macquarie chose the spot for Bathurst in 1815. He wanted to keep the rich Bathurst Plains mostly for government use at first. One of the first land grants went to William Lawson, who was one of the three explorers to cross the Blue Mountains.

In 1818, a small amount of land was given out. Ten men received farms and town lots. By 1819, Bathurst had about 120 people living in 30 houses. Most of these were in Kelso, across the river. The government farm there wasn't very successful and was closed in 1828.

The town of Bathurst was officially designed in 1830 by Thomas Mitchell. The first land sales happened in 1831. In 1832, Governor Sir Richard Bourke visited Bathurst. He asked for the town to be opened quickly. The streets were laid out in September 1833. It's thought that Major Mitchell named the streets, with George Street named after King George III.

Building Miss Traill's House

On January 29, 1845, Reverend Thomas Sharpe received two land lots on Russell Street in Bathurst. He was the first Rector of All Saints' Cathedral, Bathurst. He started building his rectory, which is a house for a priest, around this time. This house is what we now know as Miss Traill's House. It was built in a style called Colonial Georgian.

The garden around the house was also carefully planned and planted soon after the house was built. It has been looked after for many years.

After Reverend Thomas and Mrs. Sharpe passed away in 1877, their son John inherited the house. He lived there for a total of 14 years and also rented it out to others. For a while, between 1869 and 1902, one of the tenants, Mrs. Mary Newton, ran a girls' school there called Wyoming Lodge.

In 1904, a local builder named William Alfred McLean bought the property. He made many changes to the house, giving it a "Federation" style look. Later, in 1923, Robert Lionel Gilmour, a local glassmaker, bought the house. His family made only small changes.

Ida Traill's Home

In 1932, Mrs. Gertrude Traill and her daughter Ida started renting the house. They bought it in 1937. After buying it, they updated the kitchen and bathroom. Later, they made more changes to give the house a more "colonial" feel again.

Ida Traill was a descendant of very early settlers in Bathurst, William Lee and Thomas Kite. They were among the most successful settlers chosen by Governor Macquarie in 1818. Ida became very interested in her family's history. She collected many items related to four generations of the Lee family in Bathurst. These items, along with her own furniture and art, were left to the National Trust when she passed away in 1976.

Miss Traill loved her garden. In the 1960s, she built a conservatory to protect her favorite plants from the cold winter. Today, the garden is still very special and looks much like it did back then. The National Trust has worked hard to keep the original plants. For example, two pear trees planted in 1852 are still there! A heritage rose in the courtyard is thought to be over 100 years old. The garden has many types of roses, including "Crimson Glory" and "Perle d'Or," which came from a cutting at her grandparents' home.

The property also has a rare paddock area. This was common for homes back when people kept horses and cows. There's also a large woodland area with many different plants, like winter roses, tree peonies, and yellow jasmine. A traditional herb garden is guarded by an arch of star jasmine.

Horse Racing History

A big part of what makes Miss Traill's House so special is the collection inside. Many items are linked to famous Australian racehorses. These horses were bred by Miss Traill's grandfather, George Lee, at his property near Bathurst called Leeholme. Ida Traill inherited or was given many souvenirs from their amazing successes. She proudly displayed them in her home.

In the hall, you can see photos of George Lee and his wife Emily. Next to them is a picture of Merriwee, who won the 1899 Melbourne Cup. Above them is a painting showing the family tree of Merriwee and other famous horses bred by Lee, like Etra-Weenie and Nellie.

Two very important paintings in the collection are oil portraits of The Barb and his sister Gulnare. The Barb was a legendary horse, known as the "Black Demon." He won the Melbourne Cup in 1866 and the Sydney Cup twice (1868 and 1869). He was undefeated in seven races as a five-year-old and won 15 out of his 23 races overall! Once a year, the actual 18-carat Sydney Cup that Barbelle won in 1870 is displayed at the house.

George Lee (1834-1912) was a farmer and horse breeder. He inherited land and built Leeholme in 1872. He bred racehorses from his father's mare, Sappho. The memory of The Barb lives on at Miss Traill's House through all these amazing items.

The National Trust, with help from local groups and volunteers, has done a lot of work to maintain the house. They've repaired cracks, re-wallpapered rooms, and repainted the outside. In 2015, a grant helped them improve how they store and display Miss Traill's collections.

Changes Over Time

Miss Traill's House has seen some changes over the years:

• 1855: An extra room was added.
• 1905: Major updates were done, including new gables, changes to the verandah, and a bathroom was put in.
• 1923: Small changes were made.
• 1940: The bathroom and kitchen were updated.
• 1960s: Miss Traill built a conservatory for her plants.
• 1977-1993: After Miss Traill passed away, the National Trust carried out many repairs and improvements, like fixing the roof, chimneys, and updating the kitchen. They also worked on the garden.

What You Can See Today

The Garden

Miss Traill's House sits on a corner block. It has a large garden that wraps around the house. The garden was designed so that the main rooms of the house face the beautiful garden, while the service areas face a more practical courtyard.

The garden has many features you'd expect in a country-style garden. These include a courtyard, a wishing well, a sundial, stone benches, a pergola, and a greenhouse. There's also a drying yard and a shed.

The National Trust has worked hard to keep the garden looking as it did in Miss Traill's time. Two pear trees planted in 1852 are still growing! The garden also has many types of roses, some of which are over 100 years old.

The property also has a paddock, which is a rare sight for a house like this today. It reminds us that people used to keep horses and cows at home. There's also a large woodland area with lots of different plants, like winter roses, tree peonies, and yellow jasmine. You can also find a traditional herb garden.

The House

The house itself is a Colonial Georgian style building. It's made of different types of brickwork. The main house was built around 1845, and a study was added around 1855. The roof is made of corrugated iron, which was added around 1905, covering the original timber roof. The verandah columns are original, but the decorative brackets were added later.

Inside, the house is filled with furniture from England and Australia, some dating back to 1810. You'll also see family photos, china, horse racing trophies, and other items from early Australian history. There are also many beautiful paintings, including portraits and landscapes.

Some important items include:

• The Sydney Cup won by Barbelle in 1870.
• Silver cups given to George Lee in the 1870s for his prize-winning cattle.
• An invitation to Mr. and Mrs. Lee for the opening of the first Australian Commonwealth Parliament in 1901.

The house is in good condition and has been kept just as Miss Traill left it. This helps visitors understand what life was like for her and her family.

Why Miss Traill's House is Important

Miss Traill's House was built in 1845 and is a part of Bathurst's early history. But its main importance comes from being the home of Miss Ida Traill. She lived there for over 40 years. As a descendant of two major farming families in the region, she was very influenced by her grandfather, George Lee, who bred famous racehorses.

Miss Traill was a strong-willed person who carefully collected and looked after many items. This collection gives us a wonderful look into her family's life and dreams. The collection is a big part of the house, and it's presented there today. It's a special family treasure for Australia.

Miss Traill's House is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because:

• It shows us about history: The house and its collections tell the story of the Kite and Lee families. They also help us understand the early history of Bathurst through Miss Ida Traill's life and belongings.
• It's beautiful and well-designed: The house has a special design with a pyramid-shaped roof. The architect, Henry Kitchen, brought this clever cottage design to New South Wales. The house, garden, and collection show us exactly how Miss Traill lived.
• It helps us learn more about the past: The house's unique design and the large collection of items from one important family help us understand how Bathurst was built and developed in the 1800s.
• It has rare and special items: The collection includes rare artworks, trophies, photos, and souvenirs. These show us the history, culture, and society of the time. Important artworks include a portrait of Emily Kite and two paintings of horses by Joseph Fowles.
• It's a great example of its kind: Miss Traill's House shows us what a home from that time period looked like. It's the only large house from that era in Bathurst that hasn't been changed much. The garden also keeps its original design.

See also

• Australian residential architectural styles