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 old building in Bathurst, Australia. It used to be a home, a place for a church leader, and even a school. Now, it's a museum!

The house was designed by Henry Kitchen and built starting in 1845 by Reverend Thomas Sharpe. It has also been known by other names like All Saints Rectory and Wyoming Lodge. Today, the National Trust of Australia (NSW) takes care of it. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002, which means it's a very important historical place.

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 families who were among the first European settlers in the Bathurst area. Her great-grandfathers were chosen by Governor Macquarie to explore and settle the region.

Ida Traill loved her home and decided to give it to the National Trust of Australia. Now, it's a museum filled with amazing items from her family. You can see her furniture, things related to horse racing, and other objects that tell the story of Bathurst's early days.

The Story of Miss Traill's House

Early Days and First People

Long, long ago, for at least 12,000 years, Aboriginal people lived in the Blue Mountains area. The Wiradjuri people lived in the area now known as Bathurst. They moved around in small groups, following the seasons and finding food along the rivers.

When Europeans first arrived in the early 1800s, they explored west of the Blue Mountains. Lachlan Macquarie, who was the Governor, officially named Bathurst a town on May 7, 1815. He named it after Lord Bathurst. Bathurst is actually Australia's oldest inland town!

How Bathurst Grew

Governor Macquarie picked the spot for Bathurst in 1815. A road had already been built by convicts, led by William Cox. Macquarie set aside land for government buildings. At first, he didn't want too many people settling in the rich Bathurst Plains.

In 1818, a small amount of land was given out. Ten men received farms and town lots across the river from the government area. The settlement slowly grew. By 1819, Bathurst had about 120 people living in 30 houses. Most of these were in a small town called Kelso, on the other side of the river.

In 1825, a new Governor, Governor Darling, arrived. He made many changes to how the colony was run. 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 the Surveyor General, Major Thomas L. Mitchell, to quickly get the town ready for more people. 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.

The House's Journey

On January 29, 1845, Reverend Thomas Sharpe, the first leader of All Saints' Cathedral, Bathurst, was given the land where Miss Traill's House now stands. He started building his home, which was designed in a style called Colonial Georgian.

The garden around the house was also planned and planted soon after the house was built, around 1846. It has been cared for ever since.

After Reverend Thomas and Mrs. Sharpe passed away in 1877, their son John inherited the house. He rented it out for many years. One of the people who rented it was Mrs. Mary Newton, who ran a girls' school called Wyoming Lodge there between 1869 and 1902.

In 1904, a local builder named William Alfred McLean bought the house. He made many changes, giving it a more modern "Federation" look. Later, in 1923, Robert Lionel Gilmour, a local glass worker, bought it and made only small changes.

In 1932, Mrs. Gertrude Traill and her daughter Ida rented the house. They loved it so much that they bought it in 1937. After buying it, they updated the kitchen and bathroom. Later, they made more changes to give the house a classic colonial feel again.

Ida Traill was very interested in her family's history. She collected many items that belonged to four generations of her family in Bathurst. These items, along with her own furniture and art, were left to the National Trust in 1976, along with the house and garden.

Miss Traill also 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 in her time. The National Trust has worked hard to keep the old plants. For example, two pear trees planted in 1852 are still there! There's also a heritage rose that is over 100 years old.

The property also has a paddock, which is a rare sight for a house like this today. In the past, many homes had paddocks for horses or cows. There's also a large woodland area with many different plants, including beautiful roses and flowering trees.

Amazing 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 horses in Australia's racing history. These horses were bred by Miss Traill's grandfather, George Lee, at his property called Leeholme. Ida Traill inherited many of these amazing racing items and proudly displayed them in her home.

In the house, you can see pictures of George Lee and his wife, along with a photo of Merriwee, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1899. There are also paintings of other famous horses bred by Lee, like Etra-Weenie and Sappho.

Two very important paintings are of The Barb, known as the "Black Demon," and his sister Gulnare. The Barb was a legendary racehorse, winning the Melbourne Cup in 1866 and the Sydney Cup twice (1868 and 1869). He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. He won 15 of his 23 races!

Once a year, the actual 18-carat gold Sydney Cup that Barbelle won in 1870 is displayed at the house. It's a truly incredible piece of history.

George Lee, Miss Traill's grandfather, was a successful farmer and horse breeder. He inherited land and built Leeholme in 1872. He bred many racehorses, often leasing or selling them.

The memory of The Barb and the Lee family's racing success lives on at Miss Traill's House. All these treasures were given to the National Trust by Miss Ida Traill in 1976.

Over the years, with help from different groups, volunteers have done a lot of work to keep the house in great condition. This includes fixing cracks, re-wallpapering rooms, and repainting the outside. In 2015, a grant helped the Trust improve how they store and display Miss Traill's collections.

Changes Over Time

• 1855: An extra room was added.
• 1905: Big renovations happened, including new plaster inside, new gables outside, and changes to the verandah. A bathroom was also 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: Many repairs and updates were done, including fixing floors, roofs, chimneys, and installing new kitchen items. The garden was also improved.

What Miss Traill's House Looks Like

The Beautiful Garden

Miss Traill's House is on a corner block, with a large garden wrapping around it. The garden is designed so that the main rooms of the house face the beautiful garden, while the back rooms face a service yard.

The country-style garden has many lovely features. You can find a courtyard, a wishing well, a sundial, stone benches, a pergola, and a greenhouse.

The National Trust has worked hard to keep the garden looking like it did in Miss Traill's time. Two pear trees planted in 1852 are still growing there!

The property also has a paddock, which is unusual for a house in a town today. It reminds us of a time when families kept horses or cows at home. There's also a woodland area with many different plants, including winter roses, tree peonies, and yellow jasmine.

The garden has many plants typical of the 1800s and early 1900s, including a wonderful collection of roses.

The Roses

One special rose, "Souvenir de Mme. Leonie Viennot," blooming in the courtyard, is thought to be over 100 years old. Other roses in the garden include "Crimson Glory," "Frau Karl Druschki," "Mermaid," and "Perle d'Or," which came from a cutting from Miss Traill's grandparents' property.

You can also find other types of roses like Cecile Brunner, Pinkie, and Lady Banks' rose.

Inside the House

The house itself is a late Colonial Georgian style, built with different types of brickwork. The main house and a study from 1845 and 1855 show one style of brickwork. The kitchen and laundry have another. The roof, which is now corrugated iron, used to be timber shingles.

The verandah has original turned columns, and the brackets were added in 1872. French doors open to the garden, and inside, there are four paneled doors.

The house is filled with amazing items. You'll see English and Australian furniture from the early 1800s, family photos, china, racing trophies, and early Australian objects. There are also many beautiful paintings, including portraits and landscapes.

Some important artworks include a portrait of Emily Kite by Joseph Backler (1847) and two horse paintings by Joseph Fowles. There are also paintings of ships and European landscapes.

Other special items include the Sydney Cup won by Barbelle in 1870, silver cups won by George Lee for his cattle in the 1870s, and an invitation to the opening of the first Australian Parliament in 1901.

The house is in good condition and has been kept just as Miss Traill left it. This helps visitors understand her life and the history of her family.

Why Miss Traill's House is Important

Miss Traill's House, built in 1845, is a key part of Bathurst's early history. Its main importance comes from being the home of Miss Ida Traill. She lived there for many years, from 1932 to 1976.

Miss Traill came from two important families in the region. She was greatly influenced by her grandfather, George Lee, who bred legendary racehorses. Ida Traill was a careful and strong-willed person who collected and cared for many items. This collection gives us a valuable look into her family's life and dreams.

The collection is a huge part of the house itself, and it's displayed there today. It's a unique family treasure for Australia.

Miss Traill's House was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 1, 2002, because it meets several important standards:

• It shows the history of New South Wales: The house tells the story of the Kite and Lee families and helps us understand the early history of Bathurst through Miss Ida Traill's life and belongings. It also shows how different people lived in the Bathurst area over time.
• It has beautiful design and creative value: 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 a very accurate picture of Miss Traill's lifestyle.
• It can teach us about history: Miss Traill's House is important because it helps us understand the history of Bathurst from the mid-1800s to the 1900s. Its unique design and large collection of items from one important family help us learn about the development of the Bathurst area.
• It has rare or unusual features: The collection of rare artworks, trophies, photos, and other items shows the history, culture, and society of the past. Important artworks include a portrait by Backler and two horse paintings by Joseph Fowles.
• It shows what typical places of its kind were like: Miss Traill's House perfectly shows what a home of its time and social class was like. It's the only large house from that period in Bathurst that hasn't been changed much. The garden also keeps a typical design with geometric flowerbeds.

See also

• Australian residential architectural styles