The Retreat, Ryde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Retreat |
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The Retreat, 2009
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| Location | 817 Victoria Road, Ryde, City of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1843 |
| Official name: Retreat, The; The Retreat | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 506 |
| Type | Cottage |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Isaac Shepherd |
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The Retreat is a special old cottage in Ryde, Australia. It's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place. This cottage was built in 1843 by Isaac Shepherd. You can find it at 817 Victoria Road.
Contents
History of The Retreat
How Ryde Began
The area where Ryde is now was once perfect for farming and growing fruit. In 1792, some of the first land grants were given to soldiers. This was to encourage them to start farms.
Later, land was given to convicts who had finished their sentences. These small farms were later bought by important people like John Macarthur and Gregory Blaxland. The area stayed famous for its orchards throughout the 1800s.
This area was first called the Eastern Farms. It was the third place settled by Europeans in New South Wales. It wasn't called Ryde until 1841.
The Land's Story
The land where "The Retreat" stands was first given to James Squire in 1795. He was given about 12 hectares (30 acres). But Squire found land closer to the river better for his brewery.
So, in 1799, he sold his land to his neighbour, James Shepherd, for A£50. James Shepherd's family owned this land for a very long time, until 1911.
The Shepherd Family's Connection
James Shepherd came to New South Wales in 1791 as a convict. He had served six years of his sentence and soon received a pardon. In 1795, he married Ann Thorn. She had also arrived as a convict in 1794.
Ann was given 8.1 hectares (20 acres) of land at the Eastern Farms. This was the first time the area was called "Kissing Point." Ann and James made their home at Thorn Farm.
James Shepherd became a very successful farmer. He bought more land, and by 1820, he owned 73 hectares (180 acres) at Kissing Point. He started by raising sheep and growing wheat, but soon focused on orange orchards.
James and Ann had two sons, James and Isaac, and two daughters, Ann and Elizabeth. Ann Shepherd died in 1806. James Shepherd passed away in 1847, respected by many. Their gravestones were later moved to Field of Mars Cemetery.
Isaac Shepherd, one of their sons, took over much of the land from the 1820s. He built a cottage called Addington in 1833. In 1840, he built a large sandstone home called Hellenie. Isaac Shepherd also became a member of parliament. He helped bring local government to Ryde in 1870.
William Henry's Home
The north-western suburbs of Sydney are sometimes called the "bible-belt." This is partly because of people like Reverend William Henry. In 1798, he held the first religious service in a barn at Kissing Point.
William Henry later married James Shepherd's daughter, Ann, as his second wife. "The Retreat" became their home.
In 1843, William Henry planned to retire to Kissing Point. His father-in-law, James Shepherd, gave Ann one acre of land for their home. This land was part of James Squire's original grant.
"The Retreat" cottage was likely built in 1843. William Henry was a trained carpenter, and his stepson, James Shepherd Henry, was a builder. Ann's brother, Isaac Shepherd, also helped build it. Isaac probably provided the stone from his own quarry nearby.
William and Ann Henry did not stay in Kissing Point at first. They returned to Tahiti for a few years. But in 1848, they came back to Sydney and settled at "The Retreat." Here, they finally found a peaceful life after their years as missionaries.
William Henry continued to preach at St. Anne's Church. He also worked as a school master until he died in 1859 at the age of 89. He was buried in St. Anne's cemetery.
Ann Henry lived at "The Retreat" for some years after her husband died. Her unmarried daughter, Sophia, and son, Philip, lived with her. Ann was very active in the local Wesleyan Church. She is seen as the founder of the Ryde Wesleyan Sunday School.
Around 1880, Ann Henry moved to Glebe to be closer to her children. She died there in 1882, aged 84. Ann Henry was buried with her husband in St. Anne's cemetery, Ryde.
Ann Henry left "The Retreat" to her son, Daniel Tyreman Bennett Henry. Daniel was a successful businessman. He died in 1891, and "The Retreat" was inherited by his wife, Sarah, and their seven children.
In the late 1800s, "The Retreat" was rented out to several different families.
Later Owners of The Retreat
In 1911, Sarah Henry and her children sold "The Retreat" to James Brand Simmons. He was a retired sailor. In 1925, Joseph Murray, a builder, bought the property.
Over the years, "The Retreat" changed hands a few more times. Alma Moffat owned it from 1929 to 1949. Ronald Littlejohn bought it in 1949, and Samuel Samson purchased it in 1962.
In 1987, "The Retreat" was officially protected as a heritage site. It was added to the State Heritage Register in 1999.
What The Retreat Looks Like
The Property
"The Retreat" sits on a large block of land. The house is set back from Victoria Road. In the front garden, you can still see parts of the old landscaping. There are rose bushes and a path leading to the house. Two tall pencil pine trees stand on either side of the main entrance. The big backyard has several old fruit trees.
The Cottage Itself
"The Retreat" is a four-room cottage made of sandstone. Later, two attic rooms were added upstairs. These rooms have dormer windows facing the back of the house. A kitchen and bathroom wing were also added to the rear.
The outside walls are made of solid sandstone, which is now covered. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a hipped shape. It might have had wooden shingles before.
Inside, some walls and ceilings in the back rooms are made of lath and plaster. Other ceilings are made of pressed metal. The wooden floors, window frames, and fireplaces seem to be in good condition.
Changes Over Time
The cottage used to have a front verandah, but it has since been removed.
Why The Retreat is Important
"The Retreat" is a very important historical building in New South Wales. It's a rare example of a simple sandstone cottage from the early to mid-1800s in the Ryde area.
- It shows us history: The land was owned by the Shepherd family and then the Henry family for over 100 years. "The Retreat" was built around 1843 for Ann Henry and her husband, William Henry, when they retired. The Shepherd family were key pioneers in Ryde's farming, business, and community life in the 1800s.
- It's linked to important people: William Henry held the first church service in Ryde in 1798. He was also one of the first Christian missionaries to visit the Pacific islands. He spent many years working there. His family helped start European settlements in places like Tahiti and Hawaii.
- It has special design: "The Retreat" is a modest house. Its small size shows the humble retirement of the missionary who lived there. It contrasts with the larger homes of his wealthier relatives, the Shepherds, at the nearby Addington.
- It's a rare survivor: Ryde was one of the first European settlements in Australia. However, very few buildings from before 1850 still exist there. "The Retreat" is a rare example of a simple cottage that used to be common in the area.
"The Retreat" was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
