The Ben Hall Sites - Wandi

Item details


Name of item:	The Ben Hall Sites - Wandi
Other name/s:	Plumb's Inn, Shelleys Flats, Douglass Inn
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Residential buildings (private)
Category:	House
Location:	Lat: -34.7422139230 Long: 149.9127504560
Primary address:	16501 Hume Highway, Narambulla Creek, 9.5 km south of Marulan, NSW 2579
Parish:	Nattery
County:	Argyle
Local govt. area:	Goulburn Mulwaree
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Pejar

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	5		DP	657521

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
16501 Hume Highway	Narambulla Creek, 9.5 km south of Marulan	Goulburn Mulwaree	Nattery	Argyle	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
	Private

Statement of significance:


	Wandi, originally known as Plumb's Inn, contributes to the State significance of the Ben Hall Sites as a well known element of the Ben Hall story. The inn was the site of resistance to an attack by the Hall gang when William Macleay, a prominent pastoralist and Member of Parliament for the Murrumbidgee, retaliated and drove the bushrangers off. Resistance to the bushrangers from the public was uncommon and historically the reasons why are a source of speculation that fuels the mythology surrounding Hall and other bushrangers. Wandi provides physical evidence of the role of the rural hotel in travel in the 1840's. It provided refreshment and accommodation on the road for travellers on trips between Goulburn and Sydney which was essential due to the length of time for such journeys. The building is an excellent example of a former Colonial Georgian coaching inn. The style of the building and its method of construction provide an insight into what is an increasingly uncommon example of 1840s architecture. It also exemplifies the types of places targeted by Ben Hall and his fellow bushrangers. At a local level the property has potential for archaeological evidence from its early use as a hotel from 1843.
	Date significance updated: 16 Apr 09
	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:	1843-
Physical description:	Setting: The house is located on a rise above Nambulla Creek. From the property looking north west past the Hume Highway can be seen Rampion Hills. The view to the south is of Narumbulla Creek. Inn building: The building formerly known as Plumbs Inn is now a residence on a property known as Wandi. The residence is a sandstone building with stone quoins. The front has rooms flanking either end of a central verandah with stone paving. This part of the building is rectangular with a low hip roof. Chamfered edged quoins are located on the corners and around the windows and doors on the front elevation. Adjoining at its western end is another wing, which is a rectangular building under a hipped roof of the same period. The sandstone blocks on the front facade are laid in ashlar coursework. The sides and rear of the main building have been rendered leaving the stone corner quoins and lintels and the stone base course exposed. the side wing has also been rendered except for under the verandah of the facade facing the courtyard which faces east. This facade also has stone blocks laid in ashlar pattern. The wing also has a dormer window in the roof facing east indicating an attic level. Outbuildings: Other buildings on the property within 100 metres of the house of interest are: One slab structure built with with timber slabs laid vertically under a corrugated steel roof. In very poor condition. One very small house. Not inspected up close. It has a gable roof and front verandah with two windows flanking a central door. The Parish map showing Plumbs Inn also shows two smaller buildings.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The building is in a poor condition. Although it is partially inhabited there are windows without glass that have been covered with sheets of iron; a lot of roof sheeting is loose; there is a lot of rubbish around the property which is a fire hazard; there is some evidence of cracking in the eatsern corner; the stone base course shows evidence of spalling and the unsecure nature of the property places it at risk. There is a potential for archaeology. It is externally very intact (LEP, 21/8/2011).
	Date condition updated:19 Mar 09
Further information:	The property is in need of maintenance. It is externally very intact. The residence is in a poor condition with some windows covered by sheets of iron but is partially occupied. The building is in a poor condition. Although it is partially inhabited there are windows without glass that have been covered with sheets of iron; a lot of roof sheeting is loose; there is a lot of rubbish around the property which is a fire hazard; there is some evidence of cracking in the eatsern corner; the stone base course shows evidence of spalling and the unsecure nature of the property places it at risk. There is a potential for archaeology. (19 March 2009).


Current use:	House and rural property.
Former use:	Coaching Inn

History

Historical notes:

The land on which the Inn was constructed was purchased by William Shelley on 13 September 1837 for 160 pounds. The first conclusive evidence of the Inn's construction was a conveyance in 1843 that included the description: "the substantial stone built dwelling-house or Inn called or known as the Douglas Inn."

On 19 April 1853 the land was sold to Robert Plumb, farmer of Brisbane Meadow for 1500 pounds. Plumb was granted a licence in April 1854 and must have continued to renew it until at least 1864 and possibly until he sold the land in 1869. Plumb was recorded on the electoral role as "Innkeeper, on Shelleys Flats".

On 19 December 1864 the Ben Hall gang settled themselves on the Sydney to Goulburn Road between Goulburn and Narambulla Creek. Their main object was the Goulburn coach, but from eight in the morning they took captive and robbed anyone who came along the road. By the time the coach had arrived there were 35 captives and a dray. On completing their inspection of the coach at around two in the afternoon everyone was released. The bushrangers remained on the road and held up the local passenger coach from Berrima. Meanwhile the buggy of the Honourable William Macleay, Member of Parliament for Murrumbidgee, arrived at Plumb's Inn as the bushrangers appeared on either side of the road and a shot was fired at him. Guests celebrating the wedding of Plumb's daughter were on the verandah of the Inn and were rushed inside by Macleay who then shot his rifle at the bushrangers, driving them away. Macleay received wide spread acclamation for his action.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Transporting politicians and high ranking public officials-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	Coaching Inns along roads-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Engaging in bushranging and banditry-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Scenes of criminal activities-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with Ben Hall, bushranger-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with William John Macleay, pastoralist, politician, patron of science-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Wandi adds to the state significance of the Ben Hall Sites for its links with the activities of bushrangers, in particular holds by the road side, and attempts to take hostages at public places such as Inns. The Inn provides physical evidence of the role of the rural hotel in travel in the 1840's. It provided refreshment and accommodation on the road for travellers on trips between Goulburn and Sydney which was essential due to the length of time for such journeys.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	Wandi adds to the State significance of the Ben Hall Sites as a well known element of the Ben Hall story. The former Inn was the site of resistance to an attack by the Hall gang when a politician William Macleay retaliated and drove the bushrangers off. Resistance to the bushrangers from the public was uncommon and historically the reasons why are a source of speculation that fuels the mythology surrounding Hall and other bushrangers. Wandi is associated with William Macleay, a prominent pastoralist and Member of Parliament for the Murrumbidgee in 1864.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	Wandi is an excellent example of a Colonial Georgian hotel and residence. The style of the building and its method of construction provides an insight into what is an increasingly uncommon example of 1840's architecture.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	Due to the association of the former Inn with Ben Hall the place does have some value to contemporary Australian society. This is only at a State level when considered collectively with the other Ben Hall Sites.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The property has potential for archaeological evidence from its early use as a hotel from 1843. This satisfies the criteria at a local level.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Does not fulfill this criteria.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Wandi is a good example of a Colonial Georgian rural hotel. It also exemplifies the types of places held up Ben Hall and his fellow bushrangers.
Integrity/Intactness:	The property is very intact.
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)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register - Element		01827	08 Oct 10	119	5076
Local Environmental Plan	Goulburn Mulwaree Local Environmental Plan	312	09 Dec 09
National Trust of Australia register	NTA (NSW) Country Register	3962	31 May 76

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Goulburn Heritage Study: final report	1983		Lester Firth P/L		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	Eddy, Maureen	1985	Marulan: A Unique Heritage
Written	Edgar Penzig	1985	The Sandy Creek Bushranger
Written	Gatto, Paul	1991	The History of 'Wandi' (formerly known as) Shelleys Flats, Douglas Inn & Plumbs Inn in the County of Argyle N.S.W. From 1837 to 1925
Written	Mulwaree Shire Council	2004	Mulwaree Shire community heritage study
Written	Peter C. Smith	1985	Tracking Down The Bushrangers

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

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5055031
File number:	H03/00307

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