Toongla facts for kids

Toongla is a special old house and former dairy farm located at 41 Tullimbar Road in Albion Park. This area is part of the City of Shellharbour in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The house was built in 1873 and is still a private home today. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical site that needs to be protected.

Toongla's Story

Toongla has a long and interesting history. It was first built around 1873.

Early Owners and Dairy Farming

It is thought that Maurice Scanlan built Toongla. He bought the land in December 1873. At that time, it was a dairy farm. The Scanlan family first called their home "Green Mount Villa". Later, in 1886, they changed its name to "Toongla". We are not sure if the house standing today is the very first one, or if the Scanlans built a new one in 1886.

Maurice Scanlan later borrowed money using the farm as security. This was from the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney in 1892.

William Moles and His Legacy

In 1898, William Moles bought Toongla and its farm. William Moles was a very important person in the local community. He helped start the Shellharbour Municipal Council in 1859. He served as an Alderman and was even the second Mayor of Shellharbour.

Moles also worked as the Town Clerk for a while. He was a Senior Magistrate, which means he was a judge in local courts. He was also a pioneer in breeding a special type of cattle called Illawarra Shorthorn. These cattle were very important for the dairy industry in the area. The Toongla property was closely connected to the growth of this cattle breed.

After William Moles passed away in 1911, his daughters, Barbara and Marion Douglas Moles, took over the property. They sold Toongla to Mr. Leonard Anderson in February 1930. Later, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mr. M. and Mrs. J. Simon owned the house.

Protecting Toongla's History

In 1987, the owners at the time, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, wanted to make sure Toongla would be protected for a long time. They asked for a special order to be placed on the property. This "Permanent Conservation Order" was put in place on November 20, 1987. This order helped make sure the house's history and special features would be kept safe.

On April 2, 1999, Toongla was officially moved to the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This register lists places that are very important to the history and culture of New South Wales.

What Toongla Looks Like

Toongla is located on a ridge that faces north. It is on a quiet country road in a fertile valley. From the house, you can see beautiful views of the countryside, a lake, and the mountains of Macquarie Pass National Park. The property is about 3.5 acres (1.4 hectares) of mostly grassy land. There is also a large garden around the house with old, established trees.

The House Itself

Toongla is a great example of a Victorian villa. It is still very much like it was when it was built. The house is made of colonial bricks, which are now painted. Its main roof is a hipped iron roof. It has three large chimneys covered in stucco. It might have been a smaller building at first, then extended later towards the east. The chimneys give us a clue about this.

The front veranda faces north. It has a bell-shaped roof, angled posts, and decorative iron lace brackets. The front of the house, called the facade, is not perfectly even. It has two windows with 12 small glass panes each. There are also three French windows that open onto the front verandah. The main front door has four panels and glass panels on the sides, called sidelights.

Stone steps lead up to the wide entrance door. Above the door are glass panels called transom lights. The other windows in the house slide up and down, and they have six panes in their top frames.

Inside, the house has beautiful cedar wood details. Some ceilings are made of iron. There are also two interesting fireplaces made of marbled wood with tiles and grates. The property also has an established garden and an orchard.

Other Buildings

Behind the main house, there is a small building made of wooden slabs. It has an iron roof and used to be a laundry. There are also signs of where other old buildings once stood. Part of the original slab kitchen might still be there at the back.

The house is currently rented out. It shows off the Late Victorian villa architectural style. The materials used include colonial bricks, an iron roof, stuccoed chimneys, cedar wood, and iron ceilings.

Condition and Changes

As of 2000, there was a good chance of finding old things buried on the property. This is because of the remains of the slab building and other outbuildings. In 1997, a shower and toilet were added to the existing laundry building.

Why Toongla is Important

Toongla is considered a very important historical site.

A Well-Preserved Victorian Home

As of 2000, Toongla was a great example of a Victorian villa that was still mostly in its original condition. It is one of the last remaining examples of this style of architecture in the area.

Connections to Local History

Toongla is strongly connected to William Moles. He was a founding member of the Shellharbour Council, the Acting Town Clerk, and a Senior Magistrate. He was also one of the first people to breed Shorthorn cattle in the Illawarra region. This shows Toongla's link to the history of the local dairy industry.

The house also has a high degree of beauty. It is a good example of a traditional Georgian-style house. It sits on a high hill, making it easy to see from the main road. Its elegant iron roof and verandah make it stand out.

Toongla was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. It met the following important criteria:

• The place is important in showing the history of New South Wales.

Toongla is a largely untouched Victorian villa. It is linked to William Moles, who was a key figure in the Shellharbour Council and a pioneer in cattle breeding in the Illawarra. This shows its importance in the history of the area.