Riversdale

Statement of Significance

Riversdale, Kaeshagen Street, a single storey brick, rendered masonry and iron house has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
the place is a fine example of a Federation Bungalow style of architecture;
the place has landmark qualities and contributes significantly to the streetscape and the community's sense of place;
the place is an integral part of a significant precinct along with the Old Picton Inn set in a picturesque surrounding on the banks of the Preston River.

Physical Description

Riversdale, Kaeshagen Street is a single storey, brick, rendered masonry and iron house with an asymmetrical facade designed as an example of the Federation Bungalow style of architecture. The place has undergone considerable alterations c. 2003 and c. 2005.

The walls are rendered masonry with two-tone dado feature. The roof is hipped and gabled and clad with corrugated iron. This is a large building with multiple gabled ends featuring decorative timber gable screens. There are also multiple timber framed windows and french style doors. The verandah has a continuous corrugated iron roof and is supported by chamfered timber posts. There are two large rendered chimneys and one smaller rendered chimney evident together with two modern steel chimneys. There are some low level stone walls providing landscape and lining the driveway with large pillars framing the entrance.

History

Riversdale was built c 1891 for the Lewin family. The exact date of construction is not known, but it has been recorded that C W Lewin, a butcher, was living at Riversdale Estate in 1891. The property was originally known as Riverdale but the nameplate now shows it as being Riversdale.

Lewin built his family home on 25 acres of land purchased from Mervyn Richardson-Bunbury, where he established a piggery, market garden and dairy. The Lewin family lived at the nearby Old Picton Inn while the house was being built and their daughter Rosalind was born there. She would later go in to become a well known Infant Health Sister.

The site was chosen as it was an excellent location for a slaughterhouse and stock yards to supply his shop which was located at the south east corner of Victoria and Symmonds Streets. He later moved his shop to Victoria Street where his wife also managed the Grand Central Hostel. The farm was referred to as the ‘pick of the South-West farms.’

Lewin allowed the school children from Picton Primary School to have a vegetable patch on part of his land. The market gardens did not survive due to flooding from the river which leached chemicals and acids into the land from the adjacent Mt Lyall (CSBP) fertilizer plant.

From the 1930s the Riversdale housed the manager of CSBP and Farmers Ltd.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.