Booloominbah

Booloominbah is a late Victorian mansion situated at the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.

History and description

Booloominbah was designed for Frederick Robert White in about 1882 by John Horbury Hunt and built by local building contractors William Seabrook and John Brown[1] in 1888. The White family occupied the house until 1933. The property was granted by White's son-in-law Thomas Richmond Foster to the University of Sydney and became the New England University College of the University of Sydney in 1938 and then the University of New England in 1954. The building now houses the offices of the University's senior management, including the Vice-Chancellor's office.

The building has several stained glass windows including the Gordon Window above the main staircase, installed about 1901, which commemorates the life and death of Charles George Gordon of Khartoum,[2] who was beheaded in 1885 by the forces of Muhammad Ahmad.

Booloominbah reflects the Gothic revivalist influences of the 'Queen Anne' style that emerged in England and the United States in the last half of the 19th century. Recent refurbishment has restored much of the original decoration. The building has National Trust classification, as well as being listed on the Register of the National Estate. It has been described as being "perhaps Hunt's greatest achievement in the field of domestic architecture."[3] It also has a New South Wales heritage listing.[4]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Gilbert, L. & Elphick, E. (1982). An Armidale Album: glimpses of Armidale's history and development in word, sketch and photograph. New England Regional Art Museum Assoc., Armidale. ISBN 0-9592749-0-1., p. 192
  2. ↑ Mitchell, B. (1988). House on the Hill: Boolominbah home and university, 1888-1988. University of New England, Armidale. ISBN 0-85834-711-3., pp. 24-252
  3. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/238
  4. ↑ State heritage Website
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Coordinates: 30°29′17″S 151°38′38″E / 30.4880°S 151.6440°E / -30.4880; 151.6440

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