West Maling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Maling |
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West Mailing, pictured in October 2021.
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| Location | 663-665 King Georges Road, Penshurst, Georges River Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1889 |
| Built for | Albert Bythesea Weigall |
| Architect | Richard Norman Shaw (attributed) |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Queen Anne |
| Owner | Australian Evangelist Association |
| Official name: West Maling (Revival Life Centre); Weigall House | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 269 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Charles Halstead (supervising architect) |
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West Maling is a special building in Penshurst, Australia. It used to be a large home, but now it's a church and office building. It is located on King Georges Road.
This building is very old and important, so it is listed on the heritage register. It is also known as West Maling (Revival Life Centre) or Weigall House. The Australian Evangelist Association owns the property today. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
History of West Maling
Penshurst: How the Area Grew
The land where West Maling stands has a long history. In 1808, a scientist named Dr. Robert Townson received a large piece of land here. Later, in 1830, the land went to John Connell.
In 1869, the land was divided into smaller parts. This area was first used for cutting timber and small farms. The Illawarra railway line came through in 1886. This helped the area grow into a place where people could live. A train station was built in 1890.
Penshurst in Sydney has a name similar to Penshurst Place in England. Lord de L'Isle, who was a Governor-General of Australia, even visited the suburb in 1961.
West Maling: A Special House
West Maling was built in 1889 for Albert Bythesea Weigall. He was a famous headmaster of Sydney Grammar School. The house was first called Weigall House. Mr. Weigall lived there until 1912.
He was born in France in 1840. He became a very successful headmaster from 1866 to 1912. He built West Maling on a hill in Penshurst. From there, he had a great view over Botany Bay.
This large house looks like an old English mansion. It is thought to be designed by a famous English architect, Richard Norman Shaw. A local architect, Charles Halstead, oversaw the building work. It cost about A£3,561 back then.
West Maling is special because of its unique style. It is one of the first houses in Sydney built in the Federation Queen Anne style. This style became popular in England in the 1860s.
The house once had a large front garden. It was separated from King Georges Road by a wide lawn. Some of the garden was removed in 1970 to make the road wider.
Changes Over the Years
After the Weigall family, many other families lived in the house until 1953.
In 1953, a group of Roman Catholic priests called the Oblate Fathers bought the property. They used it as a school for religious education. They even had a printing press there. But the costs of keeping the house were too high, so they moved.
In 1972, the property was sold to a church group called the Revival Life Assembly. This is a non-denominational Christian church. The large ballroom in the house became their chapel. As more people joined the church, they needed a bigger meeting space.
In 1981, the church wanted to build a new chapel in the front garden. The local council and the Heritage Council worked together. They wanted to make sure the new building would not harm the look of the old house.
A new chapel was designed by architects Noel Bell and Rose-Marie Willett in 1983. It was built underground beneath a car park. This way, it would not block the view of the old house. It could hold up to 400 people. The project also added offices and a library.
The new chapel was built with concrete and colored dark brown. This helped it blend in with the brick of West Maling. The roof of the chapel became a car park. This design helped save many of the old trees around the house.
Because of its history and design, West Maling was given a special protection order in 1983. In 1984, the church received a grant to help repaint the house.
Today, West Maling is a busy church center. It has been well-preserved over the years. It was officially added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
What West Maling Looks Like
Grounds and Garden
West Maling used to have a very large front garden. Part of it was taken in 1970 to widen King Georges Road. There are still beautiful wrought iron gates at the entrance.
The original garden and driveways are still there. You can see old pine trees, palms, and a line of brush box trees. Many other mature trees are also on the property. These include black bean trees, Himalayan cedars, and Moreton Bay figs.
A landscape plan from 1983 shows many different plants. There were also roses, camellias, and various flowers. The new chapel was built carefully to save as many of these old trees as possible.
The roof of the new chapel is a car park. It is hidden by trees so it does not spoil the view of the old house. The new building's color matches the old house. The gardens were designed to fit the old Tudor style of the house. They use yellow, white, and blue flowers.
The House Itself
West Maling is a great example of the Queen Anne style. It might even be a copy of an English house. The design was likely influenced by British architect Norman Shaw.
The house is built with warm-colored bricks. It has two stories and steep slate roofs. You can see fancy brick chimneys and stained glass windows. The timber and stucco gables add to its unique look.
The front porch has wooden posts and decorative brackets. The tall chimneys are a striking feature. You enter the house through a large cedar door. It is set in a sandstone arch with Gothic carvings.
The entry porch has beautiful mosaic art. The inside doors are very thick. They have arched tops that look like something from medieval times.
Two stained-glass windows show the building was finished in 1889.
The ballroom is very grand. It still has six original stained-glass windows. These windows show famous English writers like Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare. This room later became the church's chapel. Inside, you can see carved cedar fireplaces. Some rooms even have pressed metal ceilings.
Most of the original wooden features inside and outside the house are still there. The arched doors and fireplaces are especially interesting.
The Chapel (Built 1983)
The chapel is built underground. Its roof is used for car parking. It is made of concrete and colored dark brown to match the house. It can seat up to 400 people.
Condition of the Property
As of 2006, the area around the house has changed a bit. The underground chapel and car park were added in 1982. Some trees were removed for these changes.
However, almost all of the original wooden parts inside and outside the house are still there. The original driveways and gardens also remain.
Why West Maling is Important
West Maling is very important because of its beautiful design. It is one of the best examples of the Queen Anne style of architecture in Australia. It might even be the first house of its kind built here. It still has almost all of its original features, including its woodwork, driveways, and parts of its gardens.
It is also important because of its connection to Albert Bythesea Weigall. He was the first headmaster of Sydney Grammar School, and this house was built for him in 1889.
The building also has local importance because it has been used as a church since the 1980s. Before that, it was used as a monastery.
West Maling was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it meets certain important rules:
- It shows how history has unfolded in New South Wales.
* It was built in 1889 for Albert Bythesea Weigall, a key figure in education.
- It shows great design and skill in New South Wales.
* West Maling is a very pure example of the Queen Anne style. It is thought to be the first house of this style built in Australia.
See also
- Australian residential architectural styles
