Category - Interesting South Coast Buildings
This, potentially, could be the largest section of this website because every building (and we’re defining that to include many different sorts of structures) has a history and, not infrequently, an interesting story associated with it. We’re not just interested in ‘historic’ buildings…or ‘old’ buildings…nor, necessarily, the buildings themselves, because the stories of the occupants or the changing uses of individual buildings are often the ‘real story’, the important part of the story of the building.
You can help by sending details about the South Coast’s buildings/structures that have most fascinated you to southcoasthistory@yahoo.com. Attaching a photograph or two, if available, will make your submission even more valuable.
From our South Coast History Stories
Kiama's Wooden Terraces
Location: 24 – 40 Collins Street, Kiama
Read StoryRailway Station and associated structures, Station Road, Berry
A group of original, mainly utilitarian, buildings surrounding the Berry Railway Station has survived to now be something of a living legacy to this one-time important railway precinct...
Read StoryMeroogal, Nowra
Meroogal is a modest building when compared to many of the grand late 19th-century houses in Sydney, but it is quite grand compared to other residences in Nowra. It was built in 1886 as a home for Mrs Jessie Catherine Thorburn, a widow, and four of her unmarried daughters...
Read StoryKing House, Milton
King House in Milton is an imposing two storey Georgian style Victorian residence. It is also a significant part of Wason Street’s impressive and valuable surviving historic streetscape...
Read StoryMitchell's House, Ulladulla
It’s not particularly attractive because of the low-cost, unsympathetic additions that have been made over time to this modest house, but 56 North Street is historically important because it is one of only two remaining intact slab buildings in Ulladulla and is one of the town’s few remaining pre-1900 buildings...
Read StoryTeacher's Residence, Batemans Bay
This Federation Queen Anne style, former Teacher's Residence has local historical significance because it became part of Batemans Bay’s first public school...
Read StoryOcean View House, Batemans Bay
Ocean View House is a good, intact example of simple interwar design and has significant historical associations with the interwar development of Batemans Bay as a tourist destination.
Read StoryInnes’ Boatshed and Jetty, Batemans Bay
This 'unsophisticated, cheap and functional' boatshed and its adjacet wharf have heritage listing because they are iconic Batemans Bay structures and because they are the last remaining structures with links to the ‘original’ Clyde River waterfront in Batemans Bay township...
Read StoryThe (old) Batemans Bay Bridge
It was heritage listed, and parts of it (such as its towers) were considered to have ‘exceptional’ heritage significance, and it was an iconic ‘gateway’ to the town… but the original Batemans Bay Bridge was demolished. As happened with its predecessor (a motorized car ferry), the bridge was no longer capable of adequately handling the traffic flow – so it just had to go!...
Read Story(Former) Post Office, Moruya
This impressive building, designed by the Colonial Architect’s Office, was the second Post Office to be erected in Moruya. It is particularly important from a heritage point-of-view because it indicates the scale of essential services that the Government was prepared to provide to small rural NSW communities in the late 19th century, and it reflects just how important the Post Master’s position was considered to be in the town – a position that, unquestionably, demanded that he and his family be provided with a large, impressive residence!...
Read StoryMagney House, Bingie Bingie
There are numerous architectural ‘gems’, both contemporary and traditional, to be found along the NSW South Coast. Glen Murcutt’s Magney House in Bingie Bingie, however, must surely be the most widely-acclaimed of them all...
Read StoryThe Bodalla Arms Hotel
The Bodalla Arms Hotel is mentioned extensively in the classic Australian book 'Gone Fishin' because its author, John O’Grady (perhaps better known as Nino Culotta), was a regular patron...
Read StoryAll Saints' Anglican Church, Bodalla
All Saints' Anglican Church in Bodalla is widely considered to be ‘one of the finest Churches in Australia’, ‘one of the choicest ecclesiastical structures out of Sydney’...
Read StoryLynch's Hotel, Narooma
The size and prominent location on a corner make Lynch’s Hotel a landmark in Narooma. And it contributes significantly to a group of heritage structures that present a section of streetscape with impressive historic character...
Read StoryGlen Luna, Tilba Tilba
Glen Luna has historic significance for having been associated with the Tilba Tilba dairying industries and for its links to early land selection in the Tilba area...
Read StoryThe Roman Catholic group of buildings, Cobargo
Several Roman Catholic buildings are prominently and distinctively located on the crest of a hill on the outskirts of Cobargo village – a Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery, a Roman Catholic School and a Roman Catholic Convent. Together they form an impressive streetscape, whilst also demonstrating the strength and nature of Catholic practice in the Cobargo region during the early twentieth century...
Read StoryThe Beach House, Bermagui
The Beach House in Bermagui is historically significant because it is one of the oldest continuously operating commercial buildings in Bermagui, even though much of the detail of the earlier building has been over-clad. Because of its prominent position it has also been a long-time, major feature of this town’s seaside streetscape...
Read StoryThe Brown Mountain Power Station
The Brown Mountain Power Station produces hydro-electricity…but, today, ‘it is an anomaly…an insignificant trickle…and only a sneeze worth’ of power is generated. It is probably the oldest and the smallest power station still feeding electricity into the NSW grid...
Read StoryBemboka General Store
The Bemboka General Store is a typical small country town general store, very much the 'heart' of the town. It was run continuously by the Hobbs family for 80 years, supplying everything from teaspoons to veterinary supplies 7 days a week…and petrol could be purchased ‘any hour night or day’...
Read StoryThe Old Bega Hospital
This was Bega's hospital from 1889 to 1956. it is listed on the Australian Institute of Architects’ Register of Significant Architecture in NSW and on Bega Valley Shire’s Schedule of significant heritage items...
Read StorySt John's Church, Bega
In 1876 Edmund Blacket, the NSW Colonial Architect and the architect most favoured by the Church of England in NSW, was engaged to design Bega’s St John’s Anglican Church with seating for 300. The Church was built by well-known local builder R W Thatcher and was opened in January 1878...
Read StoryKing's Theatre, Bega
The King’s Theatre was built in 1935. It was designed by Kaberry and Chard (a Sydney-based theatre architectural company that also designed Sydney’s Empire Theatre (later Her Majesty’s), the Enmore Theatre and the Valhalla Theatre) in the then-popular art deco style. The interior displayed Mayan motif decorations...
Read StoryLittleton House, Bega
Littleton House was built in 1875. It was designed to be a ‘gracious residence, fit for a professional gentleman and his lady’. It is of a style common to the period...
Read StoryDr Evershed Memorial Clock Tower, Bega
Bega’s Dr Evershed Memorial Clock Tower is believed to be the first monument to have been erected in NSW to honour the significant community contribution of an ‘ordinary’ (non-official) citizen...
Read StoryBaronda
Baronda's owner wanted a simple two-bedroom house. His architect had other ideas. The Council Building Inspector (of course!) had different ideas again. What resulted ‘powerfully distils the spirit of the 1960s...(having) literally grown from its site…pioneering environmental self-sufficiency’.
Read StoryIllawarra House, Tathra
This attractive, late Victorian style residence exemplifies the development of Tathra township following the construction of a wharf on Tathra Headland in the 1860s...
Read StoryTathra Wharf
Tathra Wharf is the only one of 15 open sea wharves on the eastern seaboard of Australia that has survived. The town of Tathra was also established and grew as a direct result of activity at this important wharf...
Read StoryKalaru Brick Kilns
From 1933 to 1990 bricks were produced (in huge quantities) in wood-fueled kilns at Stafford's brick works in Kalaru...
Read StorySouth Wolumla Butter Factory
A group of early 20th century dairy buildings associated with the South Wolumla Butter factory have survived and now are an attractive and historically-linked group of buildings...
Read StoryMitchies Jetty, Fishpen Road, Merimbula
Mitchies colourful Jetty and Shed is today one of the most photographed locations on the NSW South Coast...
Read StoryThe Black Dolphin Motel, Merimbula
Merimbula’s Black Dolphin motel was considered to be ‘one of the ten best buildings designed and built anywhere in Australia in 1960 – 1961’, ‘the most significant motel building in Australia’, and ‘an original and highly significant architectural response to the native environment’...
Read StoryThe Old Pambula Court House and Police Station
The Old Pambula Court House, Police Station and adjacent cell block in Toallo Street are the oldest complex of publicly accessible buildings in Pambula. The buildings – which were described as ‘built after the government model of ugliness’ - were completed in September 1861 but have been altered or added to on a number of occasions...
Read StoryRoyal Willows Hotel, Pambula
In many ways, Pambula’s Royal Willows Hotel is typical of single-storey Australian country pubs: architecturally, it is an undistinguished, modest building; it has been constructed of common, often locally-sourced materials; it has changed in function and in appearance over time to reflect changing circumstances in the town; it has been an important social centre of the town and its licensees have been active supporters of the town’s popular community activities.
Read StoryToad Hall, Pambula
The building now known as Toad Hall is one of the most recognisable heritage structures in Pambula. It has been used over the years as a post and telegraph office, general store, saddlery, accommodation house, fisheries inspector's office, mining warden's office, and gift shop...
Read StoryHotel Australasia, Eden
The Hotel Australasia is Eden's architectural 'jewel'. Built in anticipation of Twofold Bay becoming the national capital's port, it was once considered to be 'one of the finest hotels in the state'...
Read StoryThe Crown and Anchor Inn, Eden
The Crown and Anchor Inn was the first substantial building in Eden and today is the oldest standing building in Eden. It is an elegant Regency building...
Read StoryEden's Log Cabin
Originally a Girl Guides hall, Eden's Log Cabin is now a community hall...
Read StoryGreen Cape Lighthouse
The building, between 1881 and 1883, of Green Cape Lighthouse presented enormous challenges...which ultimately led to its builder committing suicide...
Read StoryEdrom Lodge
Edrom, on the southern shore of Twofold Bay, was originally the home of John Logan and his large family. It was designed by Logan, was modelled on his Scottish home, and was named after his Scottish home. It is a superb example of Federation Arts & Crafts style architecture...
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