Tranby, Glebe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tranby |
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| Location | 13 Mansfield Street, Glebe, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1858–1910 |
| Architect | A. L. & G. McCredie |
| Architectural style(s) | Post-Regency |
| Owner | Co-operative for Aborigines Ltd |
| Official name: Tranby; Toxteth Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 21 |
| Type | Adult Education |
| Category | Aboriginal |
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Tranby is a special place in Sydney, Australia. It used to be a house, but now it's a learning center for Aboriginal Australians. Many people know it as Tranby Aboriginal College.
You can find Tranby at 13 Mansfield Street in a Sydney suburb called Glebe. It was designed by A. L. & G. McCredie and built between 1858 and 1910. It was also known as Toxteth Cottage. Since 1958, Tranby has been the main campus for Tranby National Adult Indigenous Education and Training. It is owned by Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd. This important building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its history and value.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Tranby
The Glebe Area's Past
The land where Tranby stands, around Leichhardt, was first home to the Wangal Aboriginal people. After Europeans arrived in 1788, many Aboriginal people suffered from new diseases and lost their hunting grounds. This caused their numbers to drop, and they moved further away.
The first official land given out in Glebe was a large area of 400 acres. It was given to Richard Johnson, the first chaplain of the colony, in 1789. This land was called a "Glebe" because it was meant to help support a church minister. The area had hills, sandstone cliffs, and creeks. There were also swamps with special trees like mangroves and blackwattles. Blackwattle Bay was named after these trees. Early settlers hunted kangaroos and emus here.
In 1828, the Church and School Corporation divided Johnson's land into smaller parts. Wealthy people built fancy houses near the water because of the cool sea breezes. Other areas had industries like slaughterhouses. Over time, smaller houses for working-class families were built near these industries.
In the early 1900s, many large houses in inner-city areas like Glebe were turned into boarding houses. This happened as wealthier families moved to new suburbs that were easier to reach by train. By the 1960s, Sydney was changing from an industrial city to one with more office jobs. Younger professionals wanted to live closer to the city, and people started caring more about saving historic buildings.
Tranby's Story
"Tranby" was first called "Toxteth Cottage." It was probably finished in 1858. It was part of a large estate owned by George Allen. He was a very important person: a lawyer, a bank president, and even the Mayor of Sydney.
His daughter, Mary, and her husband, George Allen Mansfield, lived in the cottage until 1861. In the 1870s, Allen's other daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, William Binnington Boyce, lived there, and the cottage became known as Tranby.
After George Allen passed away, his estate was divided. In 1887, his brother, William Boyce Allen, bought Tranby. In 1910, more rooms were added to the house for William Allen's big family.
In 1931, Tranby became a place for students from the University of Sydney to stay. It remained with the Boyce Allen family until 1946.
A big change happened in 1957. Tranby became a training center to help Aboriginal people learn about working together in co-operatives. This was managed by the Australian Board of Missions and run by Rev Alf Clint.
In 1971, the name "Tranby Co-operative for Aborigines Ltd." was officially registered. Today, Tranby is run by Aboriginal people. It's a non-profit group where older community members can meet. It has been a very important place for Indigenous activism. Many key meetings happened here, including those that led to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. This Royal Commission looked into why so many Aboriginal people were dying while in police custody.
In 1997-98, the college was updated with new buildings and classrooms. The design was inspired by Indigenous learning circles. The new buildings officially opened in 1998.
What Tranby Looks Like
Tranby is a "post-Regency" style cottage, which means it has a classic, elegant look. It has low lines and wide spaces, like many early colonial homes. The front of the building shows three different stages of its construction.
The original part of the house is in the middle. It has a central door and French doors on either side that open onto a porch. This porch is supported by cast iron columns. Later additions were built on either side of the porch. The house has a slate roof and walls made of brick or sandstone. Tranby has fifteen rooms in total.
Building Condition
The building is in good, strong condition.
Changes Over Time
- 1880s: A new section was added to the northern side.
- 1910: Another section was added to the eastern side.
Why Tranby is Important
Tranby is a very important historical site. It shows how architecture, land use, and society changed in Glebe over time. It's a beautiful example of a post-Regency cottage and one of the first buildings in Glebe with an unusual, asymmetrical design.
Most importantly, Tranby is home to the Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative. This was the first and is still the only independent adult education center in Australia run by Aboriginal people. Many important events in Indigenous activism have happened here. Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative has helped create new policies and ideas for Aboriginal peoples for over 36 years. It has become a landmark for Aboriginal people in Australia and Indigenous people around the world.
Tranby was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it meets several important rules:
- It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.
Tranby's story reflects the changes in architecture, land, and society in Glebe. It was one of the first houses built on the Toxteth Estate. Two nearby streets, Boyce and Mansfield, are named after people who lived in the cottage. It is also the heart of the Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative, the first and only independent Aboriginal-controlled adult education center in Australia. It has been the site of key meetings for Indigenous rights, including those that led to the Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody.
- It shows great design and skill.
Tranby is a beautiful example of a post-Regency cottage. It was one of the first buildings in Glebe to have an asymmetrical plan, and its style works together very well.
- It has a strong connection to a community or group.
The Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative has greatly helped Aboriginal people with new ideas and policies for over 36 years. It is a symbol of Aboriginal culture within Australia's wider society. It is also important to the non-Aboriginal community who have learned about Aboriginal culture and human rights through Tranby.
See Also
- Australian residential architectural styles
