Tranby House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tranby House |
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View to the Swan River
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| General information | |
| Type | Historic farmers cottage |
| Location | Maylands, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 20 October 1995 |
| Reference no. | 2411 |
Tranby (also known as Peninsula Farm) is a very old farmer's house in Maylands. It sits on Johnson Road and looks out over the beautiful Swan River. This house is one of the oldest buildings still standing from when the Swan River Colony was first settled.
It looks like an English cottage, with bedrooms in the attic and wide porches. The house is connected to a group of religious people called Wesleyan Methodists. They were led by Joseph Hardey and his family. They arrived in Western Australia on a ship named Tranby in February 1830.
Contents
The Story of Tranby House
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The Ship Tranby and Its Journey
The ship Tranby was about 26-metre-long (85 ft) and 8-metre-wide (26 ft). It sailed from the city of Hull in Yorkshire, England. The ship left on September 9, 1829, and its captain was John Story.
There were 37 passengers and 14 crew members on board. They also brought along farm animals, tools for farming, and materials to build houses.
The Hardey Family Arrives
Joseph Hardey was a Wesleyan preacher from Lincolnshire, England. He came to Western Australia with his wife, Ann, and his brother, John. They were part of a large group of people. This group included a doctor, another preacher, a bricklayer, a blacksmith, and many other skilled workers.
They were given a large piece of land, about 41.5 hectares (102+1⁄2 acres). This land was about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) up the Swan River from the new town of Perth. It was on a piece of land that stuck out into the river, like a small peninsula. More land was given to them later, up until 1844. This property was called Peninsula Farm. Today, much of this land is part of the suburb of Maylands.
Building the First Homes
Joseph Hardey built his first house in May 1830. He probably used materials that came with them on the ship Tranby. This house was located on lower ground, about 100 metres (330 ft) downstream from where the current house stands. Sadly, this first house was destroyed by a flood in July of that year.
Hardey then built a second house the next year. This one was made from wattle and daub (a mix of woven sticks and mud) and had a thatched roof. We don't know exactly where this second house was, but it is also believed to have been destroyed by a flood.
The Current Tranby House
By June 1839, the house you see today was finished. This makes it one of the oldest brick houses in Western Australia. It is also the earliest home still standing in the inner city area.
Tranby House Through the Years
In 1903, the property was divided up. The part with the house stayed with the Hardey family until 1913. Then, a man named Henry Baker bought it. In 1923, during the state's 100th birthday celebrations, the house was officially named Tranby House. This name honored its important history.
The property changed owners again in 1951. In 1967, a company called Bond Corporation bought it. They tore down the barn and some small cottages. They planned to build new things on the site. However, many people disagreed with these plans.
Because of public interest, the National Trust of Australia bought the property in 1972. They worked hard to restore the house to its original condition. After a lot of work, it was opened to the public on November 27, 1977. Lady Kyle, the wife of the Governor Wallace Kyle, officially opened it. Today, Tranby House is a popular place for visitors and has a tearoom.
Surrounding Gardens and Furniture
Around the house, you can still see several oak, olive, and mulberry trees. People believe the Hardey family planted these trees long ago. Two of the oak trees were even listed as important trees by the National Trust in 1984.
The inside of the house is decorated to look like it did in the early 1800s. All the furniture is real from that time, but it came from different places. Only a few pieces are known to have belonged to the Hardey family. These include a fancy brass four-poster bed, which is on loan from the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. There is also a polished wooden medicine chest and the wooden lid of a packing case.
