White Swan Inn, Swan Creek facts for kids
The White Swan Inn is a historic building in Swan Creek, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a hotel but is now a private home. It was built around 1876 and is an important part of Queensland's history. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its special past and unique look.
Quick facts for kids White Swan Inn |
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White Swan Inn, 1996
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| Location | Stevens Road, Swan Creek, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1876 |
| Official name: White Swan Inn (former), White Swan Inn | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600523 |
| Significant period | 1870s (fabric) c. 1878-1887 (historical use as an Inn) |
| Significant components | attic |
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Contents
A Look Back: The White Swan Inn's Story
The White Swan Inn was built around 1876. It was first the home of a local farmer named Edward Malone. Soon after, it became a hotel, known as the White Swan Inn.
Swan Creek: A Farming Area
The Swan Creek area is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Warwick. It was known as the Agricultural Reserve. This meant it was a fertile area set aside for farming. Early settlers arrived in the 1860s and helped get the land surveyed. This allowed it to be sold for farms.
Edward Malone's Farm and Hotel
Part of this land was bought by Joseph Thomas Wilson in 1868. Later, Edward Malone owned some of this land. In 1876, a newspaper writer visited Malone's farm. The writer noted that Malone was building a stone house. This house is believed to be the White Swan Inn we see today.
The house was built near a Church of England property. An old newspaper article from 1945 also mentions the White Swan Inn. It says the building was Malone's home first. Then, he changed his business from farming to running a hotel.
In 1878, a license was given for a hotel at the White Swan Inn. Old photos show the building looked much like it does now. It was a single-story sandstone house with a shingled roof. It also had dormer windows.
Changes in Ownership and Use
In 1884, Edward Malone sold the part of the land where the Inn stood to Matthew O'Sullivan. The White Swan Inn continued to operate as a hotel. A Mr. Ravenscroft managed it for a time.
When Matthew O'Sullivan passed away in 1885, his wife, Mary Francis, took over. In 1887, the property was sold to Bernard Hughes. He changed the building back to a private home. The Hughes family owned the house until 1972.
Modern Updates and New Owners
In May 1972, Colin and Edna Tyson bought the house. They made some changes to it. They added a kitchen and living area at the back. Inside, they moved the stairs and changed the attic layout.
In 1989, Neil and Donna Lomas bought the property. Donna Lomas became the sole owner in 1992. In September 2010, a couple from Brisbane bought the historic home.
What the White Swan Inn Looks Like
The White Swan Inn is a one-story building with a large attic upstairs. It is made mostly of sandstone blocks. These blocks are laid in a pattern with rough surfaces. The roof is a hipped roof covered with corrugated iron.
Verandah and Exterior Details
A simple verandah goes around the building. It sits on low stumps. Timber posts hold up the verandah roof. The underside of the roof shows where old wooden shingles used to be. Now, it has corrugated iron sheets.
The outside of the building looks the same on both sides. Wooden steps lead up to the verandah in the middle. The main entrance door is in the center. On each side of the door are French doors. These doors replaced the original single doors.
Dormer windows stick out from the hipped roof. They have wooden siding. These windows are at the front and back of the building. They line up with the French doors below. Stone chimneys with decorative corbelling are at each end of the building.
Inside the Historic Home
The inside of the house is also arranged symmetrically. A central hallway runs from the front door. A narrow staircase at the back of the hallway leads to the attic.
High-quality wooden doors open from the hallway into three rooms on the ground floor. The two rooms on the north side are similar in size. They have plaster walls and ceilings made of wide wooden boards. The large room on the south side used to have a dividing wall. This wall has been removed to make one big room. This room also has plaster walls and ceilings.
Most rooms have fireplaces with old decorative mantels. The large room and the smaller front room have French doors that open onto the verandah. All rooms have wooden skirtings (baseboards) and simple cornices (decorative moldings where walls meet the ceiling).
The Attic Area
The staircase leading upstairs is a newer version of the original. It goes to an area divided into three rooms and a hallway. The hallway walls are lined with wide pine boards. The original shingle roof is still under the corrugated iron.
The outer walls of the building stick up about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) above the first floor. Above these, plaster walls slope up to meet a plaster ceiling. You can see the wooden rafters and collar ties (parts of the roof frame) inside.
Later Additions
A new part made of timber and brick has been added to the back of the house. It connects to the original building at the end of the hallway. Near this new addition, there is a brick fireplace. This fireplace probably belonged to the original kitchen building, which is no longer there.
Why the White Swan Inn is Special
The White Swan Inn was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
The former White Swan Inn helps us understand how Swan Creek developed. This area was once an Agricultural Reserve. The Inn shows what a small sandstone house in Queensland looked like in the 1800s, especially around Warwick.
Beautiful and Important to See
The building adds to the beauty of the Swan Creek area. It stands out in the flat landscape. It's a picturesque place and has great aesthetic value.
Connected to Important People
The White Swan Inn has special links to JT Wilson and Edward Malone. They were some of the first European settlers in the area. Their lives are part of the Inn's story and Queensland's history.
Images for kids
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Front elevation, 2015
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Side verandah, 2015
