Selwyn House, Mackay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Selwyn House |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Selwyn House, 2000
|
|
| Location | 12 Cowleys Road, Mackay, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1890s–1918 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Selwyn House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 February 2001 |
| Reference no. | 601080 |
| Significant period | 1890s–1920s (fabric) 1890s (historical) 1900s–1964 (historical residence) 1890s–1900s (historical |
| Significant components | school/school room, residential accommodation – manager's house/quarters |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Selwyn House is a special old building in Racecourse, near Mackay, Australia. It was built between the 1890s and 1918. This house is important because it was once an Anglican mission. A mission is a place where people help others, often by teaching them or sharing their beliefs. Selwyn House is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its historical value.
Contents
History of Selwyn House
Early Days and the Selwyn Mission
The main part of Selwyn House was built around 1896. It was on land that used to be part of a large farm called Meadowlands Plantation. This farm was owned by William Henry Hyne and George Francis Bridgman.
A very important person named Mary Goodwin Robinson started the Selwyn Mission. She began her work around 1882. Mrs. Robinson was involved with the mission until 1903. She had to leave Mackay because she became unwell. Later, in 1914 and 1918, more parts were added to the house.
Mackay's Beginnings and Sugar Plantations
The town of Mackay started in the 1860s. John Mackay explored the area in 1860. Settlers arrived in 1862, and the town of Port Mackay was established. The river was later renamed the Pioneer River.
In 1865, people started growing sugar cane in Mackay. By the 1870s, sugar farming was very popular. Many plantations used workers from the South Sea Islands. These workers were often called "Kanaka" labourers. The way these workers were brought to Australia and their working conditions caused a lot of debate.
The Mission's Purpose
Early settlers in Mackay wanted churches and religious support. The Anglican Bishop of Brisbane, Dr. Edward Tufnell, visited in 1863. He helped arrange for land to be bought for a church.
Reverend Albert A Maclaren was an Anglican priest in Mackay. He was one of the first to care about the South Sea Islanders. He encouraged the creation of Christian missions for them. Mary Goodwin Robinson, who was married to a plantation manager, became interested in helping these workers.
Around 1882, Mary Robinson started giving Bible lessons to South Sea Islanders at her home. She asked for donations to continue her work. Hyne and Bridgman, who owned Meadowlands Plantation, gave her over three acres of land. This is where Selwyn House was built.
Selwyn House as a School and Home
The mission building, which is now the core of Selwyn House, was a simple three-room cottage. It had a verandah, which is an open porch. Mary Robinson used this building to run a school for Melanesian people. She wrote a letter in 1901, saying how many people were coming to her school. She was excited about the future of her mission.
Mary Robinson ran the mission from 1882 to 1903. When she became old and sick, she moved away. She had trained other people to continue the mission's work. The mission's influence spread far and wide.
Changes and New Owners
In 1903, Selwyn House was sold to Thomas James Whitcomb. He was a very important person in the local sugar industry. He was the Chairman of Directors for the Racecourse Central Mill Company.
Mr. Whitcomb made big changes to the house in 1914. He added a new section on the northern side. The house was also raised higher on blocks. The walls and ceilings inside were decorated with pressed metal.
The Whitcomb family owned the house until 1918. During this time, the Racecourse Central Mill grew bigger. It bought another mill called Meadowlands.
In 1918, James Mark Gibson bought Selwyn House. He was also a major figure in the sugar industry. After a big cyclone caused damage, he added another wing to the southern side of the house. Mr. Gibson was a director at the Racecourse Mill for over 56 years.
When Mr. Gibson passed away in 1964, the house was divided into two separate apartments. Later, it was bought by new owners who changed it back into one large house.
What Selwyn House Looks Like
Selwyn House is a single-story house built high off the ground. It stands on timber and concrete stumps. The middle part of the house is covered with fibro (a type of building material). It has an enclosed verandah.
On either side of the central part, there are wings covered with ripple iron. These wings have sloped roofs that stick out at the front and back. The roof of the whole house is made of corrugated iron.
The northern wing has a bay window at the front. It also has windows along its northern side. The southern wing has double-hung windows. The lower part of the house has decorative timber lattice work at the front.
Inside, you can still see the original central part of the house. It has timber walls. French doors open from this central area to the enclosed verandahs. Some parts of the house have pressed metal ceilings and walls. The southern wing has a kitchen with a 1950s style.
Selwyn House is surrounded by many old palm trees and other plants. There are also two large mango trees. Even though some businesses have grown nearby, Selwyn House is still mostly surrounded by sugar cane fields. The Racecourse Mill is also close by.
Why Selwyn House is Important
Selwyn House is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it is very important to Queensland's history.
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
The house's main part was built around 1896. It is important because of its connection to the Selwyn Mission. This mission helped educate South Sea Islander workers. It also shows the close link between the house and the sugar industry in Mackay.
- It is a rare example of its kind.
Selwyn House is a rare building from that time period. Even though it has been changed, it still shows how buildings were used during that era.
- It helps us understand Queensland's history.
The house can help us learn more about the past. Further research could reveal even more about when it was built.
- It shows what important cultural places look like.
Selwyn House started as a simple timber home. It grew into a large house with fancy pressed metal decorations. This growth shows how the sugar industry in Mackay also grew. It also shows the lifestyle of important people like mill directors.
- It has a strong connection to the community.
Selwyn House is important to the local community. It reminds people of the role South Sea Islander workers played in making Mackay a top sugar-growing area. Many South Sea Islander people are very interested in the house. They remember a bell that used to be there. It was rung to bring people together.
- It is linked to important people and groups.
The house is important because of Mary Goodwin Robinson. She started the Selwyn Mission and taught South Sea Islander people. It also shows the success of the sugar industry. It highlights the lives of important figures like Thomas Whitcomb and James Gibson. Both of them were chairmen of the Racecourse Central Mill.
