Toongla is a heritage-listed former residence and dairy farm and now residence at 41 Tullimbar Road,

Albion Park Albion Park is a suburb situated in the Macquarie Valley in the City of Shellharbour, which is in turn one of the three local government areas that comprise the Wollongong Metropolitan Area, New South Wales, Australia. Although it is surround ...

in the

City of Shellharbour The City of Shellharbour is a local government area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The city is located about south of Sydney and covers the southern suburbs of the Wollongong urban area centred on Shellharbour and it had ...

local government area in the

Illawarra The Illawarra is a coastal region in the Australian state of New South Wales, nestled between the mountains and the sea. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollongo ...

region 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 during 1873. The property is privately owned. 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

It is believed that Toongla was built by Maurice Scanlan some time after his purchase of the property in December 1873. It was a dairy farm at the time and he later mortgaged it to the

Commercial Banking Company of Sydney The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited, also known as the CBC, or CBC Bank, was a bank based in Sydney, Australia. It was established in 1834, and in 1982 merged with the National Bank of Australasia to form National Australia Bank. Hi ...

(1892). In 1898, William Moles bought Toongla and farm in 1898. William Moles was a founding member of Shellharbour Municipal Council in 1859 serving as an Alderman and its second Mayor. Moles was also acting Town Clerk for a time, served as the areas Senior Magistrate and one of the pioneer breeders of Australian

Short-horn cattle. The title passed to his daughters Barbara and Marion Douglas Moles after their father's death in 1911. They sold it to Mr. Leonard Anderson in February 1930. In 1987 the then owners Mr and Mrs Walsh requested that Permanent Conservation Order be placed over the property because of their concern for its long term protection. A Permanent Conservation Order was placed over the property on 20 November 1987. It was transferred to the State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The property is a portion of an estate, originally granted to John Paul and named " Tullimbar", after a local tribal leader. The original estate seems to have been divided mid-century into lesser portions, which were occupied by new settlers. Further research is necessary to identify the builder of "Toongla" and ascertain the year in which it was built. Maurice Scanlon and his family are the first settlers known to have resided on the property, arriving there in 1873. The Scanlon family initially referred to their residence as "Green Mount Villa". In 1886 the family changed the homestead's name to "Toongla". It is not known whether the present residence is the original homestead, or a second building erected by the Scanlon family in 1886. In 1898 the homestead was occupied by William Moles, a longstanding settler on the "Tullimbar" Estate. Moles had acquired a neighbouring portion of the estate in 1859, and had erected "Hillcrest", a slab cottage, behind the site of the Tullimbar School (see separate entry). The Moles family were important pioneers in the local dairy industry. The property had close associations with the development of the Illawarra Shorthorn breed of cattle. The house is believed to have been built by Maurice Scanlan some time after his purchase of the original property in December 1873. It was a dairy farm at the time and he later mortgaged it to the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (1892). In 1898, William Moles, the second Mayor of Shellharbour Municipality, moved to this residence from his Tongarra property. Title passed to his daughters Barbara and Marion Douglas Moles after their father's death in 1911. They sold it to Mr Leonard Anderson in February 1930. Owners in the late 1980s early 1990s were Mr M. and Mrs J. Simon.

Description

Toongla is sited on a north facing ridge off a quiet country lane along the fertile valley leading to the

Macquarie Pass National Park Macquarie Pass National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 90 km southwest of Sydney. It is located around the pass of the same name, which is on the Illawarra Highway and part of the Illawarra escarpment. Macquarie Pa ...

. The residence enjoys commanding rural, lake and escarpment views. The property is approximately mostly grassed paddock with a large garden around the house with well established trees beside. The present land area is . Curtilage includes area within a radius of the house. ;House: Toongla is a largely intact Victorian villa constructed of colonial bonded

brickwork Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar. Typically, rows of bricks called '' courses'' are laid on top of one another to build up a structure such as a brick wall. Bricks may be differentiated from blocks by s ...

, now painted, its main roof has a hipped iron form with three large stuccoed

chimneys A chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typic ...

. Possibly a smaller building originally, later extended to the east, as evidenced by the chimneys. The northern

veranda A veranda or verandah is a roofed, open-air gallery or porch, attached to the outside of a building. A veranda is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front and sides of the structure. Although the form ''veran ...

h has a bellcast roof bevelled posts and iron lace

brackets A bracket is either of two tall fore- or back-facing punctuation marks commonly used to isolate a segment of text or data from its surroundings. Typically deployed in symmetric pairs, an individual bracket may be identified as a 'left' or 'r ...

. The facade is asymmetrical, featuring two 12-paned windows, three French windows opening onto the front verandah and a main four panelled door with

sidelight A sidelight or sidelite in a building is a window, usually with a vertical emphasis, that flanks a door or a larger window. Sidelights are narrow, usually stationary and found immediately adjacent doorways.Barr, Peter.Illustrated Glossary, 19th ...

. Stone steps, with masonry

piers Piers may refer to: * Pier, a raised structure over a body of water * Pier (architecture), an architectural support * Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name) * Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...

either side, lead up to a wide entrance door. Glass transom lights, timber & glass side panels. Other windows are double-hung, with six panes in the top frame. The interiors have cedar joinery, some iron ceilings, two interesting fireplaces of marbled wood with tiles and grates.Branch Managers Report to the Heritage Council. 27 May 1987. It has an established garden and orchard. ;Outbuildings: There is a small slab outbuilding at the rear with an iron roof, a former laundry,remains of sites of other outbuildings. A portion of the original slab kitchen may still stand at the rear. The house is tenanted. The building is completed in the Late Victorian villa architectural style. The building materials used include Colonial bonded brickwork, hipped iron roof, stuccoed chimneys, cedar joinery, and iron ceilings.

National Trust of Australia The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's Ind ...

(NSW). 1982.

Condition

As at 3 October 2000 the archaeological potential was high (remains of slab building at rear and outbuildings).

Modifications and dates

1997 - addition of shower and toilet to existing laundry.

Heritage listing

As at 3 October 2000, Toongla was an example of a largely intact Victorian Villa. It is associated with William Moles, a founding member of Shellharbour Council, Acting Town Clerk, Senior Magistrate and one of the pioneers of Shorthorn cattle breeding in the Illawarra. An exceptional late 19th century homestead. One of the last remaining examples of this particular architectural style in the area. Strong links with historical and industrial development of the area and an exceptionally high degree of aesthetic beauty. A good example of a traditional Georgian type, set on a high hill and prominent on views from the main road. Distinguished by its elegant, dominant, iron roof and verandah. Important historical associations with the local dairy industry and the development of the Illawarra Shorthorn breed of cattle. Toongla was listed on the

on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. Toongla is an example of a largely intact Victorian Villa. It is associated with William Moles, a founding member of Shellharbour Council, Acting Town Clerk, Senior Magistrate and one of the pioneers of Shorthorn breeding in the Illawarra.

References

Bibliography

Attribution

{{NSW-SHR-CC, name=Toongla, dno=5045681, id=00556, year=2018, accessdate=2 June 2018 New South Wales State Heritage Register City of Shellharbour Houses in New South Wales Farms in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register Victorian architecture in New South Wales