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The Ridge is a heritage-listed residence and former hospital at 21 Hillcrest Road,
The Ridge is one of the most historically significant buildings in Merewether for its associations with the Merewether family from 1861, and its subsequent use as a hospital by the Salvation Army. It has landmark qualities perched on the edge of the Merewether ridge, with its steeply pitched
Merewether, New South Wales
Merewether () is a former Municipality and today a List of suburbs in Greater Newcastle, New South Wales, suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district with a popu ...
, Australia. It was also known as Hillcrest Hospital. 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
The Ridge was built in 1861 by Edward Christopher Merewether, who had arrived in Newcastle as the General Superintendent of theAustralian Agricultural Company
The Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) () is a public-listed Australian company that, as at 2018, owned and operated feedlots and farms covering around of land in Queensland and the Northern Territory, roughly one percent of Australia's la ...
, and his wife, whose family owned two land grants in the area now known as Merewether
Merewether () is a former Municipality and today a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district with a population of around 11,000. The suburb stretches from Merewether Beach in the east to ...
.Newcastle Local Studies website, 2006
It was later used as a maternity hospital owned by the Salvation Army
Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
, but fell into disuse by the late 1970s and, in the early 1980s, a development consortium applied to demolish the house. However the NSW government intervened by permanently protecting it with a permanent conservation order. It then passed into private ownership and has been restored by the owners.
Description
The Ridge is one of the most historically significant buildings in Merewether for its associations with the Merewether family from 1861, and its subsequent use as a hospital by the Salvation Army. It has landmark qualities perched on the edge of the Merewether ridge, with its steeply pitched gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...
roof. At the beginning of the 21st century the house forms a visually prominent built form within an area now well known for its large modern mansions. It also has interiors of historical interest.
It was reported to be in excellent condition as at 16 November 2006.
Heritage listing
The Ridge was listed on theNew 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
References
Attribution
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ridge, Newcastle, The New South Wales State Heritage Register Newcastle, New South Wales Houses in New South Wales Hospitals in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register