Simmons Hardware Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Simmons Hardware Store |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | 226 George Street, Windsor, City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Arabian Horse Society of Australia Ltd |
| Official name: Simmons Hardware Store; Peter O'Hara's General Store; Simmons Store | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 667 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
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Simmons Hardware Store is a very old and special building in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Peter O'Hara's General Store or Simmons Store. This building is important because it shows us what shops looked like a long time ago. It is so special that it is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it is protected for future generations to see.
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History of the Store
This building at 226 George Street was built in the middle of the 1800s. It was once a general store run by Peter O'Hara, who was an important local businessman.
Surviving the Great Fire
The store survived a huge fire that swept through Windsor in December 1874. The fire started nearby and quickly spread. It is believed that the fire destroyed everything inside the store except its strong brick walls. A new store was built, or the old one was rebuilt, soon after the fire.
Even though parts of the building have changed over the last 140 years, it still looks like an early Victorian shop from the outside. It shows how the street has changed over time.
Recent Changes to the Building
More recently, a new storage building was added in the back yard. The front of the store also changed. It used to have a flat awning, but now it has a curved verandah with wooden posts. This change was suggested to help the street look better.
What the Store Looks Like
The Simmons Hardware Store is a two-storey building made of sandstock bricks. These bricks were common in the mid-1800s.
Key Features of the Building
The building has tall chimneys on its side walls. At the front, there is a single-storey verandah or awning. This verandah is supported by metal brackets and wooden posts.
Below the verandah, the walls are covered in a smooth cement finish. This gives the lower part of the building a different look. There are two large shop windows with wooden frames and a main door in the middle. The second floor has three windows, each with 12 small glass panes.
Back and Side Views
At the back, there is an "L" shaped building attached to the ground floor rooms. The ground floor also has a side entrance that leads to the stairs and offices upstairs. The original brick building has been painted, which has changed its outside look.
You can still see old advertising on the upper side wall facing south. The word "Castrol" is visible through the layers of paint in a curved shape. Even with all the changes, the building still stands as a great example of an early Victorian shop.
Why It's a Heritage Site
Simmons Hardware Store was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is recognized as an important historical place that needs to be preserved.
