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[[Image:Wivenhoe circa 1900.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Wivenhoe, circa 1900]]
[[Image:Wivenhoe circa 1900.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Wivenhoe, circa 1900]]
Wivenhoe is an historic house built in 1837 at Narellan near Camden in New South Wales. It was designed by the famous Sydney architect John Verge who also designed Camden Park and Elizabeth Bay House. The house has had some very notable residents and is now owned by Mater Dei, a Catholic organisation. It is open for inspection by the public.
Wivenhoe is an historic house built in 1837 at [[Narellan, New South Wales|Narellan]], near [[Camden, New South Wales|Camden]], in [[New South Wales]]. It was designed by the Sydney architect [[John Verge]] who also designed [[Camden Park Estate|Camden Park]] and [[Elizabeth Bay House]]. The house has had some very notable residents and is now owned by [[Mater Dei]], a [[Catholic Church]] organisation. It is open for inspection by the public.


==Sir Charles and Lady Eliza Cowper==
==Sir Charles and Lady Eliza Cowper==
{{Doubleimage|right|Charlescowper.jpg|200|Lady Cowper.jpg|200|Sir Charles Cowper and Lady Eliza Cowper circa 1860}}
{{Doubleimage|right|Charlescowper.jpg|200|Lady Cowper.jpg|200|Sir Charles Cowper and Lady Eliza Cowper circa 1860}}


Charles Cowper built Wivenhoe in 1837 and lived there for about 30 years. During his residence at Wivenhoe he served as Premier of New South Wales five times between 1856 and 1870.
[[Charles Cowper]] built Wivenhoe in 1837 and lived there for about 30 years. During his residence at Wivenhoe he served as [[Premier of New South Wales]] five times between 1856 and 1870.


Charles was born in 1807 in Lancashire England and was the third son of William Cowper and Hannah Horner who migrated to New South Wales when Charles was only two years old. His father was assistant colonial chaplain. Charles was educated privately and at the age of 18 he entered the Commissariat Department of the Government of New South Wales <ref name="Ward, J 1875 pp. 475-9">Ward, J. 1969 “Cowper, Sir Charles (1807-1875)” Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 3, Melbourne University Press, pp. 475-9.</ref>.
Cowper was born in 1807 in [[Lancashire]] in [[England]] and was the third son of William Cowper and Hannah Horner who migrated to New South Wales when Charles was only two years old. His father was assistant colonial chaplain. Charles was educated privately and at the age of 18 he entered the Commissariat Department of the [[Government of New South Wales]] <ref name="Ward, J 1875 pp. 475-9">Ward, J. 1969 “Cowper, Sir Charles (1807-1875)” Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 3, Melbourne University Press, pp. 475-9.</ref>.


In 1831 he married Eliza Sutton daughter of Daniel Sutton who lived in the village of Wivenhoe in Essex, England <ref>Powell, A. 1977 “Patrician Democrat: the political life of Charles Cowper 1843-1870”, Melbourne University Press, p. 8.</ref>. The couple had six children, two sons and four daughters<ref>NSW Births Deaths and Marriages between 1834 and 1844</ref>. In 1836 Cowper began building Wivenhoe at Camden on land that had originally been granted by Governor Macquarie to his father <ref>Powell, A. 1977, p. 8.</ref>.
In 1831 he married Eliza Sutton daughter of Daniel Sutton who lived in the village of [[Wivenhoe]] in [[Essex]]. <ref>Powell, A. 1977 “Patrician Democrat: the political life of Charles Cowper 1843-1870”, Melbourne University Press, p. 8.</ref> The couple had six children, two sons and four daughters<ref>NSW Births Deaths and Marriages between 1834 and 1844</ref>. In 1836 Cowper began building Wivenhoe at Camden on land that had originally been granted by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Lachlan Macquarie]], to his father. <ref>Powell, A. 1977, p. 8.</ref>.
[[Image:Wivenhoe 1858 Sketch by Conrad Martens.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Sketch by Conrad Martens of Wivenhoe in 1858.]]
[[Image:Wivenhoe 1858 Sketch by Conrad Martens.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Sketch by Conrad Martens of Wivenhoe in 1858]]
Soon after the house was built the Cowpers planted a vineyard which was one of the earliest in the colony<ref>Mater Dei Vineyard” Webpage at http://www.materdeicamden.org.au/vineyard.html</ref>. By 1850 the Wivenhoe wines were becoming celebrated with several very favourable mentions in the newspapers<ref>Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1850, p 3 in the Supplement</ref>. In 1856 one newspaper described the wines that were produced there. These were Muscat, Riesling, red wine which they said was similar to Rhine Valley wines and Madeira which they thought was like Frontenac<ref>The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843-1893, 11December 1856, p.3</ref>
Soon after the house was built the Cowpers planted a vineyard which was one of the earliest in the colony <ref>Mater Dei Vineyard” Webpage at http://www.materdeicamden.org.au/vineyard.html</ref>. By 1850 the Wivenhoe wines were becoming celebrated with several very favourable mentions in the newspapers<ref>Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1850, p 3 in the Supplement</ref>. In 1856 one newspaper described the wines that were produced there. These were [[Muscat (grape and wine)|Muscat]], [[Riesling]] and red wine which they said was similar to [[Rhine Valley]] wines and [[Madeira wine|Madeira]] which they thought was like [[Frontenac (grape)|Frontenac]]. <ref>The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843-1893, 11December 1856, p.3</ref> In 1858 [[Conrad Martens]] sketched of the house. In 1866 Wivenhoe was advertised for sale and the property was described in the following terms.
⚫
:''This commodious family mansion contains the following accommodation. On the ground floor a spacious hall 9 feet wide entered from a tastefully designed portico. There is also a drawing room, dining room, breakfast room, library, butler’s pantry, store and a range of domestic offices such as kitchen, laundry, ironing room, scullery and servant’s room. On the upper floor there are six bedrooms. :''On the basement are the celebrated Wivenhoe Wine cellars extending under the whole of the main building. The cellars are of immense strength and thickness 9 feet in height and were especially built for their present use being capable of storing a very large quantity of wine.'' <ref>Sydney Morning Herald, 18 November 1864, p. 7.</ref>


⚫
In 1870 Cowper became Agent-General for NSW which was a position situated in London. He and Eliza sailed for England with their youngest daughter Rose early in 1871<ref>Powell, A. 1977, p. 158.</ref>. Unfortunately Charles’ health deteriorated over the next few years and in 1875 he died in [[Kensington, London]]. <ref name="Ward, J 1875 pp. 475-9"/> Lady Cowper and Rose returned to Sydney and both resided at [[Bowral, New South Wales]] for many years. Lady Cowper died in 1884 and was buried at St Paul’s Church near Wivenhoe. <ref>The Late Lady Cowper” Queanbeyan Age, 5 February 1884, p. 2</ref>
In 1858 Conrad Martens made a sketch of the house which is shown on the left.

In 1866 Wivenhoe was advertised for sale and the property was described in the following terms.
⚫
:''This commodious family mansion contains the following accommodation. On the ground floor a spacious hall 9 feet wide entered from a tastefully designed portico. There is also a drawing room, dining room, breakfast room, library, butler’s pantry, store and a range of domestic offices such as kitchen, laundry, ironing room, scullery and servant’s room. On the upper floor there are six bedrooms.

:''On the basement are the celebrated Wivenhoe Wine cellars extending under the whole of the main building. The cellars are of immense strength and thickness 9 feet in height and were especially built for their present use being capable of storing a very large quantity of wine.''<ref>Sydney Morning Herald, 18 November 1864, p. 7.</ref>.

⚫
In 1870 Cowper became Agent-General for NSW which was a position situated in London. He and Eliza sailed for England with their youngest daughter Rose early in 1871<ref>Powell, A. 1977, p. 158.</ref>. Unfortunately Charles’ health deteriorated over the next few years and in 1875 he died in Kensington, London<ref name="Ward, J 1875 pp. 475-9"/>. Lady Cowper and Rose returned to Sydney and both resided at Bowral for many years. Lady Cowper died in 1884 and was buried at St Paul’s Church near Wivenhoe<ref>The Late Lady Cowper” Queanbeyan Age, 5 February 1884, p. 2</ref>.


==Henry and Caroline Thomas==
==Henry and Caroline Thomas==
[[Image:Ad for wine 1876.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Advertisement for wines produced at Wivenhoe in 1876]]
[[Image:Ad for wine 1876.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Advertisement for wines produced at Wivenhoe in 1876]]
⚫
Henry Arding Thomas was born in 1819 in [[India]]. His father was Robert Arding Thomas who was a [[Major]] in the [[British Army]] and served in India. His mother was Caroline Gilbert. In 1856 Henry married Caroline Frances Husband in Sydney. <ref name="NSW Births Deaths an Marriages">NSW Births Deaths an Marriages</ref> Caroline was born in [[Devon, England]], in 1833. After their marriage the couple went to live in [[Armidale, New South Wales]] on a property called [[Saumarez]] and had a family of five boys and six girls.

⚫
<ref name="NSW Births Deaths an Marriages"/>. While he was in Armidale Thomas was a local magistrate, foundation president of the pastoral and Agricultural Society and involved with [[Anglican Church of Australia|Anglican Church]] affairs .<ref>Heritage Council of NSW, “Saumarez Homestead”, Online at http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=5051265</ref> In 1874 Henry sold Saumarez and the following year he bought Wivenhoe. In 1876 an advertisement appeared in the [[Sydney Morning Herald]] for some of the wines that were produced from the Wivenhoe Vineyard. Henry died in 1884 and his widow, Caroline continued to live at Wivenhoe until her death in 1903.
Henry Arding Thomas was born in 1819 in India. His father was Robert Arding Thomas who was a Major in the British Army and served in India. His mother was Caroline Gilbert.

⚫
In 1856 Henry married Caroline Frances Husband in Sydney<ref name="NSW Births Deaths an Marriages">NSW Births Deaths an Marriages</ref>. . Caroline was born in Devon in 1833. After their marriage the couple went to live in Armidale on a property called Saumarez. They had a very large family, five boys and six girls
⚫
<ref name="NSW Births Deaths an Marriages"/>. While he was in Armidale Thomas was a local magistrate, foundation president of the pastoral and Agricultural Society and involved with Anglican Church affairs<ref>Heritage Council of NSW, “Saumarez Homestead”, Online at http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=5051265</ref>

In 1874 Henry sold Saumarez and the following year he bought Wivenhoe. In 1876 an advertisement appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald for some of the wines that were produced from the Wivenhoe Vineyard (see picture at right). Henry died in 1884 and his widow, Caroline continued to live at Wivenhoe until her death in 1903.


==Walter Oswald Watt and Muriel Watt==
==Walter Oswald Watt and Muriel Watt==

Revision as of 00:46, 1 February 2011

Wivenhoe, circa 1900

Wivenhoe is an historic house built in 1837 at Narellan, near Camden, in New South Wales. It was designed by the Sydney architect John Verge who also designed Camden Park and Elizabeth Bay House. The house has had some very notable residents and is now owned by Mater Dei, a Catholic Church organisation. It is open for inspection by the public.

Sir Charles and Lady Eliza Cowper

Charles Cowper built Wivenhoe in 1837 and lived there for about 30 years. During his residence at Wivenhoe he served as Premier of New South Wales five times between 1856 and 1870.

Cowper was born in 1807 in Lancashire in England and was the third son of William Cowper and Hannah Horner who migrated to New South Wales when Charles was only two years old. His father was assistant colonial chaplain. Charles was educated privately and at the age of 18 he entered the Commissariat Department of the Government of New South Wales [1].

In 1831 he married Eliza Sutton daughter of Daniel Sutton who lived in the village of Wivenhoe in Essex. [2] The couple had six children, two sons and four daughters[3]. In 1836 Cowper began building Wivenhoe at Camden on land that had originally been granted by the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie, to his father. [4].

Sketch by Conrad Martens of Wivenhoe in 1858

Soon after the house was built the Cowpers planted a vineyard which was one of the earliest in the colony [5]. By 1850 the Wivenhoe wines were becoming celebrated with several very favourable mentions in the newspapers[6]. In 1856 one newspaper described the wines that were produced there. These were Muscat, Riesling and red wine which they said was similar to Rhine Valley wines and Madeira which they thought was like Frontenac. [7] In 1858 Conrad Martens sketched of the house. In 1866 Wivenhoe was advertised for sale and the property was described in the following terms.

This commodious family mansion contains the following accommodation. On the ground floor a spacious hall 9 feet wide entered from a tastefully designed portico. There is also a drawing room, dining room, breakfast room, library, butler’s pantry, store and a range of domestic offices such as kitchen, laundry, ironing room, scullery and servant’s room. On the upper floor there are six bedrooms. :On the basement are the celebrated Wivenhoe Wine cellars extending under the whole of the main building. The cellars are of immense strength and thickness 9 feet in height and were especially built for their present use being capable of storing a very large quantity of wine. [8]

In 1870 Cowper became Agent-General for NSW which was a position situated in London. He and Eliza sailed for England with their youngest daughter Rose early in 1871[9]. Unfortunately Charles’ health deteriorated over the next few years and in 1875 he died in Kensington, London. [1] Lady Cowper and Rose returned to Sydney and both resided at Bowral, New South Wales for many years. Lady Cowper died in 1884 and was buried at St Paul’s Church near Wivenhoe. [10]

Henry and Caroline Thomas

Advertisement for wines produced at Wivenhoe in 1876

Henry Arding Thomas was born in 1819 in India. His father was Robert Arding Thomas who was a Major in the British Army and served in India. His mother was Caroline Gilbert. In 1856 Henry married Caroline Frances Husband in Sydney. [11] Caroline was born in Devon, England, in 1833. After their marriage the couple went to live in Armidale, New South Wales on a property called Saumarez and had a family of five boys and six girls. [11]. While he was in Armidale Thomas was a local magistrate, foundation president of the pastoral and Agricultural Society and involved with Anglican Church affairs .[12] In 1874 Henry sold Saumarez and the following year he bought Wivenhoe. In 1876 an advertisement appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald for some of the wines that were produced from the Wivenhoe Vineyard. Henry died in 1884 and his widow, Caroline continued to live at Wivenhoe until her death in 1903.

Walter Oswald Watt and Muriel Watt

Walter Oswald Watt was born in 1878 in Bournemouth England. His father was John Brown Watt, a merchant and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council[13]. His mother was Mary Jane Holden and unfortunately she died when he was a baby. He spent the first ten years of his life in Sydney and was sent then to be educated in England at Clifton College Bristol and Trinity College Cambridge where he obtained his Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees. He returned to Sydney in 1900 and became second Lieutenant in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles and in 1902 was appointed aide-de camp to the New South Wales State Governor[14].

In 1902 he married Muriel Maud Williams. Muriel was the daughter of Sir Hartley Williams who was a Judge of the Supreme Court in Melbourne[15]. Her mother was Edith Ellen Horne. The couple bought Wivenhoe in 1905 and in the same year had their only child James. They owned the property until 1910 when they sold it to the Sisters of the Good Samaritans.

In 1914 at the outbreak of World War 1 Walter joined the French Foreign Legion (see photo on right). He was awarded two military honours while in the Legion. In 1916 he transferred to the newly formed Australian Flying Corps and served there as Captain.

Mater Dei

When the Sisters of the Good Samaritans bought Wivenhoe in 1910 they made it an orphanage for the disadvantaged children in the inner city areas of Sydney. The house became part of Mater Dei which is an organisation that was established by the Good Samaritan Sisters. In 1957 the property became a school for children with intellectual disabilities and still serves this function today. For information about the school see the External Links below.

References

  1. ^ a b Ward, J. 1969 “Cowper, Sir Charles (1807-1875)” Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 3, Melbourne University Press, pp. 475-9.
  2. ^ Powell, A. 1977 “Patrician Democrat: the political life of Charles Cowper 1843-1870”, Melbourne University Press, p. 8.
  3. ^ NSW Births Deaths and Marriages between 1834 and 1844
  4. ^ Powell, A. 1977, p. 8.
  5. ^ Mater Dei Vineyard” Webpage at http://www.materdeicamden.org.au/vineyard.html
  6. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 1850, p 3 in the Supplement
  7. ^ The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843-1893, 11December 1856, p.3
  8. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 18 November 1864, p. 7.
  9. ^ Powell, A. 1977, p. 158.
  10. ^ The Late Lady Cowper” Queanbeyan Age, 5 February 1884, p. 2
  11. ^ a b NSW Births Deaths an Marriages
  12. ^ Heritage Council of NSW, “Saumarez Homestead”, Online at http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=5051265
  13. ^ G. P. Walsh, 'Watt, John Brown (1826 - 1897)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, Melbourne University Press, 1976, pp 365-366.
  14. ^ Susan Johnston, 'Watt, Walter Oswald (1878 - 1921)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp 411-412.
  15. ^ Robert Miller, 'Williams, Sir Hartley (1843 - 1929)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, Melbourne University Press, 1976, pp 403-404.

Wivenhoe today http://www.materdeicamden.org.au/wivenhoe.html

History of Mater Dei at Camden http://www.materdeicamden.org/mater-dei-history

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