Calthorpes' House is a heritage-listed house located at 24 Mugga Way, Red Hill,

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

. It was built in 1927 for Harry and Dell Calthorpe. Harry Calthorpe was a partner in Calthorpe and Woodger, a successful

Queanbeyan Queanbeyan ( ) is a city in the south-eastern region of New South Wales, Australia, located adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory in the Southern Tablelands region. Located on the Queanbeyan River, the city is the council seat of the ...

-based stock and station and real estate agency. The house was designed by Ken Oliphant of Oakley and Parkes, the architectural firm responsible for the residence of the

Prime Minister of Australia The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...

, The Lodge. Sir Charles Rosenthal had initially been selected to design the house; however, his plans were not used. Harry Calthorpe died at age 59 in 1950, and Dell Calthorpe remained in the house until her death in 1979. The house and its contents had remained largely unchanged for many years, and both the Calthorpe family and historians recognised its historical value and later, potential for a house museum. It was purchased by the

Government of Australia The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federalism, federal parliamentary system, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster system, Westminster-sty ...

in late 1984, and was opened as a museum in 1986. It continues to operate as a museum today. Calthorpes' House is a snapshot of domestic life for a family of four in a late 1920s three-bedroom Canberra house, however it is not entirely representative, given the larger than average house and garden, and there have been some minor changes and additions over time. There is an air raid shelter behind the house which is still preserved, and was built in response to the risk of bombing of Canberra during the war. It was added to the

Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register The Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register, also known as the Heritage Register ACT was established by the ''Heritage Act 2004'' (Heritage Act) to empower the ACT Heritage Council to record and preserve places and objects within the Austra ...

on 27 September 1996 and to the former

Register of the National Estate The Register of the National Estate was a heritage register that listed natural and cultural heritage places in Australia that was closed in 2007. Phasing out began in 2003, when the Australian National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritag ...

on 25 March 1986.

References

{{reflist Historic house museums in the Australian Capital Territory Museums in Canberra Australian Capital Territory places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register