Weatherboard Inn archaelological site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weatherboard Inn archaelogical site |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | 1-15 Matcham Avenue, Wentworth Falls, City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1814–1827 |
| Owner | Blue Mountains City Council |
| Official name: Weatherboard Inn Archaeological Site | |
| Type | State heritage (archaeological-terrestrial) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 595 |
| Type | Other - Transient Accommodation |
| Category | Transient Accommodation |
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The Weatherboard Inn archaeological site is a special historical place in Wentworth Falls, Australia. It used to be many things, like a place where animals grazed, a military camp, an inn for travelers, and a depot for building roads. Today, it's a public park. The main buildings were put up between 1814 and 1827. The Blue Mountains City Council now owns this important site. It was officially recognized as a heritage site on 2 April 1999.
Contents
History of the Weatherboard Inn Site
The first European settlement in this area began with William Cox. He was building a road across the Blue Mountains. This road was important for connecting the colony to the Western Plains.
The First Hut and Military Post
In 1814, William Cox set up his second depot right here. Convicts built a simple hut from weatherboards. Cox chose this spot because it had a stream with "excellent water." The hut was built very quickly, between October 1 and 8, 1814.
Cox described the area as "very pleasant." It was a high spot with good views. There was also open ground with grass for animals. The hut itself was about 5 meters (17 feet) long and 3.6 meters (12 feet) wide. It had low walls and was covered in weatherboards.
This hut was likely the first colonial building in what is now Wentworth Falls. For a while, it served as a military post. Nine soldiers, and later six mounted police, were stationed there. From 1814 to 1822, travelers used it as a dining room. The surrounding area was a popular camping ground. Until 1855, the land was used for camping and feeding livestock. It also served as a military camp and police post.
The Inn's Early Years
The hut soon became a stopping point for long journeys west. Governor Macquarie himself used it in 1815 on his way to Bathurst. It became known as a place where traveling animals could find food. People started calling it simply "Weatherboard." The original hut seems to have burned down around 1823.
In 1826, Governor Darling received a request from John Mills. Mills wanted land at "Weatherboard Hut" to build an inn. He was given 40 hectares (100 acres) of land. He also received a special license to sell alcohol for three years without extra payments.
The Weatherboard Inn itself started being built just before 1827. By 1829, Mills reported that he had finished a large building. It had two sitting rooms and six bedrooms. There was also a stable for seven horses, a sheepfold, and a paddock for other animals.
Mills officially received his 40-hectare (100-acre) land grant in 1829. This was the same year he finished the Inn. However, by June 1829, Mills had to sell the inn and land because of debts. Alexander Fraser bought it. Fraser claimed he finished the inn's construction. He then asked for an additional 160 hectares (400 acres) that had been promised to Mills. After some discussions, the land was given to George Innes. Innes had helped Mills pay for building the inn.
Famous Visitors and Decline
After these changes, the inn had many different owners and managers. In 1833, it received its first official license and was named "The Bathurst Traveller." Around 1835, Fraser sold the inn to William Boyles. Boyles owned it until he passed away in 1842.
In 1836, the famous English naturalist Charles Darwin stayed at the Inn. Darwin was on a world tour aboard HMS Beagle. He had lunch at the Weatherboard Inn in January 1836. He was on his way to Bathurst. He also took a side trip along what is now the Charles Darwin Walk. He wanted to see the Jamison Valley. On his return trip from Bathurst to Sydney, Darwin stayed at the inn for three nights. During this time, he again walked to admire the view from the top of Wentworth Falls.
An advertisement from 1839 described the inn as a "large establishment." It had three parlors, seven bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bar. There were also stores and stables for 17 horses. It even had a large, well-stocked garden. The inn was a major stop for early coach lines, including Cobb & Co.
In 1840, William Boyles bought the inn. He left it to his daughter in his will in 1842. That same year, she married Edward Dougherty. The property stayed with their family until 1896. In 1847, it was officially renamed "The Weatherboard Inn." In 1855, the military camp and depot moved to 18 Mile Hollow, which is now Woodford.
The railway line arrived in the area later. A survey plan from 1862 showed the inn. The railway line to Weatherboard opened in 1867. The line to Mount Victoria opened in 1868. With less road traffic, the inn likely went out of business. It's not clear when or how the buildings were destroyed.
From Inn to Park
In 1877, George Matcham Pitt bought nearby land. In 1888, he passed the land to his son, Robert Matcham Pitt. It wasn't until 1879 that features like the "Weatherboard" railway station and post office were renamed "Wentworth Falls." It seems part of the inn was destroyed by fire in the late 1800s.
In 1894, Robert Jones bought the inn. In 1896, a Mr. Pitt bought the land. He had already built a home and gardens nearby. He started building a dam on the creek to supply water to his gardens. That same year, the town's name officially changed to Wentworth Falls.
In 1914, the land began to be divided up. Mrs. Marie Pitt gave a section of land to the Wentworth Falls Literary Institute. Other parts were given to her daughters.
In 1934, Mr. R. M. Pitt donated a large piece of land to the Blue Mountains City Council. This land was to become a public park. In 1935, the land that became Pitt Park was officially given to the Council for public use. These were the main parts of the old inn site. The park was named Pitt Park. Some parts were developed into sports fields. The Council is still buying more of the original 40-hectare (100-acre) grant south of the railway for open space.
In 1936, the Naturalist Society planted an evergreen oak tree on the site. This was to remember Charles Darwin's visit to the inn 100 years earlier. This tree is now recognized as a significant tree in the Blue Mountains.
Other nearby land was also given to the Council. This was done by Mrs. Effie Mathews and Mrs. S. A. Smith. Their land was added to the park for "recreation." In 1940, Effie Matthews and Murial Smith officially transferred their land to the Council. The park was named Pitt Park after Robert Matcham Pitt (1849-1935).
Today, the land with the remains of the inn is part of Pitt Park. It is owned by the Council.
In 1952, the Blue Mountains Historical Society placed a bronze plaque on a large stone at the site. This was a memorial to the "Weatherboard" inn. By 1967, this plaque had been stolen. The Historical Society asked the Council to fence the site, but they declined. So, the Society moved the stone to their museum. A concrete slab still marks where the stone once stood.
In 1985, the site gained attention from the Heritage Council. The Blue Mountains City Council was removing gravel from Pitt Park for road building. Workers found sandstone blocks and bricks. Further digging uncovered items like bricks, coins, bottles, a clay pipe, and old dishes. They even found a bobbin celebrating Queen Victoria's coronation in 1830. Work stopped, and archaeologists began to study the site. Because the site was so important, sand was placed over the remains. This protects them from weather and damage.
What the Site Looks Like Today
The Weatherboard Inn archaeological site is located within Pitt Park in Wentworth Falls. It contains the hidden remains of the old inn from 1827. It also has traces of Cox's depot, the weatherboard hut built around 1814.
The site also features a special tree planted in 1936. This is an evergreen oak (Quercus ilex). The Naturalist Society of NSW planted it to remember Charles Darwin's visit to the Inn in 1836.
Changes Over Time
- In 1985, the Blue Mountains City Council dug for gravel. This led to the discovery of the archaeological remains.
Why This Site is Important
As of 2003, this site is very important locally, regionally, and nationally. It shows why the Blue Mountains area developed. It also represents the expansion of the colony in the early 1800s.
The site has strong connections to important historical figures. These include Charles Darwin and surveyors Govett and Hay. It also shows how people traveled in the early colony. They needed places like this inn to rest during long journeys.
This site has great potential for scientific research. If parts of the original inn are still buried, they could teach us a lot. We could learn about building techniques and materials from that early time. We could also study how a large inn was organized.
Much of what is now Pitt Park was cleared in the 1810s. It was used as a camping area and military camp. This area, along with the land from Wentworth Falls Railway Station through Coronation Park, was key to the settlement of New South Wales. It was especially important for building the road across the Blue Mountains.
The site was also crucial for the development of Wentworth Falls itself. When William Cox set up his depot in 1814, it became the center of what would become the town. The depot was near the current railway station. The swamp to the west became a place for feeding livestock. The surrounding land was used for camping. The Weatherboard Inn was built nearby in the late 1820s. The area continued to be a military depot and camping spot for another 30 to 40 years.
Today, half of Pitt Park is a significant recreation area. It is an important resource for both local residents and visitors.
The Weatherboard Inn archaeological site was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
