The Barn Scout Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Barn Scout Hall |
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The Barn Scout Hall, 3a Avenue Road, Mosman, New South Wales
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| Location | 3a Avenue Road, Mosman, Municipality of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1831 |
| Built for | Archibald Mosman |
| Architectural style(s) | Colonial Georgian |
| Owner | The Scout Association of Australia NSW Branch 1st Mosman 1908 Scout Troop |
| Official name: The Barn Scout Hall; Whaling Station | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 188 |
| Type | Girl Guide / Scout Hall |
| Category | Community Facilities |
| Builders | Archibald Mosman |
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The Barn Scout Hall is a very old building in Mosman, Australia. It was built way back in 1831 by Archibald Mosman. This special building was first used to help whaling boats. Today, it's a Scout hall and a place for the community to use. It's also known as Whaling Station. The building is owned by the 1st Mosman 1908 Scout Troop. Because it's so important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Contents
The Barn's History
Early Days of Mosman Bay
Mosman Bay was first explored in 1789 by Captain John Hunter. He called it Careening Cove. This name came from a ship, HMS Sirius, which was repaired there in 1789.
Over the years, the bay had different names. These included Sirius Cove. By the 1920s, it became a popular place for picnics.
Archibald Mosman and His Whaling Business
Archibald Mosman (1799-1863) and his twin brother George came to Sydney in 1828. In 1831, they moved to this area. They started working in the shipping and whaling industries. They used a deep, safe bay as their main base. This bay later became known as Mosman's Bay.
Archibald built The Barn in 1831. It was a storehouse for his whaling business. It was part of a bigger plan to help whaling ships. The whaling station had a stone wharf and five strong stone buildings. These included The Barn, a large storehouse, and places for the ship's officers and crew to live. The Barn is believed to be the oldest stone building still standing in the lower North Shore. It is also thought to be the last old maritime building left in Sydney.
There is also an Aboriginal heritage-listed cave behind The Barn. It is called 'Tarpot's Cave'.
From Whaling to Scouts
By 1838, Archibald Mosman owned a lot of land along the waterfront. He decided to sell his whaling business. He then moved to a country property.
After the whaling business, The Barn was used for many different things. It was even a roller skating rink! In 1925, parents of scouts bought The Barn. They wanted it for the 1st Mosman 1908 Scout Troop. It was their main meeting place until 2002.
Restoring The Barn
In 2002, bad weather badly damaged The Barn's roof. The area was also declared unsafe. This was because of mud and rock slides from the cliff nearby. The scout group had to move out temporarily.
The scouts knew how important their hall was. They started a six-year project to fix and save The Barn. They raised almost one million dollars! Experts helped them plan the restoration.
The biggest danger was the unstable cliff behind the building. It could have fallen down. First, the cliff face had to be made safe. Only after this and the building's repair could the scouts return. Today, The Barn is seen as a very important community building in Mosman. It is a valued place for the local community and the scout group.
What The Barn Looks Like
The Barn is a two-storey building. It faces Avenue Road. Its walls are made of sandstone blocks. These blocks are carefully placed. It also has bigger stones at the corners, called quoins. Some window frames and the tops of doorways, called lintels, are also made of stone. The stone used to be covered in a lime-wash finish.
The main doorway is wide. Above the double wooden doors, there is a metal-barred window. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable. It is covered with slates. The windows are small and open outwards.
There is a narrow back entrance on the eastern side. This part of the building is cut into the rock face. Here, there is also a small, sloping roof section, called a skillion. It has a brick chimney and a concrete slab.
Next to the main doors, there is a stone base. It has a plaque from 1981. This plaque explains how important the building is.
In front of The Barn, there are old, tall African yellow wood trees. These are beautiful trees on their own. However, their size and thick leaves can make it harder to see The Barn clearly.
Building Condition
As of 2004, The Barn is in a simple Colonial Georgian style.
Changes Over Time
- Before 1831: 'Tarpot's Cave', an Aboriginal heritage-listed cave, is located behind The Barn.
- 1831: The Barn was built as a storehouse for Archibald Mosman's whaling business. It was part of a larger whaling station with five stone buildings. Only The Barn remains today.
- 1925: Parents of scouts bought The Barn. It became the headquarters for the 1st Mosman 1908 Scout Troop.
- 2002: Bad weather damaged the roof. The site became dangerous due to mud and rock slides. The scout group had to leave temporarily.
- 2007-2008: The Barn was restored. The cliff face was made safe. The building was reopened for community use and the scout group.
Why The Barn is a Heritage Site
The Barn is very important to history. It is linked to Archibald Mosman, who the suburb of Mosman is named after. It is thought to be the oldest stone building in the lower North Shore area. It is also Sydney's only remaining old maritime building from the early Colonial period.
Because of its historical value, The Barn Scout Hall was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
