Yean Cottage, Anglewood Estate facts for kids

Anglewood House is a very old and special building in Burradoo, Australia. It was built in 1890. This house has been many things over the years. First, it was a family home. Later, it became a private school and even a special school for young people. Today, it is a private house again. Anglewood House is so important that it is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it is protected for future generations to enjoy.

The Story of Anglewood House

Who Built Anglewood House?

Anglewood House was built in the early 1890s. The person who had it built was Arthur Bruce Smith. He was a very important politician in Australia. He worked for the government and was in charge of public works. Later, he became the person in charge of the money for the New South Wales government.

The design of Anglewood House is very special. It looks a lot like a house in England called Queensmead. That house was designed by a famous architect named Maurice Bingham Adams. He was known for his "Arts and Crafts" style of design. This style focused on traditional craftsmanship and simple forms.

Anglewood's Early Years

The Smith family lived in Anglewood House for about 10 years, starting in 1894. There was a story that Mr. Smith built his own train station nearby. People said he did this to make it easier to catch the train. However, this story isn't true. The train station had been there since 1870, long before he lived at Anglewood.

Later, in the 1890s, there was a big bank crash. Because of this, the house was sold. A man named George James Sly bought it. He was the founder of a well-known law firm in Sydney. His large family used Anglewood House as their country home for many years.

Anglewood as a School

In 1932, Anglewood House became a private school. It was an extra building for the King's School in Sydney.

Twelve years later, in 1944, it became a special school. This school was for boys who had trouble going to regular school. It was the first school of its kind in Australia. The main building was called Yean Cottage. Over the years, more buildings were added, like Nattai Cottage and Oxley Cottage. Anglewood continued to be a special school until 1979. In its last few years, both boys and girls attended the school.

In 1980, the building changed its purpose again. It became a place for young people aged 10 to 18 who were under the care of the state.

More recently, in 1999, plans were made to turn Yean Cottage into a hotel. There were also plans to build more houses on the land around it.

What Anglewood House Looks Like

The House's Design

Anglewood House is a very large and beautifully decorated house. It is built in the "Queen Anne Revival" style. This style was popular in the late 1800s. It often features red brick, fancy details, and a mix of materials.

The outside of Anglewood House is mostly made of soft red bricks. Many of these bricks are shaped or carved with fine designs. Some people say the bricks were brought from England, but this is not certain.

The top floor of the house has timber frames. It is covered with terracotta tiles in interesting patterns. Parts of the house also have a rough plaster finish. You can see very unusual decorations around the entrance. These include curved stone blocks with shields and other carvings. This artwork is very detailed and looks to be in great condition.

Inside, the house has beautiful wooden panels and decorated plaster. There are also colorful tiles and stained glass. The main entrance hall used to have a tall, open space with colored glass for light. This area is now covered over on each floor. There is also a lovely glass room (conservatory) facing the garden. Some changes have been made inside, but people have tried to keep the original parts safe.

The Gardens of Anglewood

Anglewood House is surrounded by a wonderful garden. It has many large, old trees from different parts of the world. There are also many interesting types of pine trees. Much of the garden's design is as old as the house itself.

The garden used to be much larger. It was changed a bit when the house became a school. However, the main driveway and the garden right around the house are still the same. The driveway winds gently past a small gatehouse. This gatehouse makes the property seem even grander.

As you drive along the eastern side, you only see glimpses of the back of the house. The full view of the front appears at the very last moment. The turning area for cars is small and shaped like a teardrop. It is surrounded by evergreen plants, including old-fashioned palms. There are also old wire arches that lead to a lawn. This lawn is bordered by a line of pine trees.

Around the house, the flower beds are shaped like half-circles. Some are edged with special terracotta tiles. Others use bricks set at an angle to create a saw-tooth pattern. One flower bed near the eastern side of the house has a horseshoe shape. It is divided by a path made of "crazy paving" (stones laid in irregular shapes). Paths behind the house used to lead visitors through colorful flower beds and shrubs to a simple wooded area.

Why Anglewood House is Important

Anglewood House was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. This means it is recognized as a very important part of history and culture.

• A Special Design: It is a great example of the "Queen Anne" Arts and Crafts style. It was designed by a famous British architect, Maurice B. Adams.
• Important People: It was built for Arthur Bruce Smith, a key politician. Later, it was owned by George James Sly, who founded a well-known law firm.
• Beautiful Gardens: The house has an amazing country garden. It features many beautiful old trees and unique plants. The garden shows how designs changed from the 1890s to the 1950s.
• Helping Young People: Anglewood House played a big role in youth training and education. It was Australia's first special school for young people who needed extra support.
• A Rare Example: This house is a rare and complete example of its architectural style in Australia. This type of richly decorated building is more often seen in the United Kingdom.