St Clair is a heritage-listed site, former residence, and now museum at 318 Sloane Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Sinclair, who built the house in 1840. It is the second-oldest house in Goulburn, after Riversdale. It is also known as St Clair Cottage and St Clair Museum. The property is owned by Goulburn Mulwaree Council and houses the Goulburn and District Historical Society. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1][2]
One of Goulburn's earliest houses, St Clair was both designed and constructed by Goulburn's prominent early builder and first architect, James Sinclair. The land was purchased in 1843 and the house was built in two or three stages with completion before 1849. During this time the stage one shingle roof was covered with iron. The first stage of the house consists of four rooms at entrance level, over two downstairs rooms, two cellar rooms and an unusual larder. A second and possibly third stage added two wings containing eight more rooms, a kitchen and scullery. These wings were enclosed to form a courtyard.[1]
Sinclair lived at St Clair until 1851 when, in financial difficulties, he left for the Victorian goldfields and was never heard of again. He is believed to have been robbed and murdered near Ovens.[1][3]
Sinclair almost certainly owned John Claudius Loudon's "Cottage Architecture" (sic) first edition in the late 1830s. Sinclair also designed a similar Goulburn cottage for his friend and business acquaintance John James Woodward. This cottage also had a more utilitarian Greek Revival verandah fronting a relatively straight forward Georgian cottage. It was designed late 1840s prior to Sinclair's disappearance, but not built until the late 1850s.[4][1]
In 1852 St Clair was purchased by storekeeper, Joseph Bull, for 600 pounds and Bull lived in the house until his death in 1871.[1]
The stables, coach house and hay loft were built c. 1870 for Joseph Bull.[5][1]
His widow Elizabeth continued to reside there until 1876 when Edward Ball, twice Mayor of Goulburn and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Argyle, bought the residence. Ball, it seems, lived in a portion of the house and leased a section. A Dr. Carroll had a consulting room there prior to 1882.[1]
In 1883 a school for girls was being run at St Clair by Mrs Emric and her two daughters the Misses Crackenthrope. In the late 1880s a Miss Sharp taught music, piano, organ, harmonium, harp, French and drawing at the house. After the death of Edward Ball senior in 1894 St Clair was passed on to his son Edward Joseph Ball Junior.[1]
In 1900 St Clair was bought by Bridget Bruton, wife of J. J. Bruton, of the Royal Hotel, who lived there for some years. From this period onwards St Clair was run as a guesthouse. In the period 1908 to 1910 St Clair was rented by Mr Boissier, the local Government Architect of the day. On Mrs Bruton's death it passed to her daughter Mrs Ruby Egar, who rented the large house.[1]
Historic photos indicate that the site had the odd bush and tree but was quite disturbed by early 20th century.[6][1]
The McCarthy family ran it as a guesthouse from around 1912 until 1922 when it was purchased from Mrs Egar by Horace Oliver Pursehouse. The Pursehouse family continued to run it as a guesthouse, their daughter, Mrs Thirlby McDonell continued the business after her parents death and eventually set up the house as bedsitters or flatettes until her death in 1966. Some fibro internal wall cladding was added during the 1950s and 1960s.[1] McDonell's two sons then sold the property after her death.[1]
In 1970, to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Governor Macquarie's visit to Goulburn in 1820, a grant of $10,000 was made by the Premier's Department of NSW to the Goulburn City Council, to be used for an historical purpose within the city. St. Clair at this time was facing demolition. The Goulburn and District Historical Society persuaded Council to purchase St Clair, using the Premier's Department funds and to devote the balance of any moneys towards its restoration. The title is vested in the City Council.[1]
Soon after St Clair became the headquarters for the Goulburn and District Historical Society. They are now joined by the Friends of St Clair in preserving the significant collection and archival research centre.[1]
St Clair was restored during the 1980s, at which time some lathe and plaster ceilings were lined over and some cement render was used to replace missing plaster.[1]
Description
House
St Clair is a split-level 18 room colonial villa. It is of solid brick construction, rendered, with internal plaster lining in all ground floor rooms. Ceilings and first floor internal walls are of lath and plaster. Internal doors architraves and skirting boards are red cedar. Verandah columns are fluted sandstone, while shutters and veranda linings are red cedar.[1]
The first stage of the house consists of four rooms at entrance level, over two downstairs rooms, two cellar rooms and an unusual larder. A second and possibly third stage added two wings containing eight more rooms, a kitchen and scullery. These wings were enclosed to form a courtyard.[1]
St Clair is a typical example of the early provincial colonial villa of the 1840s. In many respects it is unique as in particular it has never at any period been structurally interfered with.[1]
In common with the majority of country homes of the period the elegance and grandeur depreciates as one moves towards the back of the building and the downstairs areas. What at first sight appears to be perhaps a reasonably sized cottage is, in fact, almost duplicated in size at the lower level. The house is of the "split level" variety with three district floor levels and comprises about 18 rooms in all. The centre and almost square hall accommodates the rather narrow and uninviting staircase. The layout downstairs would not appear to permit the most accommodating domestic arrangement and would certainly have kept the housewife and maids constantly occupied.[1]
St Clair also shows many examples of colonial architecture and building methods. These include the fluted sandstone columns, lathe and plaster ceilings and walls, wooden shingle roof in stage one (later covered by iron in stage two) and shingle soundproofing in the upstairs floors.[1]
Outbuildings/Site
Historic photos indicate that the site had the odd bush and tree but was quite disturbed by early 20th century.[6][1]
A small front garden lies between the front facade of St.Clair and Sloane Street. The site slopes away and down from the street, meaning the house is two storied at the rear. Behind the house is a stable, carriage store and servants quarters set in a windless arrangement. The stable and quarters are currently used as flats.[1]
Condition
St Clair has not seen significant physical alteration over the past 150 years. It is in relatively original condition with only minor modern intrusions. These include some cement render, 1980s, and some fibro sheeting over deteriorating plaster walls, 1960s. Out buildings, stables etc, warrant further archaeological investigation.[1]
St Clair, while largely structurally sound, it has suffered from many years of rising damp, partly due to its semi buried walls, but mostly due to early cladding of down stairs and cellar walls. This had the effect of hiding the decaying bricks and plaster from view until damage was well advanced.[1]
An original brick well/tank in the wagon shed has been filled in and may contain early artefacts.[1]
The brick paving in front of the stables has been covered with aggregate and since grown over with grass.[1]
Heritage listing
St Clair is a typical example of the early provincial colonial villa of its period. Built in three stages between 1843 and 1849, it has not been structurally altered or interfered with over the ensuing years. St Clair is within the Goulburn CBD and is one of the city's oldest residences.[1]
Goulburn is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately 195 kilometres (121 mi) south-west of Sydney, and 90 kilometres (56 mi) north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters patent by Queen Victoria in 1863. Goulburn had a population of 23,835 at June 2018. Goulburn is the seat of Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
Henry Holland was an architect to the English nobility.
Goulburn railway station is a heritage-listed railway station on the Main South line in New South Wales, Australia. Opened on 19 May 1869, it serves the city of Goulburn. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Goulburn is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Wendy Tuckerman of the Liberal Party.
Cooma Cottage is a heritage-listed former farm and tuberculosis sanatorium and now house museum and historic site at Yass Valley Way, Marchmont, Yass Valley Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1830 to 1837 by Cornelius and Rebecca O'Brien. It is also known as Hamilton Hume's House,Humedale Stud, and New Nordrach Institute for Consumption. The property is owned by the National Trust of Australia (NSW). It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 March 2002.
St. John's Orphanage, sometimes referred to as the Goulburn Boys Orphanage, is a decommissioned orphanage located on Mundy Street in Goulburn, a town located in New South Wales, Australia. The architect of the building is EC Manfred. The foundation stone was laid and blessed on 17 March 1912 by Bishop John Gallagher of Goulburn, who also blessed the building during its opening ceremony in late 1913. It is two storeys high, and several extensions were added to the building throughout its early history. The orphanage amalgamated with St. Joseph's Orphanage for girls in 1976, and the remaining orphans were placed into group homes. As a result, the orphanage was closed in 1978 and rented out to the Youth with a Mission Base until they left in 1994. Since then, the orphanage has remained abandoned.
Goulburn Court House is a heritage-listed courthouse at 4 Montague Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet and his assistant Edward Rumsey. It was built from 1885 to 1887 by David Jones. The property is owned by the New South Wales Department of Justice. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Goulburn Post Office is a heritage-listed post office at 165 Auburn Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and built from 1880 to 1881 by F. Horn. It is also known as Goulburn Post and Telegraph Office. The property is owned by Australia Post. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 December 2000.
Lansdowne Park is a heritage-listed homestead at Bungonia Road, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1822 to 1825. It is also known as Lansdowne. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
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St Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral is a heritage-listed former Catholic cathedral and now parish church at 42 Verner Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Andrea Stombuco and Charles Spadacini and built from 1871 to 1890 by C. J. O'Brien and Wilkie Bros. It is also known as St. Peter and Paul's Former Cathedral and St Peter and Paul's Catholic Cathedral; Saints Peter and Paul's Catholic Cathedral. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 April 2009.
Conolly's Mill is a heritage-listed former public baths and wheat mill and now shops at Sloane Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Alpine Lodge Motel is a heritage-listed former group of terrace houses and now motel at 244-248 Sloane Street, Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Carwoola Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead complex at 1071 Captains Flat Road, Carwoola, Queanbeyan-Palerang Region, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1830 to 1850 by William Rutledge and later his brother Thomas Rutledge. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
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Shubra Hall is a heritage-listed former semi-rural suburban estate and mansion residence and now administration building for school purposes at Boundary Street in the Sydney suburb of Croydon, Municipality of Burwood, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Albert Bond and built from 1869 to 1888 in the Victorian Second Empire architectural style. It is also known as Presbyterian Ladies' College, PLC Croydon and Hordernville. The property is owned by the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 19 December 2014.
Playfair Street Terraces is a heritage-listed former residence and now shops located at 17-31 Playfair Street in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1875 to 1877. It is also known as Tara Terrace and Argyle Terrace. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
Lilyvale is a heritage-listed former town house and now restaurant located at 176 Cumberland Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1845 to 1847. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
Reynolds's Cottages is a heritage-listed former retail building and residence and now retail building and cafe at 28-30 Harrington Street, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built for Thomas Ryan in 1830. It is also known as Gumnut Cafe. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
Samson's Cottage wall remains is a heritage-listed former residence and now retail building located at 8 Kendall Lane, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built for William Samson in 1844. It is also known as Samson's Cottage (wall remains) and Puppet Cottage (Samsons). The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
This Wikipedia article was originally based on St. Clair, entry number 00117 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0licence, accessed on 1 June 2018.
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