Weidmann Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weidmann Cottage |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | 132 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1840–1845 |
| Owner | Muswellbrook Shire Council |
| Official name: Weidmann Cottage | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 260 |
| Type | Cottage |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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Weidmann Cottage is a special old building in Muswellbrook, Australia. It used to be a shop and a home, but now it's not used. This cottage is considered a heritage-listed site, which means it's important to history and protected. It was built a long time ago, between 1840 and 1845. Today, the Muswellbrook Shire Council owns it. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because of its historical value.
Contents
The Story of Weidmann Cottage
The land where Weidmann Cottage stands was first given to David Brown on November 27, 1838. He later sold it to Henry Richard Clovell McAlpin, who owned a store and an inn. We don't know the exact year this sale happened.
The cottage itself was built by David Brown between 1840 and 1850, probably before 1845. It was built as one of two similar homes, like a pair of twin houses. The other house was later taken down to make space for the public library. David Brown might have built these homes to rent out or to live in himself. Part of the ground floor of Weidmann Cottage may have been a shop. It's thought that Brown might have designed the building himself, as there's no record of an architect.
In 1867, William Corby Thompson, another storekeeper, bought the property. He then sold it to David Stafford in 1882.
In 1891, the property was bought by Albert Weidman, and that's who the cottage is named after! The Weidman family owned the cottage until 1977. At that time, the Muswellbrook Council bought it. However, in 1935, the property was put under the name of A. Weidman & Company Ltd, meaning it was no longer owned by just one person.
There was another building next to Weidmann Cottage that looked very similar. Albert Weidmann used this nearby building as his butcher shop. Before it was taken down in 1977, this second cottage was used as a cake shop.
Albert Weidmann was born in Muswellbrook and was very important to the community for 50 years. He was involved in businesses, farming, and sports. His brother, Alexander, also helped start the Muswellbrook Colliery (a coal mine). Albert's oldest son, Leslie Albert Weidmann, left money to build the Weidmann Memorial Wing at Muswellbrook District Hospital.
What Weidmann Cottage Looks Like
Weidmann Cottage is on a slight hill on the west side of Bridge Street, which is the main road in Muswellbrook. It's now part of the area around the public library, which is behind it.
The cottage has two stories made of stone and a verandah (an open porch) that sticks out. These features make it a special part of Bridge Street, especially how it looks next to the nearby Loxton House.
The building is mostly symmetrical, meaning it's balanced on both sides. It's made of sandstone, which was probably dug up from a place called "Ravensworth." The main part of the building has two stories and four rooms. There's also a small, original stone wing (a smaller section) on the west side at the south end.
It's a good example of a typical house for a middle or working-class merchant from that time period.
The cottage has a verandah with columns along its east side. On the western side, there's a light timber outbuilding (a smaller building) and a cellar. Most of these parts seem to be original. However, the brick walls on the ground floor terrace were added later, in the 1920s.
The cottage is built with quarried sandstone and fieldstone (stones found in fields). The south wall is made of rough stone. Inside, the walls are also made of similar rough stone, covered with plaster and painted. The roof is made of corrugated galvanised iron. The two-story verandah had a simple railing on the first floor, which you can still see today.
Condition of the Cottage
As of August 1997, the building was in fair condition. This means it was okay, but needed some care. Experts also thought it had a medium potential for archaeological finds, meaning there might be interesting old things buried around it.
From the outside, the building hasn't changed much, except for the back (western) side and the removal of the twin building next door. Inside, even though it has aged, the cottage mostly looks as it would have in the past.
Changes Over Time
Here are some of the changes made to the cottage:
- Around 1900-1914: A large extension made of timber and weatherboard (wooden planks) was added.
- Around 1910: The verandah was changed.
- After 1910: The back wing was rebuilt.
- The back skillion (a roof with a single slope) might have been built around the same time as the cottage.
Why Weidmann Cottage is Important
As of September 2009, Weidmann Cottage was seen as a strong, solid building with a balanced design. It shows the style of homes built for typical middle or working-class merchants during that time. The two-story stone part of the building and its verandah add a lot to the look of Bridge Street, especially how it fits with the nearby Loxton House.
Weidmann Cottage was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it met certain important standards.
It shows the history of New South Wales. The building is a great example of a typical merchant's townhouse. It's an important part of the look of Bridge Street and helps us understand the ongoing social history of the community.
It shows great design and skill. The building is well-proportioned and symmetrically designed. It's a good example of a colonial town home for reasonably wealthy middle or working-class people. It's interesting because it uses solid stone walls without much decoration, and stone lintels (beams above doors or windows) in otherwise rough stone walls.
It shows the main features of similar historical places. The building is a typical merchant class townhouse.
