Peninsula House and Tebbutt's Observatory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peninsula House and Tebbutt's Observatory |
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Tebbutt's Observatory, pictured in 2007
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| Location | Palmer Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1845 |
| Official name: Peninsula House, Tebbutt's Observatory; The Peninsular House; Peninsular House; Tebbutt's Observatory | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 28 |
| Type | Homestead Complex |
| Category | Farming and Grazing |
| Builders | John Tebbutt |
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Peninsula House and Tebbutt's Observatory is a special place in Windsor, Australia. It includes a historic house and an old observatory. This observatory was built in 1845 by a famous astronomer named John Tebbutt. Today, both the house and the observatory are protected as important heritage sites in New South Wales.
Contents
A Journey Through Time
The First People of the Land
Long ago, the land around the Hawkesbury River was home to the Dharug and Darkinjung Aboriginal people. They called the river Deerubbin. It was a very important place for them, providing food and a way to travel.
Early European Settlement
In 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip explored this area. He was looking for good farming land. He named the river the Hawkesbury River. European settlers started living here by 1794. This region, known as Green Hills, was great for farming. It helped feed the early colony. However, the river often flooded, which was tough for farmers.
The land where Peninsula House now stands was first given to Samuel Wilcox. He called it Wilcox Farm. Later, this farm became part of a much larger area called Peninsula Farm.
In 1810, Governor Lachlan Macquarie took charge. He helped the colony grow a lot. He built many public buildings and improved roads. He also named several towns in the Hawkesbury area. These included Windsor and Richmond. He named them after towns in England.
The Story of Peninsula House and John Tebbutt
In 1842, John Tebbutt's father bought land on this "peninsula." He built Peninsula House in 1845. A two-storey section was added to the back later.
John Tebbutt (1824-1916) was born in Windsor. He became very interested in astronomy, which is the study of stars and planets. His school teacher encouraged him. John Tebbutt loved mechanical things and how the sky worked. He slowly bought instruments and learned more.
In 1853, he bought his first instrument, a marine sextant. He became famous around the world in 1861. He was the first person to discover the "Great Comet of 1861." This was one of the most beautiful comets ever seen! In 1862, he was offered a job as the government astronomer for New South Wales. But he said no because it meant leaving Windsor.
Around 1863 or 1864, John Tebbutt built a small, round wooden observatory in his garden. This one is no longer there. In 1874, he built a second round building. Then, in 1879, he built an even bigger, circular observatory close by.
Tebbutt was a private astronomer. He was also a member of the Royal Astronomical Society. He carefully watched the sky and wrote down what he saw. He published his findings regularly. This helped him gain a great reputation worldwide.
From his observatories, he studied many things in space. He watched the Moon pass in front of stars. He observed Jupiter's moons, comets, and distant stars. He also watched Mercury and Venus pass across the Sun. His work was recognized all over the world.
In 1872, he bought a special telescope. It was an 11.4 centimetres (4.5 in) refracting telescope. He used it to watch Venus cross the Sun in 1874. In 1886, he got an even bigger 200 millimetres (7.9 in) Grubb refracting telescope. He put this huge telescope in a strong brick observatory building on his property. This telescope later went to New Zealand. But it came back to Australia for the Australian Bicentenary celebration. It was put back in its original spot. The Hawkesbury City Council now owns this telescope.
John Tebbutt spent his whole life in Windsor. He dedicated most of his time to astronomy. He never left Australia. But he wrote letters to other scientists around the world. He also published many articles. In 1908, his book "Astronomical Memoirs" listed 371 things he had published. His picture and his observatory were even on the $100 note from 1984 to 1996!
John Tebbutt had six daughters and one son. He passed away in 1916. He was buried in the Anglican cemetery in a special vault he designed himself. His funeral was one of the biggest ever in Windsor. His family lived in the house until 2017.
What Does It Look Like?
Peninsula House and the old observatory are on a 3.23 hectares (8.0 acres) piece of land. It's on high ground near Windsor. When the Hawkesbury River floods, this area becomes like a quiet, untouched island. It's full of native plants and animals.
Peninsula House
Peninsula House is a two-storey house. It is built in the Georgian style using sandstock bricks. The main roof and the verandah roof are made of slate. The verandah has pretty cast iron columns. The middle part of the house has a simple triangular shape called a pediment.
The house has six-panel doors. The windows have six panes of glass and stone sills. They originally had shutters. Sandstone is used for the base of the house and for the verandah floor. A two-storey brick section was added to the back later. Inside the original house, you can see beautiful marble fireplaces and cedar wood details.
Tebbutt's Observatories
There are two brick observatories in the old garden. The smaller one is round. It has a flat iron roof that slopes slightly. The larger observatory is also made of brick. It has sandstone blocks at the corners. It features a classical pediment over a porch. The roof has a decorative border called a cornice. The windows are unusual. They have stucco decorations and wooden shutters. The iron roof is octagonal (eight-sided) and slopes in two directions.
Other Buildings
There was also an original stable building. It was once used as a place for events, holding up to 100 guests. It had an office and storage areas.
The Garden
A beautiful, old garden surrounds the house. It has many large, mature trees. These include tall hoop pines, eucalyptus trees, and Canary Island date palms.
Changes Over Time
- 1845: Peninsula House was built.
- 1864: The smaller observatory was built.
- 1879: The larger observatory was built.
- 2004-05: Money was given to fix the leaking roof and do other repairs.
Why Is It Important?
Peninsula House and Tebbutt's Observatory are a very important and special group of buildings. They are from the early and late Victorian times. They are still in good condition. They also have an interesting history. These buildings, along with the surrounding countryside, make the northeastern part of Windsor very special.
The Tebbutt Peninsula House was built by the famous amateur astronomer, John Tebbutt II. He discovered two comets that are named after him today.
Peninsula House and Tebbutt's Observatory were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means they are officially recognized as important historical sites because:
- They show us how history unfolded in New South Wales.
They are a unique group of old buildings. They are connected to John Tebbutt, who became famous worldwide for his astronomy work in Windsor.
- They show great design or technical skill.
The old observatory building is unusual and well-made. The buildings and the surrounding landscape add a lot to the beauty of Windsor.
- They are rare or uncommon.
This is a rare example of an early private observatory.
- They show the main features of similar places in New South Wales.
They are a good example of early colonial houses in the area.
