''Iolanthe'' is a heritage-listed former residence and post office located at 691
Pacific Highway in the
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
suburb of
Gordon
Gordon may refer to:
People
* Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters
* Gordon (surname), the surname
* Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War
* Clan Gordon, ...
in the
Ku-ring-gai Council
Ku-ring-gai Council is a local government area in Northern Sydney ( Upper North Shore), in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The area is named after the Guringai Aboriginal people who were thought to be the traditional owners of the area. ...
local government area of
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Australia. It was built in 1870. It is also known as Gordon Post Office. The property is owned by the
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Union ...
and is within the perimeter fence of the
Ravenswood School for Girls
, motto_translation = Always towards better things
, established = 1901
, type = Independent, day and boarding
, denomination = Uniting Church
, slogan = Ravenswood widens her world
, principal = Anne Johnstone
, founder ...
. It was added to the
New South Wales State Heritage Register
The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Heritag ...
on 2 April 1999.
History
In 1860 residents of
Lane Cove
Lane Cove is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lane Cove is nine kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local governmen ...
, (present Gordon area), petitioned the Postal Department successfully for a local post office, Previously letters, papers etc. were carried from
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
and later from St. Leonards, by residents travelling along the road.
[
The dwelling chosen was the cottage of Mrs Eliza Edwards (granddaughter of Robert Pymble).][
The Edwards family has strong associations with the development of the North Shore. The grandfather, Robert Pymble was a pioneer of the North Shore and recipient of a ]grant
Grant or Grants may refer to:
Places
*Grant County (disambiguation)
Australia
* Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia
United Kingdom
* Castle Grant
United States
* Grant, Alabama
* Grant, Inyo County, ...
of in 1823 in the area known as Pymble. He supplied timber to Sydney and was the pioneer orchardist of the area. he was instrumental in having the railway constructed to Old Hornsby (Pearce's Corner) and particularly in having a rail station established at what came to be called Killara
Killara is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Killara is a separate suburb and ...
. The name Killara was Edwards' choice.[
Miss Eliza (who preferred Elizabeth) Edwards was appointed Post Mistress, with a salary ]A£
The pound (Sign: £, £A for distinction) was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 14 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. As with other £sd currencies, it was subdivided into 20 shillings (denoted by the symbol s ...
12 per year. Her sureties were neighbours Robert and George MacIntosh, orchardists. The post office business was conducted in a bedroom at the rear of the cottage.[
The mail came once a week, later on, twice, the mail carrier was first Michael Fagan, later Foley and Porter names were given. It was customary to leave Sydney at 7am and deliver mail at Gordon, camp there and the next day continue with the mail to Hornsby and ]Gosford
Gosford is the city and administrative centre of the Central Coast Council local government area in the heart of the Central Coast region, about north of Sydney and about south of Newcastle. The city centre is situated at the northern extr ...
, first by road and after 1890 by train.[ In 1879 the name of the Post Office name was changed to Gordon Post Office.][ Miss Edwards report in the 1880s says 'from Chatswood to Pearce's Corner (]Wahroonga
Wahroonga is a suburb in the Upper North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Ku-ring-gai Council and Hornsby Shire. ...
) people rode or walked or sent for their mail."[ In 1885 two brick rooms were added to the front of the original cottage and most probably the existing verandah structure giving the cottage its present appearance.][
On 10 January 1890 Miss Edwards advised the General Post Office that she considered the best way to serve the interests of Upper Gordon would be to establish a "receiving office" at Mr Filley's store on the corner of Gordon and Irish Town Roads. Later a bag could be made up at Sydney or St. Leonards and left Pymble platform.][ In 1887 as the construction of the railway from St. Leonards to Pearce's Corner, Miss Edwards made an application to the General Post Office to include the sale of money orders in view of changes to come with the population increase, since they were situated near the approved site of Gordon Station.][
In 1894 Miss Edwards' resigned because of ill-health. In the same year the Post Office was moved to the Gordon railway station.][
Miss Edwards continued to live in the dwelling with her children until her death in 1902. The cottage continued to be occupied by Miss Edwards family until 1952.][
]Ravenswood School for Girls
, motto_translation = Always towards better things
, established = 1901
, type = Independent, day and boarding
, denomination = Uniting Church
, slogan = Ravenswood widens her world
, principal = Anne Johnstone
, founder ...
purchased the property between 1952 and 1955. In 1980 proposals to demolish the cottage for tennis courts were considered.[
On 11 July 1980 an Interim Conservation Order was placed over the property.][ On 2 April 1999 it was transferred to the State Heritage Register.][
]
Description
Modest single story brick building with iron roof. Verandah at front and simple chamfered wood posts.[
]
Heritage listing
As at 9 August 2013, the cottage is one of the earliest dwellings in the district. As a post office from 1860 to 1894 it played an important part in the everyday lives of early settlers of the North Shore. The use of the cottage as a post office between 1860 and 1894 allocates its place in the historical geography of New South Wales
New South Wales (abbreviated as NSW) is Australia's most populous state, located in the east coast of the continent. It is in the southern hemisphere between latitudes 28 and 38 degrees south of the equator and longitudes 143 and 154 degree ...
. The cottage's is directly associated with the Pymble and Edwards families whose members were prominent pioneers in the development of the North Shore. Along the Pacific Highway between Pearce's Corner and North Sydney it is one of the very few remaining original dwellings which once lined the main road north.[Heritage Branch files]
''Iolanthe'' was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register
The New South Wales State Heritage Register, also known as NSW State Heritage Register, is a heritage list of places in the state of New South Wales, Australia, that are protected by New South Wales legislation, generally covered by the Heritag ...
on 2 April 1999.[
]
See also
* Australian residential architectural styles
Australian residential architectural styles have evolved significantly over time, from the early days of structures made from relatively cheap and imported corrugated iron (which can still be seen in the roofing of historic homes) to more sophis ...
References
Attribution
External links
{{Commons category-inline
New South Wales State Heritage Register
Gordon, New South Wales
Post office buildings in New South Wales
Houses in Sydney
Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register
Houses completed in 1870
1870 establishments in Australia