Kembla Grange - Historic buildings

Glengarry Homestead (Heritage listed)

Glengarry Homestead is listed on the Historical Register for Regional significance because it is the last of the Veteran's Land Grants homes at Kembla Grange. (Illawarra Mercury. 23 July, 1999)

In 1826 the government had promised a number of lots of 100 acres of land on Dapto Creek, to long serving soldiers. The land upon which Glengarry homestead was built was first granted to John Burnett in 1830. William Sutherland, of Kiama, subsequently acquired the land. Sutherland had arrived in the colony a free man, and was at this time married. He built 2 slab huts and a larger timber house on the land in the late 1830s. By 1920 the first of the slab huts constructed was being used as a stable. Its location was immediately west of the dairy, on land now occupied by the Materials Recycling Facility.

In 1841 the property was advertised for sale, with a relatively elaborate house which the auctioneer described as 'a commodious cottage overlooks the property, and has two sitting rooms, two bedrooms, a large loft with dormant window, lobby, and two wing store rooms'. The house at this time was purchased by William Way of Sydney, who subsequently divided the property between his 2 sons. The sons are described as 'farmers, graziers and dairymen', and leased the property to a number of tenants until selling it in 1855.

In June 1863, Thomas Alexander Reddall purchased the property for 4,000 pounds. Thomas was the grandson of D'Arcy Wentworth who owned more than 4,000 acres in the Shellharbour region. Glengarry was sold again a number of times before being purchased by the Waples family in 1903 for 1,500 pounds. From 1903 until the death of Francis Waples in 1940, the property was operated as a dairy farm. During this time the Waples family transformed the previous desolate and barren grounds, into a beautiful, lush and attractive garden which featured a fern house, as well as coral trees, figs, hedge plants and agapanthus, with roses featured in the front garden.

In 1975 the property was sold to West Dapto Industrial Development Pty Ltd, and later to Wollongong City Council. The property was neglected for over 25 years and allowed to deteriorate.

The homestead was relocated a short distance from its original site in 2001, and was restored and transformed into an education centre at the Wollongong Waste Education and Visitors Centre, Reddalls Road, Kembla Grange. The total cost of relocating and restoration was $500,000.

Newton Park (Heritage listed 1990)
Location: Newton Park is situated next to the Kembla Grange Race course, Kembla Grange, on the southern side.

The house is listed on the State Inventory Statement of Significance as : 'Substantially intact Victorian colonial homestead. Rare example of an asymmetrical house of this type'.

The City of Wollongong Heritage Study, 1999, describes Newton Park as a 'stuccoed brick house, hipped slate roof. Bullnose veranda, corrugated metal roof. Large attic. Modifications - addition to side.

The home features interior woodwork of cedar, a slate roof and cantilevered cedar stairs. (Illawarra Historical Society Bulletin. April, 1967)

The house was built in 1845 for David Williamson Irving at a cost of $2,400. Mr. Williamson was the youngest son of John Irving of Scotland. John Irving, David's older brother, had arrived in Australia some time earlier and David had followed his brother, and initially gained work as an Agent to William Howe esq. of 'Glenlee', Campbelltown. Within 12 months, David had married Jane Howe. After the marriage, David and Jane moved to the Shoalhaven, where David rented and stocked land at Terrara. In 1845, the couple moved to Sutton Forest, but only for a very short time. They subsequently bought land in the Illawarra, David naming it 'Newton' after his uncle, Lord Newton, who held the seat of Lanarkshire in Scotland. Not long after acquiring the land, David built the house from money sent by his father. The Irving family lived in the house until 1863. At this time David was appointed Police Magistrate at Forbes and he sold the property.

In 1947, the house was bought by Dr. and Mrs. J. Maude. Dr. Maude was a Macquarie Street eye specialist, and he and his wife restored the house, while at the same time, modernising the kitchen and bathroom, keeping the home true to its original character. (Evans, 1967; Illawarra Mercury 3rd April, 1968; Old Pioneers Reminiscences of Illawarra, 1989)

In an article printed by the Illawarra Mercury on 3rd April, 1968, the house is said to be visited by a ghost. In the article, The National Trust of Australia is reported to have offered a theory of the ghost as being that of John, David Irving's older brother, who had died on an 'ill fated north-west passage expedition which perished within the Arctic Circle' (National Trust of Australia). In 1845, John accompanied Sir John Franklin in the expedition on which he died. (Illawarra Mercury 3rd April, 1968)

Former West Dapto Public School
Address: Sheaf's Road, Kembla Grange

Built in 1882, there are 2 main buildings and toilet blocks. All are constructed of sandstone with corrugated iron roofs. The residence on the site has a verandah on the south and west elevations. The Wollongong Heritage Study of 1991 describes it as a 'Group of intact buildings representative of late Victorian small town school. It is uncommon in Wollongong for this type of building to be built of stone'. (Ali, 1981)