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| Menangle (Camden Park) Gate Lodge c2009 (MPHM) |
Menangle Gate Lodge has historical significance as one of the pair of gate lodges built by the Macarthur Onslows for the Camden Park Estate.
Today (together with the lodge at the entrance near Camden) provides evidence of the former extent of the estate (one of the most significant colonial properties in Australia) as well as demonstrating the architectural embellishments thought appropriate to large estates in the late 19th century.
The building also has aesthetic significance as an attractive and largely intact example of an "Arts and Crafts" style estate cottage in the region and even for its associations with the architectural firm of Sulman & Power, which designed many buildings on the estate and in the adjacent Menangle Village.
The cottage's aesthetic qualities are further enhanced by its attractive rural setting and sitting adjacent to the remains of the original Estate gates and driveway.
The Gate Lodge is a single-storey weatherboard cottage with a hipped and gabled tiled roof and brick chimneys, one of which has a decorative patterned brick base.
The gables have timber battening, and the north roof covers a small porch with timber latticework and frieze, while the eastern gable projects on brackets.
Beneath the east gable is a corbelled bay window with a small panel at the top. The doors have small-pane transom lights. The three panel, the half-glazed front door is off a small porch at the south-east corner.
On the gables are plaques bearing (different) coats of arms and the mottos "FESTINA LENTE" (to the east) and "FIDE ET OPERA" (to the north).
One of these plaques was moved from the gate lodge at the other entry to Camden Park. The property still retains a large part of the original picket fence, but this is being renewed.
There is a fibro extension to the rear (south-west), the original verandah flooring was replaced (20 November 1990), and other maintenance items include: fibro replaced on northern lattice enclosed porch, roof re-tiled, and fence renewed.
Adapted from a Michael Pearson Heritage Management Consultants P/L.
Bulli Seam Operations Non-Aboriginal Heritage Assessment (Statement of Heritage Impact) A Report For Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd, 2009. Online.
From 'The Menangle News' Volume 19, No 9, December 2009.
