Weatherboard cottage - Little Gahan Street, Pambula

While the exact history of this cottage at 5 Little Gahan Street is presently unknown, it is one of several examples of weatherboard buildings in the Pambula township. The buildings at 1 (LEP Item No. I250) and 3 (LEP Item No. I748) Little Gahan Street are quite similar in appearance. The three were probably constructed around the same time and probably date from the Victorian era.

5 Little Gahan Street is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when further information is available.

Weatherboard cottage - Flinders Street, Eden.

While the exact history of this house is presently unknown, it is one of several examples of weatherboard houses in the Eden township. It probably dates from the Victorian era. It is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when further information is available.

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Weatherboard house - Flora Street, Eden.

While the exact history of this house is presently unknown, it is one of several examples of weatherboard houses in the Eden township. It probably dates from the Victorian era. It is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when relevant information is available.

Weatherboard cottage - Mitchell Street, Eden

While the exact history of this cottage is presently unknown, it is one of several examples of vernacular weatherboard structures in the Eden township. It probably dates from the pre-1900 Victorian era. It is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when relevant information is available.

Californian bungalow - Bass Street, Eden

While the exact history of this house is presently unknown, it is one of several examples of bungalows in the Eden township. It probably dates from the inter-war period (C. 1915 - C. 1940). It is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when relevant information is available.

Cottage, formerly Eden Tennis Club - Bass Street, Eden

Although the exact history of this cottage is presently unknown, it was reportedly originally constructed for use as club rooms for the Eden Tennis Club. It is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when further information is available.

Corrugated iron cottage - Bass Street, Eden

While the exact history of this cottage is presently unknown, it is possible that it is a rare and significant 19th century imported prefabricated building. It is currently the focus of research and this page will be updated when relevant information is available.

Weatherboard house, formerly "The Pines", Pambula.

Item details:

Current status*:	Unlisted.
Name of item:	Weatherboard cottage.
Former name/s:	The Pines
Item type:	Built
Item group/collection:	Residential buildings (private).
Item category:	House.
Street number:	69
Street name:	Toalla Street
Suburb/town:	Pambula
Local Government Area:	Bega Valley Shire
Property description:	Lot 1, Section 16, DP 758825
Owner category:	Private
Current use:	Private residence
Former use/s:	Private residence

* Refers to the site's inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Local Environment Plan.

W. D. Pfeiffer.

Significance:

Statement of significance: The weatherboard cottage located at 69 Toalla Street is important because of the contribution it makes to the town’s heritage precinct. It occupies a prominent position on the hillside above one of the main entrances to the township and for this reason, has a marked impact on the historical ambience of the town. It is a very good example of domestic timber architecture once typical of the Pambula district and demonstrates the characteristic style of town buildings, construction techniques and building materials used in this type of building in Pambula around the turn of the 20th century. Its probable use of locally produced materials such as hardwood and brick makes it an important example of local industry at the time of its construction. The land upon which it stands also has associations with Constable Adam Ballantine, early local policeman who played a pivotal role in the capture of four of the mutineers of the American whaling vessel Junior. The building itself is also associated W. D. Pfeiffer, founder and first editor of the town’s only successful newspaper, The Pambula Voice. The association with Mary Margaret (“Ciss”) Dyall as an early, long standing and successful business woman add to this importance as a tangible link with her presence in the township.

Level of significance:

Local.

Flooding on Pambula Flats, C. 1920s? The Pines can be seen to the left.

Description:

Designer:
Builder:
Physical description:	A weatherboard built cottage with corrugated iron double hipped roof and two brick chimneys, one each on the eastern and western sides of the building. The chimney on the eastern [?] [town] side appears to be missing its arched capping [?] detail from the top. Part of the front portion is enclosed by a verandah with corrugated iron skillion roof, with steps leading up from ground level. The verandah is enclosed with wrought iron railing and gate, with timber posts and timber brackets. Windows on the original portion of the building are timber framed four pane double hung sash, with timber framed awnings also featuring timber brackets with unfussy detailing. An addition has been made to the rear portion of the building.
Physical condition:	Not inspected but appears to be sound.
Construction date/s:	1903
Modifications and dates:
Further comments:

C. 1990s.

History:

Historical notes: The weatherboard residence situated on the eastern [?] corner of Toalla and Monaro Streets is just one of a number of historic buildings throughout the township that contribute much the heritage ambience of Pambula. The land was originally purchased by local police constable Adam Ballantine in 1857, after which it was subsequently sold in 1860 to William Abraham, described as a cattle dealer and owner of the adjoining blocks (allotments 19 and 20 of Section 16). By 1900, the property was owned by W. D. Pfeiffer who, in January 1901, offered “…an allotment of 100 foot frontage to Toalla Street, Pambula, by a depth of 264 feet…being portions of Allotments 1, 2, 19 and 20 of Section 16…” to the Postmaster General’s Department after tenders were called for a permanent post office site for the town. Although it was described as being “…in close proximity to the court house, police station and public school…” it was noted as being “unsuitably situated, being in a cross street and away from the business centre.” The cottage was constructed in 1903 for Mr. W. D. Pfeiffer founder and first editor of the Pambula Voice, the only newspaper to have existed in the township for any length of time. Mr. Pfeiffer moved the printing equipment from Moruya to Pambula, establishing the Voice in 1892, and remaining editor and proprietor until November 1904. Mr. Pfeiffer called for tenders in August 1903 for the interior of “…a new cottage…” and in September that year it was reported that “Mr. Pfeiffer’s new cottage opposite the Public School is finished and considerably improves the appearance of that part of the township.” The Pfeiffer family lived in the large weatherboard home “Glenairlie”, also located in Toalla Street, so it can be safely assumed that this building was rented out. The family only remained in Pambula until very shortly after the sale of the newspaper business, after which they moved to Mosman in Sydney. W. D. Pfeiffer did, however, retain ownership of the houses at 69 and 65 Toalla Street as well as a number of stores. His personal diary records the continuing ownership, and mentions renting this cottage as well as “Glenairlie” and three shops to various people. In 1906, an advertisement appeared in the Voice for a “…six roomed cottage (known as Mr. Pfeiffer’s) finest position in Pambula…” and naming E. English as “…agent for Mr. Pfeiffer”. Renovation work was carried out on the cottage in 1910, with notable Pambula builder and contractor Mr. Job Koerber undertaking the work which “…muchly improved the appearance of the buildings.” Shortly thereafter, local police Constable Richard Bowern moved into the building, living there between approximately 1913 and 1918. In December 1920, W. D. Pfeiffer wrote to G. R. Phillipps, placing the Pambula properties in his hands for six months to sell. These included the “top cottage” on half an acre of land at £300; as well as “Glenarlie” and three shops. In March 1921 he again contacted Phillipps, having sold both the cottage and “Glenairlie” to “Mr. Buckett of Millingandi”. The following year, James Buckett and his wife leased their Boggy Creek (Millingandi) property to their sons and moved into the weatherboard cottage. After a short period, they were joined by their daughter Mary Margaret (“Ciss”) Dyall-Buckett. Mr. and Mrs. Buckett lived the rest of their lives in the cottage, and after they passed away, their daughter inherited the property. By 1929, when James Buckett passed away, the property had become known as “The Pines”. “Ciss” as she was more commonly known to local residents, continued to reside for some time in the building, and also owned and operated the Pambula newsagency. After 24 years in business, however, she sold out to Mr. W. T. Henderson in 1955, and it is likely that it was after this that she sold the premises before moving to Parramatta. Earl and Elvie Robertson then purchased the property, remaining there until their subsequent deaths, after which the present owners purchased the property. The building retains a prominent position on the hill overlooking the Pambula flats and is an important and identifiable local landmark.

2003.

Themes:

Australian theme:	New South Wales theme:	Local theme:
2: Peopling Australia	Convict
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Commerce
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Communication
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Technology
4: Building settlements, towns and cities.	Accommodation
9: Marking the phases of life.	Persons

2003.

Application criteria:

Historical significance SHR criteria (a)
Historical association significance SHR criteria (b)
Aesthetic significance SHR criteria (c)
Technical / Research significance SHR criteria (e)
Rarity SHR criteria (f)
Representativeness SHR criteria (g)
Integrity:

Heritage Listings:

2003.

Information sources / bibliography :

Baddeley, Ben, pers. comm, Bega Standard George, A. C. “Bubby” unpublished note book comp. History of Pambula – old records early days George, Allan, pers. comm. Magnet and Voice Centenary Supplement, Magnet, August 1992 NSW Land Titles Office: Old System Title, 1857-64, Book 70 No. 66. O’Brien, Alf, Descendants of Jacob and Margaret Buckett (nee Penny), Published and printed by Alf O’Brien, Shellharbour, 1999 Pambula – Post Office Site, NL 17/2486, Series SP 394/1, National Archives of Australia. Pambula Voice Went, Bill, pers. comm.

Author and date:

© Angela George. All rights reserved.

2006.

Prefabricated Californian red wood cottage, formerly Greencape Lighthouse telegraph operator's residence; formerly portion of Loch Garra; Mitchell Street, Eden

Item details:

Current status*:	Unlisted.
Name of item:	Weatherboard cottage
Former name/s:
Item type:	Built.
Item group/collection:	Residential buildings (private).
Item category:	House.
Street number:	42
Street name:	Mitchell Street
Suburb/town:	Eden
Local Government Area:	Bega Valley Shire
Property description:
Owner category:	Private
Current use:	Private residence
Former use/s:	Green Cape Lighthouse telegraph operator living quarters (1883 - 1915); portion of Davidson's Loch Garra residence (1916 - 1930)

* Refers to the site's inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Local Environment Plan.

The cottage as it appears externally today.

Significance:

Statement of significance: [currently dot points only] Important to 19th century industrial and manufacturing history; Historical associations with a range of local themes / subjects, including shipping, navigation, maritime history, domestic history, accommodation, building technology, population growth,... Strong and lengthy historical association with the Davidson family, long time Twofold Bay whaling station operators and important local family; Important as an extant example of a portable 19th century cottage imported into Australia from America; A representative example of a late 19th prefabricated house; Significant as a relatively intact example of 19th / early 20th century domestic residence; Further investigation is necessary to ascertain level of extant original fabric; Building provides tangible evidence of the facilities available to employees of isolated lighthouse outposts; A rare example of a surviving imported prefabricated building in the Bega Valley Shire; An excellent example of vernacular cottage architecture; Typical of the portable 19th century houses imported into Australia to meet the needs of the growing colonial population;

Level of significance:

Local

When it was initially imported, the four room prefabricated cottage was
erected at Greencape Lighthouse to accommodate the telegraph operator.

Description:

Designer:
Builder:
Physical description:
Physical condition:
Construction date/s:	C. 1883
Modifications and dates:	C. 1916; C. 1930;
Further comments:

George and Sarah Davidson and their family. George purchased the
prefabricated cottage to extend Loch Garra.

History:

Historical notes: Shipped to Australia from America during the 1880s, the weatherboard cottage at 42 Mitchell Street, Eden, initially stood at two other local sites before being moved to its current location. The first of these was to accommodate the telegraph operator at Greencape Lighthouse. The southernmost lighthouse in NSW, the need to erect a light on the Greencape Peninsular was recognised as early as 1873. Designed by James Barnet, it was the first in NSW to be built of concrete and, at 29 metres, is the second tallest in the state. Constructed by Albert Wood Aspinall between 1882 and 1883, it stands on the headland at northern boundary of Disaster Bay. Telegraphic communication between Greencape and Sydney was established in May 1882. Aspinall constructed a telegraph office at a spot on the Cape known as Queen's Hill, and it was reported in 1883 that it "...is an important telegraph station and an operator is always on duty..." As the living quarters provided originally for the telegraph operators were "...not very comfortable...", arrangements were made for provision of "...one of those American redwood houses which can be fitted together and taken to pieces almost as easily as a child's puzzle..." Demand was high in the colonies for straight grained timber that was light, strong and resistant to rot, and the Californian redwood industry was booming, supported by the call for prefabricated buildings. The importation of prefabricated buildings has had a long and important history in the Australian colonies. Shortages of labour and materials created a ready market for what were then referred to as "portable" buildings, with heritage expert Professor Miles Lewis noting that "...they are a telling reflection of peculiar historical conditions which made the transportation of such buildings physically and economically feasible..." As early as 1839, Governor La Trobe brought two houses from England with him when he arrived in Melbourne and when the 1850s gold rushes placed even greater pressure on the supply of skilled tradesmen, the result was an ever growing demand for imported prefabricated buildings that could be easily and rapidly assembled and dismantled. With designs ranging from simple cottages through to larger, more impressive houses and grand villas along with civic buildings such as churches, theatres and schools, illustrated pattern books and catalogues allowed buyers to browse and buy at a distance. Buildings were initially constructed in factories where every component was carefully labelled, after which they were dismantled and packed into wooden crates which sometimes also formed part of the structure. Loaded into ships responsible for transporting a huge assortment of goods to the colony, portable houses were imported from places such as London, Liverpool and Glasgow in the United Kingdom; the European continent; Singapore and Hong Kong in Asia; Boston and British colonies in North America; India; and New Zealand. The peak year of importation was 1853, but although demand then dropped sharply, trade continued throughout the 19th and into the early 20th century. Timber was the most prevalent of the prefabricated buildings brought to Australia, although cast iron and corrugated iron were also popular, and other materials were also utilised, including papier mache. Today, according to Professor Lewis, South Eastern Australia retains more extant 19th century examples than anywhere else in the world, and as the cottage at 42 Mitchell Street illustrates, still more are being identified as their recognition grows. It was in September 1883 that this cottage was erected behind Greencape Lighthouse's telegraph office, a report noting that "Such a building is totally unsuitable for the purpose it is destined to serve and probably after a very heavy gale both house and occupant will be missing, for the wind sweeps this headland with a force inconceivable by dwellers of Sydney...", an ominous warning that fortunately proved unfounded. William R. Bragg was the first of the lighthouse's telegraph and signal masters to occupy the building, and it remained on that site for thirty-two years. In 1915, the four-roomed cottage was offered for "...purchase, demolition and removal..." and after master whaler George Davidson bought it, it was relocated in 1916 to the family's Kiah River whaling station where it was used to extend the original portion of the "Loch Garra" residence. In 1930, the roving cottage was once again on the move. This time, after it was dismantled, it was transported across Twofold Bay to be erected at its current Mitchell Street location to house George Davidson's daughter Elsie and her husband Norm Severs. It remained their family home until Elsie passed away in 2004. The property, including the prefabricated cottage, was placed up for sale in 2010, when it was described as a "...classic three bedroom timber cottage...constructed from American timbers transported to Australia in the latter part of the 19th century..." It was reported that "The stumps are vertical blocks of wood with grooves cut in them, into which the walls are fitted..." The original roof was reportedly still in situ in 2004. According to newspaper reports in 2010, Bega Valley Shire Council acknowledged the importance of the cottage and proposed to include it on Schedule 5 (heritage) of the Local Environment Plan. This has yet to occur.

George and Sarah Davidson.

Themes:

Australian theme:	New South Wales theme:	Local theme:
3: Developing local, regional and national economies	Communication
3: Developing local, regional and national economies	Fishing
3: Developing local, regional and national economies	Industry
3: Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport
4: Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages
4: Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation
5: Working	Labour
7: Governing	Government and administration
8: Developing Australia's cultural life	Domestic life
: Marking the phases of life	Persons

Loch Garra prior to the prefabricated cottage being dismantled.

Application criteria:

Historical significance SHR criteria (a)
Historical association significance SHR criteria (b)
Aesthetic significance SHR criteria (c)
Technical / Research significance SHR criteria (e)
Rarity SHR criteria (f)
Representativeness SHR criteria (g)
Integrity:

Heritage Listings:

Information sources / bibliography :

ABPL 90019 Australian Building Analysis - Prefabrication in Australasia Australian Town and Country Journal Domain, Far South Coast lift out Eden Magnet Kesby, Robyn, pers. comm. Lewis, Miles, The Diagnosis of Prefabricated Buildings, Australian Historical Archaeology, 3, 1985 pp56 - 69 Lewis, Miles, Jolimont in Context, La Trobeana - Journal of the C. J. La Trobe Society Inc., Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2010, pp 2 - 12 Raymond, Pat, pers. comm. Scheiffers, Sue, Pioneer Prefabricated Buildings, Heritage Living, National Trust of South Australia, February 2012, pp. 12 - 13 Sydney Morning Herald https://www.onmydoorstep.com.au/heritage-listing/2045/prefabricated-iron-cottage http://sydneyarchitecture.com/HIST-EARLY/Hist-Early010.htm

Author and date:

© Angela George. All rights reserved.

May 2015.