Oddfellows Arms Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oddfellows Arms Inn |
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Oddfellows Arms Inn, 541 Church Street, Parramatta, New South Wales
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| Location | 541 Church Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1842 |
| Owner | Younis & Co Pty Ltd and H. Quinan |
| Official name: Oddfellows Arms Inn; Fairview House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 276 |
| Type | Inn/Tavern |
| Category | Commercial |
| Builders | unknown |
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The Oddfellows Arms Inn is a very old building in Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1842 and has been used for many things. First, it was an inn, which is like a hotel or a pub. Later, it became a boarding house and then a private home. Today, it is known as Fairview House. This building is important because it is a heritage-listed site, meaning it is protected for its historical value. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Contents
Parramatta's Early Days
Parramatta was one of the first European settlements in Australia, started in 1788. It was created to grow food for the new colony. At first, it was called the Crescent settlement. Then, in 1790, it became the town of Rose Hill.
Governor Phillip changed its name to Parramatta in 1791. This name came from an Aboriginal word. Parramatta quickly became known as a farming town. Convicts worked on large farms in the area.
How Parramatta Grew
Settlements grew around Parramatta. These included areas like Prospect and the Northern Boundary. The Northern Boundary was close to Parramatta town. It became an official district in 1802.
Church Street was an important road. It connected the Northern District to the town. Governor Macquarie changed the town layout in 1810. He added new streets and fixed old ones. Church Street became a main road to Windsor.
Land and Buildings in Parramatta
Governor Macquarie wanted to improve Parramatta's look. He offered land to people who built strong brick or stone buildings. Land leases were available from the 1790s. The Oddfellows Arms Inn was built on land released after 1823.
The land was first leased to Patrick Darcy. After a few changes, James MacRoberts bought the property. He received the official deed for the land in 1842.
The Oddfellows Arms Inn Opens
James MacRoberts got his first license for the inn in 1843. The address was Church Street, Parramatta. We don't know why he chose the name "Odd Fellows." The inn was a bit isolated from the town center.
However, it was near the Parramatta Gaol. This meant there was regular traffic passing by. People traveling from orchards to markets also passed the inn. This helped the Oddfellows Arms Inn survive in its location.
A Special Building
In 1841, many buildings in Parramatta were made of wood. But the Oddfellows Arms Inn was different. It was built from stone and looked very good. It seemed to be designed specifically as an inn.
The building looked like a charming cottage. It was more elegant than many other pubs outside Parramatta. Guests could even catch a steamer boat to Sydney from nearby. The inn was still open during the New South Wales gold rush around 1851. This rush brought more people and money to Parramatta.
Changes Over Time
The Oddfellows Arms Inn likely closed around 1855. This was when the railway was built on the other side of town. The railway changed traffic patterns, taking people away from the inn.
James MacRoberts faced financial trouble in 1860. He sold the inn to Benjamin Lee. At some point, the inn was renamed the Fruit Growers Hotel. You can still see faded signs on the building today.
The property was sold again in 1884 to William Poulton Lee. He bought back parts of the land that had been separated. He renamed the property Fairview House.
From Inn to Home
Fairview House became a fancy home. It was surrounded by other houses and businesses. After William Lee passed away, his son Benjamin Lee owned it. He leased it to Harriet Atkins. She ran a boarding house there until 1907.
Then, a florist named Johannes Christian Johannsen bought it. He renamed it Johannsen Court. For many years after that, the building was used as a private home. Different owners lived there or rented it out.
What the Inn Looks Like
The Oddfellows Arms Inn is a two-storey building. It is made of sandstone and faces Church Street in Parramatta. It looks like a single-storey building from the front. But it has a lower ground level at the back.
Outside the Building
The front yard is about 4.5 meters by 18 meters. An old wall marks the front boundary. There are garden beds and a verandah with two steps. The verandah runs along the front of the building.
The front wall is made of dressed sandstone blocks. These blocks are held together with a special mortar. This suggests the front wall is original. The verandah and steps were likely added later, in the 1900s. The sandstone walls are in good shape. However, the lower back walls have some wear.
The roof has terracotta tiles and matching chimney pots. These are newer additions. Some windows at the back of the roof, called dormer windows, were also added later. The front verandah has concrete columns.
Inside the Building
The inside of the building has two main floors and an attic. Many rooms have been changed over the years. But the attic and ground floor are mostly original. The building still looks much like it did when it was first built. Its original design and feel are still clear.
Why This Building is Important
The Oddfellows Arms Inn, also known as Fairview House, is a rare find. It's a great example of an inn and home from the mid-1800s. Its good condition and original features make it very important.
Studying this building helps us understand how Parramatta grew. It also shows how the building's use changed over time. This reflects Parramatta's role as a business center in the 1800s. The inn also shows how Sydney was connected to other towns like Windsor and Toongabbie.
Heritage Significance
The Oddfellows Arms Inn was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it meets certain important standards:
- It shows the history of New South Wales.
The inn shows Parramatta's role as a major regional center. It also shows how development spread along Church Street.
- It is a rare or special part of history.
The Oddfellows Inn is important because it's a rare commercial building from before the 1850s. It's especially rare given how well-preserved it is.
- It shows key features of historical places.
The building's good condition and original design are very important. Even with small changes, its original size and openings have been kept.
