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Circa 1893
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Maitland, located 163km north of Sydney and 32km north-west of Newcastle , became a permanent European settlement when Governor Macquarie opened the Lower Hunter up in the years 1818 to 1821. 11 emancipated convicts were granted plots of land as a reward for good behaviour and free settlers began to move in. The locals called the settlement Morgan’s Plains after one of the earliest and best known of the convict settlers – Molly Morgan. In her fifties she became the mistress of an official and around 1819 received 159 acres at Wallis Plains, that land constituting what is now the business district of Maitland. Central to the story of Lorn is its position between the Hunter River and the rising centre of West Maitland, soon to become the busiest farming town in the colony. In every sense its riverine environment has controlled the history of Lorn. Built up predominantly in relatively short period 1888 to say 1930, and attracting residents from Maitland’s commercial circles, it testifies to their tastes and their prosperity. In the absence of any relevant business records, it is impossible to explain the delaying of the first subdivision until 1888. However, the timing of its sale was the result of the death of A W McDougall, owner of the Lorn Estate, on 22 January 1888 and the execution of his will. Many of the lots offered for sale in 1888 were quickly occupied and the 1891 census records indicate there were 30 residences at Lorn with a population of 202 and three houses under construction. Within three years of the 1888 auction, buildings existed on almost 1/3 of the 97 lots offered. No doubt the severe depression of the last decade of the century slowed down the rate of construction. One of these lots situated at 58 Belmore Road was sold to a Samuel Beattie Esquire, born 1829 Ballymena, County Antrim Ireland , to Joseph and Jane Beattie. He arrived circa 1852 aged 23. He was a bootmaker in High Street, West Maitand. Samuel appointed J W Pender in 1892 to design a two-storey residence that would have had a completion date in 1893. The Pender practice was set up around the year 1863 by John Wiltshire Pender (1833-1917), who emigrated to New South Wales in 1855 with his immediate family from the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Throughout his professional years he designed and built a number of significant public buildings, cottages and homesteads including ‘Cintra’ for B. W Levy, West Maitland (1878), the Synagogue, West Maitland, (1879), Windemere House, Lochinvar (contract date: December 1882), Benhome Benevolent Asylum, West Maitland (1884), Commercial Bank, Dungog (1882) and culminating in two White family homesteads, Saumarez (1888) and Belltrees (1905-1906).
Samuel Beattie died 15 October 1910 in Lorn and was buried the next day in the Presbyterian cemetery, East Maitland. His wife of 54 years, Winifred (nee Murphy), died on 19 November 1894 in Lorn and is buried with Samuel at East Maitland. It appears the couple did not have any children. Ownership of the stately residence remains somewhat of a mystery after the deaths of Samuel and his wife. The Cameron family purchased the home at the turn of the last century. Its chequered past includes residential flats and doctor’s surgery. The current owners, Vera and Kelvin Sweetman bought the property about 18 years ago in a rundown state and returned it to its former glory incorporating some modern conveniences along the way. It has been quite a journey for the old girl! PROPERTY DESCRIPTION UPPER FLOOR Three bedrooms, two with marble fireplaces, change room and full bathroom. Hallway to upper balcony that captures refreshing north-easterly breezes that cross the open farm plains of the Bolwarra Flats in the afternoon. LOWER FLOOR Off the central hallway is the 4th bedroom and formal lounge, both with marble fireplaces. Formal dining room is just off the remodelled Tasmanian Oak kitchen. An extension on this level done approximately 10 years ago includes a large family room, full bathroom facility and internal laundry. Ceiling to floor windows open to the level block of around 1000 sq m with established gardens, outdoor entertaining area and in-ground swimming pool. A double garage is detached. GENERAL DESCRIPTION High, ornate ceilings, extensive use of cedar joinery including magnificent staircase, architraves and skirting boards. Contact Details: |
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No Warranty Given. You should seek your own independent advice as to the accuracy of the information supplied. |
 
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