Coolangatta Estate Group

Item details


Name of item:	Coolangatta Estate Group
Type of item:	Complex / Group
Group/Collection:	Farming and Grazing
Category:	Homestead Complex
Primary address:	Bolong Road, Coolangatta, NSW 2535
Parish:	COOLANGATTA
County:	CAMDEN
Local govt. area:	Shoalhaven

Boundary:

Further analysis required but includes the vista to Comerong Island

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Bolong Road	Coolangatta	Shoalhaven	COOLANGATTA	CAMDEN	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	Site of considerable social, historical and archaeological significance including buildings, trees and cultural landscapes. Local significance (Shoalhaven).
	Date significance updated: 29 Sep 17
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1820-1820
Physical description:	The Coolangatta Estate includes several buildings and sites which have been recorded on separate inventory forms (see section in this data sheet on "related items" for SHI reference numbers).
Modifications and dates:	Rural residential subdivisions have been developed on the slopes of Mt Coolangatta. The estate has developed more recently vineyards and a winery, a golf course forms part of the tourist complex .
Further information:	Historical Period: 1826-1850


Current use:	Tourist resort
Former use:	Estate Complex

History

Historical notes:

The Coolangatta Estate once encompassed a large part of the Shoalhaven region, from the Berry/Broughton area, south to Bomaderry and Numbaa. The Estate was established in 1822, when Governor Brisbane awarded a grant of 4050 hectares in the Shoalhaven area to Alexander Berry and his partner Edward Wollstonecraft. Berry was a wealthy merchant who was also important in the history of North Sydney and Crows Nest. Berry established a settlement of convicts and employees at the foot of a mountain he named "Cullengatty", an Aboriginal name meaning "fine view". A self-supporting village quickly grew up around the Berry homestead, which was built in stages from 1824.

In 1832 Alexander Berry married Elizabeth Wollstonecraft and moved to Crows Nest. In 1836 Alexander's brothers, John, William and David, assumed the management of "Coolangatta" and David inherited the prosperous estate when Alexander died in 1873. In 1883 David Berry appointed his cousin John Hay as manager of the Estate. Careful management ensured the development and prosperity of the vast Estate, over a period which spanned the 1800s and 1900s.

Between the years 1823 and 1905, over 145 miles of drains were cut, enabling the reclamation of 8,100 hectares of swamp land. Alexander and David Berry founded the bustling private township of Broughton Creek (later Berry). Private villages were also established at Numbaa, Greenwell Point and Bomaderry. Hundreds of tenant farmers were accommodated on the Estate during the Management of the Berry's. David gave land to benefit the communities on the estate and built schools and churches and buildings such as Broughton Creek (Berry) Post Office.

David Berry died in 1889 and the major beneficiaries of his estate were St. Andrew's University in Scotland, and the people of Broughton Creek, who received endowments for a Presbyterian Church and for a hospital (the David Berry Memorial Hospital). The town subsequently changed its name to honour David Berry. John Hay was appointed executor of the Berry Estate, and was obliged to raise Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pouns to fulfil bequests. Hay moved into "Coolangatta House" and continued to manage the Estate and improve the drainage system and the amenities of various settlements, often at his own expense.

The lands of the great estate were gradually broken up and many sold to former tenant farmers. Hay rewarded loyal estate employees with homes such as "Mananga" (Berry), "Lynburn" and "Greenleaves (formerly "Flawcraig" ) in Bomaderry.

John Hay was honoured with a knighthood for his efforts in 1908. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Law, in recognition of his work to fulfil David Berry's bequests.

Sir John Hay died in 1909 and the management of the estate passed to his half-brother, Alexander Hay. By the 1940's the Coolangatta Estate, then under the management of Mr Berry Hay, had dwindled to a few hundred acres surrounding the homestead. "Coolangatta House" was tragically destroyed by fire in 1946. The remaining land and Estate buildings were sold to Mr Colin Bishop in 1968. Mr Bishop carefully restored the buildings and symathetically converted the site into the Coolangatta Historic Village Motel, which comprises 20 units and a restaurant. The Village Motel was officially opened in June 1972 by Mr Tom Lewis MLA, on the 150th anniversary of the establishment of "Coolangatta".

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Convict-Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Pastoralism-Activities associated with the breeding, raising, processing and distribution of livestock for human use	(none)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	(none)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The item is of historical significance as the Coolangatta Estate that once encompassed a large part of the Shoalhaven region, from the Berry/Broughton area, south to Bomaderry and Numbaa. The Estate was established in 1822, when Governor Brisbane awarded a grant of 4050 hectares in the Shoalhaven area to Alexander Berry and his partner, Edward Wollstonecraft. The Estate contains numerous buildings of significance.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The place is very strongly associated with Alexander Berry and his partner Edward Wollstonecraft who were granted a large area of land in the district in 1822. Berry was instrumental in opening up the Shoalhaven for farming, shipping and trade and development.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Estate is a large, rural property set on the slopes of Mount Coolangatta with a fine collection of colonial buildinsg set in landscaped grounds. It is emblematic of the early development of the region.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Estate marks the earliest development of the region and was the instrumental in the develoment of the surroundign area and local settlements including Nowra, and Broughton Creek (Berry). It has immense significance to the Shoalhaven community
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The site contains some of the earliest buildings in the region and has exceptional archaeological potential
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	This item is assessed as historically rare at a State level. This item is assessed as aesthetically rare at a State level. This item is assesed as socially rare locally. This item is assessed as scientifically rare at a State level.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	This item is assessed as historically representative at a State level. This item is assessed as aesthetically representative at a State level. This item is assessed as scientifically representative at a State level. This item is assessed as socially representative locally.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)	25 May 12

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date
Local Environmental Plan	Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014	169	22 Apr 14
Local Environmental Plan			13 Apr 07
Heritage study	Coolangatta Estate Group	B134

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Illawarra Regional Heritage Study Review	1993		Perumal Murphy Wu		No
Shoalhaven City Council Heritage Study 1995-1998	1998	B134	Peter Freeman Pty Ltd		Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Perumal Murphy Wu	1993	Illawarra Regional Heritage Study Review (September 1993)

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	2390185

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