Old Government Cottages Group, Bathurst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Government Cottages |
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Macquarie House, located at 1 George Street
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| Location | 16 Stanley Street, Bathurst, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1837–1860 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian filigree style (1 George Street) |
| Owner | Bathurst Regional Council |
| Official name: Old Government Cottages Group; 'Old Government House'; Macquarie House; Miss Falloon's cottage; John Ford's house | |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 21 February 2003 |
| Reference no. | 1659 |
| Type | Government House |
| Category | Government and Administration |
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The Old Government Cottages Group is made up of two historic houses. You can find them at 16 Stanley Street and 1 George Street in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. These buildings were constructed between 1837 and 1860. They are also known by names like 'Old Government House', Macquarie House, Miss Falloon's cottage, and John Ford's house. The Bathurst Regional Council now owns these properties. They were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 February 2003, meaning they are very important to protect.
Contents
History of Bathurst and the Cottages
First Peoples and European Arrival
Aboriginal people have lived in the Blue Mountains area for at least 12,000 years. About 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, more people started living there. Before Europeans arrived, the Wiradjuri people lived in the area now known as Bathurst. They moved around in small groups, following the seasons. They often camped near the Macquarie River because it provided lots of food.
Europeans first explored west of the Blue Mountains in 1813. Their settlement was slow at first, partly because of concerns about the Aboriginal people. By 1840, the traditional Aboriginal way of life was greatly disrupted. This became even worse after 1850 when gold was discovered in the region.
Lachlan Macquarie, who was the Governor, officially declared Bathurst a town on 7 May 1815. He named it after Lord Bathurst, a British official. Bathurst is Australia's oldest town that is not on the coast.
How Bathurst Town Grew
Governor Macquarie chose the spot for Bathurst in 1815. He was touring the area after a road was built by William Cox and his team of convicts. Macquarie marked out the town's boundaries and set aside land for a government house. He didn't want too many people settling in the rich Bathurst Plains at first.
One of the first land grants was given to William Lawson, who was one of the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains. William Cox also received land, but later moved his home to Kelso, across the Macquarie River.
In 1818, some land was released for farming. Ten men were chosen to receive small farms and town blocks. Later, Lieutenant William Lawson became the new leader of the settlement.
Governor Macquarie continued to limit settlement in Bathurst. He kept all the land south of the Macquarie River for government buildings and animals until 1826. By 1819, Bathurst only had about 120 people living in 30 houses. Most of these were in Kelso. The government had a brick house for the leader, barracks for soldiers, and log houses for 50 convicts. The government farm was not very successful and closed in 1828.
In 1825, Ralph Darling became the new Governor in Sydney. He made many changes to how the colony was run. He divided the money for the colony into two parts: one for running the government, paid by New South Wales, and one for the convict system, paid by Britain.
Surveyors like J. McBrien and Robert Hoddle mapped the existing land. In 1826, James Bym Richards started surveying the south side of the river. However, the town's design was likely created by Thomas Mitchell in 1830. The town officially opened in late 1833 after Richards finished laying out the streets. The first land sales happened in 1831.
In 1832, the new Governor, Sir Richard Bourke, visited Bathurst. He asked Surveyor General Major Thomas L. Mitchell to prepare the town for opening. Mitchell then told Assistant Surveyor J. B. Richards to lay out the blocks and streets, which was done in September 1833. It is thought that Major Mitchell named the streets, with George Street named after King George III.
The Old Government Cottages Group
The land where these buildings stand, at the corner of George and Stanley streets, was originally a government reserve. It was sold in 1847 to James William Bligh, a lawyer. The land was known as Lot 6.
Some people believe an old building, known as "Government cottage," was already on this site before 1847. This would mean it was built when the land was still controlled by the government. However, there is no clear proof of this. A government map from 1833 does not show any buildings here, though it shows other government buildings. One old brick at 1 George Street is dated "AD 1827," which might suggest an earlier structure.
James William Bligh probably didn't build on the land himself. He sold it to Miss Falloon, who ran a small school from her home. She might have built or improved the cottage at 16 Stanley Street. She then sold the property to Mr. John Ford in 1857. John Ford was a banker and ran a coach business.
John Ford built the two-story house in 1859 or 1860. The smaller cottage at the back likely served as the kitchen and living area for servants. By 1862, he was officially living in that part of Bathurst.
Later, in 1875, John Gardiner owned the two-story house. It was then sold to John Ford Junior in 1883–84. From 1884 to 1887, Macquarie House (as it was called then) was used as a ladies' college in Bathurst.
Bathurst High School started in 1884. It was first only for boys, then for both boys and girls from 1885. But it closed in 1887 because there weren't enough students. This might have been because of other schools, like the "Pixie Ladies College" and Macquarie House for Young Ladies.
John Ford Junior passed away in 1890. The house then went to Alfred Gordon Thomson, who died in 1908. His heir, Minna Augusta Thompson, sold it to Charles William Griffin for £720. At this time, the house was described as having thirteen rooms, which shows that the "old government cottage" was part of the property.
In 1918, a local Bathurst newspaper advertised a property that seems to be 1 George Street and 16 Stanley Street. It was described as a "fine two storied brick residence" with a verandah and balcony.
In 1964, the Bathurst City Council bought 1 George Street and gave it to the Bathurst Historical Society. An article from 1968 mentioned that 1 George Street had two parts: the two-story section and a single-story wing behind it. The single-story wing was thought to be "the only remaining building authorised by Governor Macquarie."
In 1972, the Historical Society, led by Dr. Brookmore, began a major restoration of the cottage. Builders from Penrith worked on it, and the cottage was furnished in a "period" style, meaning it looked like it would have in the past.
Over time, the original land was divided into smaller parts. In 1989, the single-story cottage (16 Stanley Street) and the two-story house (1 George Street) became separate properties.
In 2015, a "period" garden was planted using plants from the colonial era. This was done to make the cottage look even better for visitors and was part of Bathurst's 200th birthday celebrations.
What the Cottages Look Like
This group includes 1 George Street, also known as Macquarie House, and "Old Government House" at 16 Stanley Street. Both buildings are in a special conservation area in Bathurst.
The old government cottage (16 Stanley Street) might be older than 1 George Street. For most of their history, they were connected. The cottage likely served as the kitchen, storage, and servants' area for the main house at 1 George Street.
Number 1 George Street is a two-story brick building with a hipped roof covered in corrugated iron. It originally had a shingle roof. A separate roof extends over the front of the house, supported by cast iron columns. It has decorative lace balustrade, brackets, and frieze lacework on its two-story verandah. The front of the house is balanced, except for a garage added in 2000. On the ground floor, there's a fancy main entrance door with a double-hung window on each side. Upstairs, three sets of French doors open onto the verandah.
The cottage behind it is a single-story brick building with a gable-ended roof, now covered in shingles (added around 1972). The cottage faces Stanley Street. It looks older than 1 George Street because of its style and materials. It has several well-spaced double-hung windows with multiple panes and wooden panelled doors. The cottage has four rooms, three of which are connected. Old plans show the cottage used to be larger.
As of 2015, 1 George Street was in excellent condition, and 16 Stanley Street was in fair condition. The Old Government Cottages Group still clearly shows why it is important.
The original fence, which had fancy iron railings and a picket fence, is mostly gone, except for the front gate. There are plans to replace it with similar materials.
Why These Cottages Are Important
This group of buildings is one of the oldest brick structures west of the Macquarie River. They are located on what was once government land, next to the government's convict gardens. These cottages are important because they are linked to early Bathurst figures like James William Bligh.
Number 16 Stanley Street is physically the older building. It might have been built during the government's time, possibly as early as 1837. Number 1 George Street (Macquarie House) is also important for its beautiful design. Its fancy iron decorations on the verandah show the key features of the Victorian filigree style.
Besides their history and architecture, these buildings are on a corner overlooking the Macquarie River. Their 19th-century style makes them a special landmark in this old part of Bathurst.
The Old Government Cottages were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 February 2003 because they meet several important standards:
- They show the history of New South Wales: This group is historically important because it's connected to the founding of Bathurst, Australia's first inland town. It was a center for governing the western parts of the colony. It's also one of the oldest surviving buildings west of the Macquarie River on the original government land.
- They are linked to important people: The Old Government Cottages Group has strong local connections to people like John Ford, James William Bligh, and Miss Keyes.
- They are beautiful and well-designed: The group is important for its beauty. It sits in a great spot overlooking the Macquarie River and adds to the historic feel of this old part of Bathurst.
- They are important to the community: The Old Government Cottages Group is highly valued by the local community. It serves as a museum of local history and helps people feel connected to the town's beginnings.
- They can teach us more about history: This group is important because it's an example of old colonial brick construction in western New South Wales. The land around the oldest cottage also has archaeological potential, meaning we could find more historical information there.
- They are rare: The Old Government Cottages Group, especially 16 Stanley Street, is rare because it's an example of old colonial brick construction west of the Macquarie River.
- They represent a type of place: The Old Government Cottages Group, especially 1 George Street, shows how Victorian homes changed and grew over time to meet different family needs.
