The Garibaldi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Garibaldi |
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The Garibaldi, pictured in 2007
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| Location | Ferry Street, Hunters Hill, Municipality of Hunter's Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1861–1862 |
| Official name: Garibaldi, The; The Garibaldi Inn | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 135 |
| Type | Inn/Tavern |
| Category | Commercial |
| Builders | John Cuneo |
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The Garibaldi is a special old building in Hunters Hill, Australia. It used to be a shop, a home, and an inn (like a hotel). Now, it's a shop again. It was built between 1861 and 1862 by a man named John Cuneo. This building is also known as Garibaldi, The or The Garibaldi Inn. It's so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
First People of Hunters Hill
Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the area around Kelly's Bush was home to the Wal Umedegal Clan. They spoke the Guringai language. These people mostly ate fish and shellfish. They also found vegetables, small animals, birds, and grubs to eat. They often used fire to clear the land. This helped them reach the water and find animals. We don't know much about their social life or beliefs.
How Hunters Hill Got Its Name
In 1788, Captain John Hunter explored Sydney Harbour. He was an officer on a ship called the Sirius. Captain Hunter made a detailed map of the harbour. He later became the Governor of the colony from 1795 to 1800. Hunters Hill is named after him.
In 1855, some people started a plan to build homes in Hunters Hill. They put up four special houses called "Swiss Cottages." These houses were made in parts and then put together. At this time, Hunters Hill was a popular place for French people to live. Many early buildings were built by people from France. The Swiss Cottages were advertised as "splendid family homes" with lots of land. They also had plenty of wood and water.
Hunters Hill was one of the first places in Australia to be planned as a "garden suburb." This means it was designed with lots of green spaces and gardens. This happened even before the idea of garden suburbs became popular.
The Story of The Garibaldi Inn
The Garibaldi Inn was built from local golden sandstone. John Cuneo, who came from Genoa, Italy, in 1854, built it in the 1860s. It was the very first hotel in Hunters Hill. Records show it was still being built in 1861. By 1869, it was mostly finished. John Cuneo kept adding rooms until 1881. Then, it had 16 rooms! The rooms in the attic were used by Italian stonemasons. These skilled workers were building many stone houses in the area.
John Cuneo was one of the stonemasons brought to New South Wales. He helped build beautiful stone homes for important people like Count de Milhau. John Cuneo also imported statues from Italy for his marble business.
The building is named The Garibaldi Inn to honor Giuseppe Garibaldi. He was a famous Italian military leader and hero. He fought to unite Italy. The Garibaldi building also has a statue above its main door. It shows a woman who is a cupbearer.
The Cuneo family were shopkeepers. They also loved sailing and had their own jazz band. Their corner, "Cuneo's Corner," was a lively spot for social events. "Cuneo's Recreation Ground" was across the street.
The Garibaldi was a hotel until 1911. That year, it lost its license to sell drinks. This might have happened because people in the area voted to have fewer hotels. After 1911, The Garibaldi was no longer a hotel.
By 1912, the building was rented out as a shop. Mrs. Nelly Rehm, who sold sweets, was one of the first shopkeepers. Over the years, many different people rented the shop. Only small changes were made when it became a shop.
The Taniane family bought the building from the Cuneo family in 1949. They ran a fruit and vegetable shop there from 1934 to 1976. Mr. Peter and Miss Mary Taniane ran the shop where the bar used to be.
Over time, the building started to look neglected. In 1971, a company wanted to buy the land and knock down The Garibaldi to build a gas station. But people in Hunters Hill cared about old buildings. They worked hard to save The Garibaldi from being destroyed. In 1973, the original statue of Hebe (the gods' cupbearer) was stolen.
Because the community wanted to protect it, The Garibaldi was given a special "Permanent Conservation Order" on October 16, 1981.
After the Tanianes, The Garibaldi had several owners in the late 1970s and early 1980s. People tried to make it a social place again, like in John Cuneo's time. There were plans to turn it into a restaurant or an inn. But the local community protested, and these plans were not approved.
In 1983, a company called Barry Webb & Associates bought The Garibaldi. They were engineers and used the building as offices. With permission from the government, the rest of the area around the building was redeveloped. New offices, shops, and underground parking were added.
On April 2, 1999, The Garibaldi was officially added to the State Heritage Register. This means it is a very important historical site in New South Wales.
What The Garibaldi Looks Like
The Garibaldi stands out on the corner of Alexandra Street and Ferry Street in Hunters Hill. It's a beautiful and strong two-story building. It's made of golden sandstone. It has many windows with eight panes of glass. The roof is made of slate. The corner of the building is cut off, with an entrance door there. Above the door is a niche (a small alcove) with a statue of a woman cupbearer. There are also attic rooms under the roof.
Condition of the Building
As of January 22, 2013, The Garibaldi was in excellent physical condition.
Why The Garibaldi Is Important
The Garibaldi is important to the history of New South Wales for many reasons. It is linked to John Cuneo, the Italian stonemason who helped build the area. It is also important because it was the first inn built in Hunters Hill. The building was constructed around 1862. It is a beautiful and strong two-story building made of dressed sandstone with a slate roof. It still looks very much like it did when it was built. It adds a lot to the look of the street.
The Garibaldi was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Images for kids
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The Garibaldi, pictured in 2007
