Vienna, Hunters Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vienna, Hunters Hill |
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Vienna, pictured in January 2008
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| Location | 38–40 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill, Municipality of Hunter's Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1871 |
| Owner | National Trust of Australia (NSW) |
| Official name: Vienna; Curan Curan; Carrum Carrum; Subiaco; Vienna Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 459 |
| Type | Cottage |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Unknown |
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Vienna is a special old house in Hunters Hill, Sydney, Australia. It was built in 1871 and is now a museum. This historic cottage is located at 38–40 Alexandra Street. It is also known by other names like Curan Curan, Carrum Carrum, Subiaco, and Vienna Cottage. Today, the National Trust of Australia (NSW) owns and cares for Vienna. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's officially protected because of its history.
Contents
History of Vienna Cottage
Early Days of Hunters Hill
Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the Wal Umedegal Clan lived in the Hunters Hill area. They spoke the Guringai language. These Indigenous people mainly ate fish and shellfish. They also found vegetables, small animals, birds, and grubs to eat. They often used fire to clear the land, which helped them find food and move around.
In 1788, Captain John Hunter explored and mapped Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). He was later the Governor of the Colony from 1795 to 1800. The area of Hunters Hill is named after him.
In 1855, some special houses were built in Hunters Hill. These were four prefabricated Swiss Cottages. This means they were built in parts somewhere else and then put together in Hunters Hill. At that time, many French people lived in Hunters Hill. The French consul (a government official) even lived there. These early houses helped make Hunters Hill known as Australia's oldest "garden suburb." This means it was planned to have lots of gardens and green spaces.
Building Vienna Cottage
Vienna was built in 1871 for a man named John Jacob Hellman (who later changed his name to Hillman) and his wife, Ann. John was from Germany, and Ann was from Ireland. Ann came to Australia in 1857. They got married in 1860. In 1866, they bought the land where Vienna now stands. This land was part of a larger area that was divided up in 1859.
John Jacob Hellman was a shoemaker. He had a shop in the city and also made shoes for St. Joseph's College. The family also had cows, a dairy, and an orchard (a place with fruit trees). In the early 1880s, John Jacob was also the lamp lighter for Hunters Hill. He and Ann had six children.
After Ann passed away in 1908, John Jacob and his youngest son, James Frederick, moved into another cottage they owned nearby called Redleaf. Their married daughter, Mary King, and her children then lived in Vienna.
Later, James Frederick, who was a tailor, owned both Vienna and Redleaf. He made some changes to Vienna in the 1920s, adding side windows to make the rooms brighter. After James Frederick passed away in 1958, his niece, Gladys Hillman, became the owner.
Names of Vienna
When Vienna was first built in 1871, it was known as Carrum Carrum. In 1924, it was called Subiaco for a short time. But since the 1930s, it has been known as Vienna.
The land next to Vienna (40 Alexandra Street) was never built on. For many years, it was an orchard with different fruit trees like oranges, lemons, and plums. This land has always been an important part of Vienna. It also has an old well, which is now covered.
In 1984, the National Trust of Australia (NSW) bought Vienna Cottage. Local people helped raise money for this purchase.
What Vienna Looks Like
Vienna is a stone cottage with a gabled roof. It has four main rooms and verandas (covered porches) at the front and back. It sits on a rectangular block of land with a small front garden and a long garden at the back, which still has some old fruit trees from the orchard.
The roof is made of slate. The doors have four panels. The windows at the front of the house have shutters and large panes of glass. The back windows have smaller panes of glass. Inside, the house still has its original wooden fireplaces from the early Victorian period. The front rooms also have pretty round decorations on the ceilings called ceiling roses.
Behind the main house, there is a separate building made of weatherboard (wooden planks). This building has an iron roof and a stone chimney. It was likely used for services like a kitchen. A simple covered walkway connects it to the main house across a small paved area.
Condition and Changes
Vienna is in good physical condition. Over the years, a few changes have been made:
- In the 1920s, windows were added to the side walls to let in more light.
- Between 2007 and 2008, the garden was restored. This included fixing fences, adding a new gate, and improving security.
Why Vienna is Important
Vienna is considered a very important historical site. It is a great example of a "tradesman's cottage" from the 1800s. A tradesman was someone who worked with their hands, like a shoemaker. Vienna is special because it is still very complete, including its separate kitchen building. This makes it rare in Sydney.
Vienna shows us what life was like between 1861 and 1890, when Hunters Hill first started to grow as a suburb. It stands on one of the first successful small land divisions in the area. This land was divided by Jules Joubert, who was a very important developer in Hunters Hill. The cottage helps us understand how a tradesman's family lived in the 19th century and how they changed their home to fit their needs over time.
The land next to Vienna, which was once an orchard, is also important. It shows how families in the 1800s and early 1900s relied on growing their own food.
Vienna, along with other nearby cottages owned by the Hillman family, shows how families used to own several properties together. It also shows how land was bought and sold in Hunters Hill.
The cottage is also valuable for education. It helps people learn about the daily life of tradesmen in the 19th century and how homes were adapted back then.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
