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History
The Heritage of the Tuggeranong Valley
There are several areas of heritage interest associated with Tuggeranong and whether or not you are a local resident or a tourist to the area, we hope that you will take the time to visit the following historical properties in the valley and share in our unique heritage.
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Lanyon Homestead
Tharwa Drive Tharwa
John Lanyon, after who the homestead is named acquired the property in 1835. The house as it stands today was built by Andrew Cunningham in 1859. There are also some retainer's cottages on the site, namely, 'Wilson's' Cottage and 'Dutton's' Cottage which graphically show an employees lot in the late 19th Century. This is one of Canberra's most popular tourist destinations and the rooms of the main house have been meticulously decorated in the style of the era. The surrounding outbuildings also sustain this feel and with the Nolan art gallery on the property and coffee shop, this makes for a great days outing to re-live our past
Please phone: (02) 6237 5136 for visiting times.
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Tuggeranong Homestead
Johnson Drive, Richardson
This property dates from 1824 when the land was granted to Messrs. McClaren & Wright. In 1835 when a Mr Mcquoid purchased the site, it was known as "Wanniassa". It was not until 1858 when members of the Cunningham family at Lanyon brought the property, did it become one of the largest and most important houses in the region.
Tuggeranong Homestead was official opened after restoration, on Saturday 10 February 2001 by Brendan Smyth Deputy Chief Minister, ACT Government. Ms Betty Churcher, President of the Federation assisted with the official opening.
From 1919 through to 1925, Dr C.E.W Bean and the war history team wrote the first volumes of the official World War 1 history at the homestead.
Tuggeranong Homestead has a special place in our nation's history. The homestead was home to Unity Cunningham, born 1901 and names in celebration of the creation of the Australian nation. Sir Robert Garran, the architect of the Australian constitution, became Unity godfather
Tuggeranong Homestead also has a special place in our region's history. It is now the only large 19th century -heritage -listed homestead within the suburbs of Canberra and within the close proximity to Aboriginal scar trees and axe grinding grooves. Close to the homestead , is an 1840's convict-built stone barn
Today the homestead conveys 165 years of stories. The drawing room features the small oak fireplace C1836 from the original cottage as well as an exquisite chandelier from the early 1900's
Under the homestead's roofline and amongst the numerous out-buildings and extensive grounds, you can discover the lifestyle of many Australian families from the 1830's through to the 1950's and today.
Tuggeranong Homestead will be run as a Cafe, with the opportunity to hold Conferences, Functions and Events. For further information phone (02) 6292 8888 fax 02 6292 8800, email: tuggeranonghomestead@email.net.au
A Brief History of Rose Cottage
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Rose Cottage as it stands today was originally a part of Tuggeranong Station. A Richard James Harris (1830-1904) built the two heritage listed cottages around 1876. His wife Margaret Murphy (1840-1918) planted Currajong tress that still border the property and grew Roses all along the front of the first cottage. This is where the Rose Cottage name comes from. The property itself was know as "Sweet Hills estate" and stretched to 2000 acres. In 1855 a ballot was held on sub leasing these huge properties to provide smaller Family blocks. This is what is known as a crown lease. Richard built the two cottages with mud and plaster in a style called Pise. The first cottage was a kitchen, a living space and two bed rooms, later when the other cottage was built it housed the kitchen and further living space.
The floors were mud and the water from the house came from a fresh water spring which still exists today. In 1947 Rose Cottage was resumed by the Government to make way for he surrounding suburbs. The property today known as Rose Cottage estate is only 9 acres and houses 7 small business ventures, Blithe Bebes set the original old woolshed is a porcelain doll making studio where dolls are made from start to finish. There are classes held during the week and you can also take your dolls there for repair.
Outside the studio set in the wool runs nestles Rose Cottage Garden Nursery with a great selection of all things for your garden as well as lovely gift ideas. There are also craft shops and a remote control car track mainly operating through the weekends. The old cottages provides the home for a restaurant and bar. The old cottages here are said to be some of the earliest of their kind here in Canberra.
Today the cottage is a functions venue, Restaurant & Bar. Every Sunday continuing a long tradition there are live bands playing, there is also entertainment for the children on Sunday afternoons. The functions venue seats up to 100 people and we cater for all kinds of occasions with weddings our specialty. We host regular wine dinners and also the occasional Jazz or Blues nights on Friday evenings.
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Tuggeranong Schoolhouse
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The Tuggeranong Schoolhouse site is one of the earliest public school houses constructed I the ACT, providing an excellent example of late 19th century school architecture and evidence of early rural public school life. The school also provides an important link between the educational and social values of its regional community. It has important associations with the prominent nuclear physicist James McGee, who lived in the schoolhouse and attended the Tuggeranong school. He is also closely connected with the development of television in Australia. The Tuggeranong Schoolhouse provided sixty years of continuous schooling to pioneer families of the Tuggeranong district. The place demonstrates the remote nature of a rural school by the provision of an attached teachers residence.
From 1939, when the place was no longer used for educational purposes, it was leased for rural activities. This is a place which had strong or special associations with a person, group, event, development and cultural phase which played a part in local or national history.