White House (or Reeves House), Camden NSW.

White House
Reeves House

44 Argyle Street, Camden, NSW 2570

Lat: -34 0 23 Long: 150 48 29

Lot 11 DP 771220

White House (or Reeves House) 44 Argyle Street, Camden. (I Willis, 2019)

  History and Description

This Camden icon is located at 44 Argyle Street and was built in 1889 for teacher HP (Henry) Reeves. HP Reeves was mayor of Camden 1894 and was the first band master of the Camden Town Brass Band in the 1870s.  It has been occupied by the Boardman family and Dr Warren. In the mid-20th century is was the head office for the Clinton Mining and Transport Group. It currently has a number of businesses including a restaurant. (Instagram)

Country towns across Australia had lovely Victorian gentleman's town houses. They had a simple and robust construction that reflected the wealth and prosperity of rural Australia in the late 1800s. They were a statement around the confidence of the future of colonial New South Wales. (Linkedin)

A two storey brick house stuccoed to imitate ashlar. It has a hipped iron roof and
projecting bay front. The two storey front verandah has cast iron columns, balastrade and
a bullnosed iron roof. It has a timber and glass panelled entrance door with side and
highlight windows, and two pane double hung windows to the front elevation, and four
pane double hung windows to the side elevation. (NSWHI)

The front verandah and steps are tiled. Interiors are substantially intact with cedar joinery and marble fireplaces and some original ceilings and cornices. The rear rooms have been substantially altered but with little disruption to the external appearance. It is prominently situated on a corner site at the
eastern entry to Camden. (NSWHI)

Condition and Use

The house is in good condition.  (NSWHI)

Heritage Significance

Reeves House retains good integrity and intactness. (NSWHI)

Heritage Listing

Local Environment Plan                       Item 16

Read more

 White House (Instagram)
New South Wales Heritage Inventory

Clinton’s Motor Showroom & Garage, Camden.

Clinton’s Motor Showroom & Garage

16 Argyle Street

Camden 2570

Lot 2, DP 1017656

Clintons Car Showroom c.1983 (J Wrigley/Camden Images)

History and Description

The car showroom was built for Clinton Motors, the local Holden dealership, by local builder Mark Jensen in 1947  to coincide with the launch of the new Holden motor car in Australia.  

Jack and William Clinton, who had extensive interests in the Burragorang Valley coalfields, extended their business  into the the motor trade in 1945. William Clinton launched Clintons Distributions which is the pioneering General Motors dealership in the area in 1945. The business became the local General Motors Holden agency at Narellan. They sold Oldsmobiles, Mapleleafs, Buick, La Salle, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Bedford and Vauxhall vehicles. They moved to Camden in 1946 and Barry Clinton became sales manager. (Willis, Clinton Motor Group)

John Wrigley reports that one of the early sales manager was John Smails, service manager Harold Monaghan,  and parts manager Garnet Rofe. In 1949 the dealership sold 65 Holden motor cars. (TDR 7 March 2008)

Condition and Use

The building is currently used as a real estate agency.

Heritage Significance

According to the Camden Heritage Inventory is a rare masonry Art Deco building with large shopfront and wrap around awning. The tower on the front of the building is meant to represent the grille of a Holden car. 

Heritage Listing

Local Item 4

Read more

Ian Willis, Pictorial History of Camden & District (2015)

History of the Clinton Motor Group Click here