Mountain House, Wingen facts for kids

Mountain House is a special old building in Wingen, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be both a schoolroom and a home for the teacher. Today, it is a private house.

This historic building was designed by William Kemp, who was an architect for the Department of Education (New South Wales). It is also known as Wingen Public School. Mountain House is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is protected because of its history and special design.

A Look Back: The Story of Mountain House

The plans for Mountain House were drawn up in 1882 by William Kemp. He was the architect for the Department of Education at that time. The building was constructed by Mr. J. Johnstone. It cost A£1,185, which was a lot of money back then!

Mountain House was built with two main purposes. It had a schoolroom for students and a separate living area for the teacher. You can still see this in the design, as there are two entrance doors at the front. One door was for the school, and the other was for the teacher's home.

Behind the main building, there was a brick kitchen block. This kitchen was once connected to the main house by a covered walkway called a breezeway.

In 1980, the owner, Mr. B. Laurie, tried to get money to help fix up Mountain House. His first request for help was not successful. In 1983, Mr. Laurie tried again. He also asked for a special protection order for the house. He was worried that future road changes might damage the property.

To make sure the house would be safe and preserved, a "Permanent Conservation Order" was put on it. This order was made on March 22, 1985. It recognized the building's important history, design, and social value. Later, on April 2, 1999, Mountain House was officially moved to the State Heritage Register.

What Does Mountain House Look Like?

Mountain House is located right next to the New England Highway. You can find it in the small village of Wingen, between the towns of Scone and Murrurundi.

It is a single-story building made of painted brick. The roof is made of corrugated iron. It also has a front verandah, which is a covered porch. Both the roof and the verandah have a hipped shape.

As mentioned, the two front doors show its past use. One door led to the schoolroom, and the other to the teacher's home. Behind the main building is the brick kitchen block. This kitchen was once connected by a breezeway. The current owner has added to this area to create more living space. Beyond the kitchen, there is a newer garage and storage shed. This new building matches the style of the older structures.

Why Mountain House is Special

Mountain House is a single-story building designed in the Colonial style. It was built in 1882 by William Kemp, the architect for the Department of Education.

Mountain House was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. It met the following important reasons for being listed:

• It shows how cultural or natural history developed in New South Wales.

Mountain House is a single-story Colonial style building. It was built in 1882 based on the design by William Kemp. He was the architect for the Department of Education. The building helps us understand the history of education and life in New South Wales.