Heritage Holiday Home?

Story by SHARON KELLEY, 16 FEBRUARY 2021, About Regional

One of Bega’s historical Gems: Bismarck House

The official opening of this rebuilt home, after a fire destroyed the original homestead in 1908, made the news in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph on Monday 30 March 1908.

The exterior is a Victorian-style villa, the interior is Federation style, updated again in 2009.

Bismarck House, the Bega Standard reported in 1909, “occupies a splendid position and commands some very pretty views”.

• This heritage listed property has maintained most of its original features, complimented by a full renovation undertaken in 2009.

• Boasting the original façade;

• polished hardwood timber floorboards;

• 12-foot pressed metal ceilings;

• stained glass doors and sash hung painted timber windows;

• turned verandah posts and frieze spindles;

• wide moulded skirtings and architraves,

• as many of the original Victorian fixtures and fittings, as could be retained.

Since 1876 Bismarck house has seen many changes. Most recently it has been operating as a high-end licensed restaurant, café and function centre maintaining a fully equipped commercial kitchen.

Bismarck House, the Bega Standard reported in 1909, “occupies a splendid position and commands some very pretty views”.

• It also made headlines and became the talk of the town for its innovation: “[The owner] Mr Lassen has fixed up an ingenious filter, his own patent, to filter water from the roof before entering the underground tank.”

• The article was written at the official opening of the rebuilt home, after a fire destroyed the original homestead in 1908, which even made the news in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph on Monday 30 March 1908.

• “The fire is supposed to have originated when a servant girl throwing some live ashes into a rubbish box close to the wall of the house, where it smouldered, and finally ignited,” the paper said.

• One can only pity the ‘servant girl’, who is never mentioned again, but the Sattler estate had building insurance, if not contents insurance, although they managed to save quite an amount of the furniture and contents before the home was gutted by the fire.

https://youtu.be/yzemGTbnSCw

The new home was formally opened in January 1909 and immediately rented to the only person in the area worthy of such a residence, the local Police Magistrate, who moved in on 4 January 1909 with his family.

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Today 187-189 Newtown Road, Bega, is a faithful and beautiful restored 1900s home with a fascinating history, originally built by one of the pioneers of Bega, Anton Sattler.

• The Bismarck House floorplan has the possibility of six bedrooms, including a separate one-bedroom studio above the garage,

• three bathrooms, a commercial kitchen,

• and a polished redgum timber bar.

• Recently used as a restaurant and cafe, the homestead would make an impressive wedding venue, high-end bed and breakfast,

• or could be converted quite easily into an elegant and spacious residence for a family.

Real Estate Listing: Bega Valley Realty - 187-189 Newtown Road, Bega NSW

Story: Victorian heritage, Edwardian built, a Bega pioneer’s impressive and elegant home

by SHARON KELLEY, 16 FEBRUARY 2021