Roseneath Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roseneath Cottage |
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Roseneath Cottage, 40–42 O'Connell Street, Parramatta
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| Location | 40–42 O'Connell Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | c. 1835 |
| Owner | Privately owned |
| Official name: Roseneath Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 42 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Roseneath Cottage is a special old house in Parramatta, Australia. It was built a long time ago and is now used as a school building. This cottage is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected. It was added to this list on April 2, 1999.
Contents
History of Roseneath Cottage
First People of the Land
Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for thousands of years. The area around Parramatta is the traditional home of the Burramatta people. They are part of the larger Darug group. The name "Parramatta" comes from "Burramatta," which means "eel place." You can still find signs of their history, like scarred trees, in nearby Parramatta Park.
Early Days of the Colony
In 1806, Governor King gave a large piece of land near Parramatta to the new Governor, William Bligh. This land included the spot where Roseneath Cottage now stands. However, in 1819, Governor Macquarie cancelled this land grant.
Later, in 1832, a man named William Tuckwell was supposed to get the land where Roseneath Cottage is. But he had money problems, so the deal wasn't finished. Tuckwell worked at the nearby Parramatta Female Factory, which was a place for women convicts.
In 1833, Henry Harvey, a baker who had come to Australia as a convict, was given some land next to Tuckwell's. Harvey became a successful businessman.
The Templeton Family's Story
In 1834, Henry Harvey started selling the land to a wealthy Scottish widow named Janet Templeton. Janet Templeton (c. 1790–1857) was a brave woman. After her husband died, she sailed to Australia in 1830 with her eight children and seven servants. She also brought a small group of 63 special Merino sheep from Germany. She wanted to be one of the first women in Australia to breed these sheep for their wool.
Janet Templeton bought the land for Roseneath Cottage in 1835. The house was built soon after, around 1835-1837. It was a beautiful home with a wide front door, large windows, and a verandah (a covered porch) on three sides. It had five rooms downstairs and two large bedrooms upstairs. There was also a kitchen, stables, and a coach-house at the back. Janet created a lovely garden with fruit trees like oranges, apples, and peaches.
In 1837, a family wedding was held at Roseneath Cottage. Janet's daughter, Marion, married her cousin, William Forlonge. This was the first time the name "Roseneath" was used in public, showing the house was built and lived in by then. Janet Templeton's sons went to the nearby King's School, and her younger daughter had a teacher at home.
In 1839, Governor Bligh's daughter tried to claim back the land, which caused problems for people living in houses like Roseneath Cottage. This issue was finally sorted out in 1841.
In 1840, Major Edward Darvall and his family rented Roseneath. Emily Darvall, his wife, wrote about the cottage. She said it was surrounded by beautiful climbing plants like ivy and passion flowers. She also mentioned that the kitchen was in a separate building. That same year, a person broke into the house and stole items.
Janet Templeton officially received the land grant for Roseneath Cottage in 1842. She lived there until 1842, when she moved to another property. After she left, Roseneath Cottage was often rented out. It was described as having large dining and drawing rooms, six bedrooms, and a lovely garden with fruit trees.
Janet Templeton faced financial difficulties in the 1840s. She had to borrow money using her properties. Because of this, Roseneath Cottage was sold many times over the next few decades. It was often leased to different people rather than lived in by its owners. From 1845 to 1855, it was even used as a boarding school for boys.
Later Owners in the 1800s
In 1852, Charles Wray Finch, a businessman, bought Roseneath. He sold it a few years later to William Frederick Bassett, a doctor.
In 1856, Rev. E. M. Bobart bought Roseneath Cottage. E.M. was Elizabeth Mary Bobart, whose father was the important colonial figure, Rev. Samuel Marsden. The Bobarts had a son born at Roseneath Cottage in 1857.
Janet Templeton passed away in 1857 and was buried in Melbourne. There is a memorial to her and her sister-in-law, Eliza Forlonge, at a family property called Seven Creeks.
From 1862 to 1863, Roseneath Cottage became a school for girls again. It was called "St. Ronan's" for a time. This school is important because it helped start the Tara Anglican School for Girls, which is still a school in Parramatta today. A young teacher named Mary Elizabeth Waugh, who later founded Tara, began her teaching career at St. Ronan's.
Many different people lived in or leased Roseneath Cottage during the late 1800s, including doctors and other families.
Roseneath in the 1900s
From 1909, the Davey family owned Roseneath Cottage for many years, until 1975. George Bayley Davey, a newspaper reporter, bought the property. After he passed away, his wife Margaret inherited it, and then their daughter Marjory Nene Davey took ownership.
In 1949, important groups like the NSW Institute of Architects and the National Trust of Australia recognized Roseneath Cottage as a historic building worth saving. By 1967, it was officially classified by the National Trust.
During Marjory Davey's ownership, Roseneath Cottage was divided into two separate homes, like a duplex. This involved adding new walls and two front doors, changing its look. The house was then known as 40 and 42 O'Connell Street.
In 1960, Roseneath was listed on a special register of historic buildings. This meant that any changes or demolition needed permission, and the local council could even buy it to protect it.
In 1975, the Davey family sold Roseneath to Laurence and Joan Mear, who had been neighbors for a long time. The Mears found old items like marbles, wooden animals, and handmade nails hidden under the attic floor. They also found old bottles and pottery from the 1800s in the garden.
Protecting Roseneath Cottage
People worked hard to protect Roseneath Cottage. In 1975, there was an effort to get the original front door back, which had been moved to another house. In 1978, a temporary order was placed to protect the cottage, and in 1981, a permanent order was made. In 1999, it was officially added to the NSW State Heritage Register.
In the 1980s, the Mears family did work to preserve the house. They also put up a new picket fence to protect the property. In 1987, they even received an award for their efforts to preserve the heritage of the cottage.
Recent History
In 2015, Roseneath Cottage was inherited by Bruce Mear and Alison Cotter, the children of Joan and Laurence Mear. That same year, while the house was for sale, the owners found a hidden collection of children's toys and other items under the attic floor.
In 2015, Our Lady of Mercy College, which is next door, bought Roseneath Cottage. They are working to restore the house and adapt it for their use, making sure its history is preserved.
What Roseneath Cottage Looks Like
The House
Roseneath Cottage is a beautiful old house built in the Georgian style. It has one story and is made of special sandstock bricks that are fawn and grey. The front of the house is very neat and balanced. It has a central front door with a curved window above it, called a fanlight. On either side of the door are two large windows with shutters.
The verandah, which goes around three sides of the house, is supported by wooden columns and has a sandstone floor. The roof of the verandah is part of the main roof of the house. Inside, the house looks like homes from that time period. The entrance door is wide, and the fanlight above it has a delicate design.
The Garden
Roseneath Cottage is on a corner block, at O'Connell and Ross Streets. The main front of the house faces O'Connell Street. The front garden has a path leading to the front door, with lawns on either side. You can see plants like jade plants, roses, and a lobster plant near the verandah posts.
There are many trees and shrubs around the property. A large jacaranda tree grows near Ross Street, with rock lilies on its trunk. There's also a tall Californian desert palm, a sweet bay laurel, and a camellia. Near the southern fence, there's a kurrajong tree covered in ivy. Other plants include frangipani, Chinese hibiscus, cumquat, and a tree tulip.
A small brick path leads from the back door to a side gate on Ross Street. The back fence is covered with creeping fig and ivy. On the northern side of the house, there's another jacaranda tree, bird-of-paradise flowers, and a Chinese wisteria vine. A line of shrubs, including Mickey Mouse plant and port wine magnolia, runs along the northern fence. There's also a lawn area at the back of the house.
Why Roseneath Cottage is Important
Roseneath Cottage is very important because of its history and its beautiful design. It was built for Janet Templeton, a pioneer in Australia's wool industry. She is believed to have brought Merino sheep to the colony of Victoria.
The cottage is also important because it's a great example of a simple yet elegant colonial house made of sandstock bricks. Its front looks very balanced and charming. Many people consider it one of the best surviving examples of a colonial town cottage in the area.
Its historical importance was recognized early on. In 1960, it was declared a "place of historic interest." It was also one of the first fifty places in New South Wales to be listed under the Heritage Act in 1977. Roseneath Cottage was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, ensuring its protection for future generations.
