Selwyn House, Mackay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Selwyn House |
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Selwyn House, 2000
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| 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 |
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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, which is like a religious center. It is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, meaning it is protected for its historical value.
Contents
The Story 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 taught Bible lessons to people from the South Sea Islands. These people had come to Queensland to work on sugar cane farms.
Mary Robinson was dedicated to her mission. She asked local farmers and plantation managers for help. Hyne and Bridgman, who owned Meadowlands, gave her over three acres of land. This is where the mission building, which is now the core of Selwyn House, was built. It was a simple three-room cottage with a verandah.
Mrs. Robinson continued her mission work until 1903. She became ill and moved away. Her assistants and the people she trained carried on the mission's work.
Mackay's Sugar Industry
The Mackay area started growing sugar cane in 1865. By the 1870s, it was a big industry. Many workers from the South Sea Islands, sometimes called "Kanaka" workers, came to help. They worked on large sugar plantations.
Over time, the government made rules to change how these workers were treated. They wanted smaller farms to supply sugar mills instead of huge plantations. Selwyn House is closely linked to this history.
Changes to the House Over Time
In 1901, the land where Selwyn House stood was given to the Anglican Church. Mary Robinson ran her school for Melanesian people there. She wrote about how many students came to her school, showing how important her work was.
After Mary Robinson left in 1903, the 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.
Whitcomb made big changes to the house around 1914. He added a new section on the northern side. The house was also raised higher off the ground. Inside, new pressed metal walls and ceilings were added.
In 1918, James Mark Gibson bought the house. He was another major figure in the sugar industry. After a big cyclone damaged the house, he added another section on the southern side. Gibson was involved with the Racecourse Mill for over 56 years.
When Gibson passed away in 1964, Selwyn House was divided into two apartments. Later, it was bought and changed back into a single house.
What Selwyn House Looks Like
Selwyn House is a single-story house built high off the ground. It stands on timber and concrete posts. The middle part of the house is covered with fibro (a type of building material). It has an enclosed verandah, which is like a covered porch.
On both the north and south sides, there are wings (sections) of the house. These wings are covered with ripple iron, which is a wavy metal material. They have slanted roofs that stick out. The whole roof is made of corrugated iron.
The north wing has a bay window at the front. The south wing has double-hung windows. Underneath the front of the house, there is decorative timber lattice work.
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. The north wing has a large room with a pressed metal ceiling. The south wing has a kitchen with older, 1950s style decorations.
Selwyn House is surrounded by old palm trees and other plants. There are also two large mango trees. Even though some businesses have grown nearby, the house is still mostly surrounded by sugar cane fields. The Racecourse Mill is also very close by.
Why Selwyn House is Important
Selwyn House was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2001. This means it is recognized as a special historical place for several reasons:
A Link to Queensland's Past
The house shows how Queensland's history has changed. It is connected to the Selwyn Mission, which taught South Sea Islander workers. It also shows the growth of the sugar industry in Mackay.
A Rare Example
Selwyn House is a rare example of a building used during that time for missions and sugar industry leaders. Even though it has been changed over the years, it still holds important clues about the past.
Understanding History
The house can help us learn more about Queensland's history. Studying its construction and changes can tell us about how people lived and worked back then.
Showing a Way of Life
Selwyn House shows how the sugar industry grew and how important people in that industry lived. It changed from a simple mission cottage to a large house suitable for important guests.
Important to the Community
Selwyn House is very important to the local community in Mackay. It reminds people of the role South Sea Islander workers played in making Mackay a big sugar-growing area. Many South Sea Islander people are very interested in the house because of its social value. People remember a bell that used to be on the property, which was rung to bring people together.
Connected to Important People
The house is linked to Mary Goodwin Robinson, who started the Selwyn Mission. She provided education to the South Sea Islander workers. It is also connected to Thomas Whitcomb and James Gibson, who were both important leaders at the Racecourse Central Mill. Their lives at Selwyn House show the success and growth of the sugar industry.
Images for kids
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Selwyn House, 2000
