The Wallpapered Manse

It’s Grand Designs meets Country House Rescue when a historic Presbyterian manse on the New South Wales South Coast is researched and restored by leading conservation architect Peter Freeman.

One of the great attractions of the Eurobodalla area is the wonderful built heritage that exists and is still being used today – heritage that includes homes, public buildings, farmhouses and simple sheds. This built heritage reflects building styles from many periods – colonial, federation, arts and crafts and art deco.

What is truly wonderful, on many levels, is seeing some of our local heritage being restored to its former glory. And perhaps even better than the  restoration itself is to have a book about the journey of the restoration of a real part of Moruya’s history – the former Presbyterian Manse –  from being an endangered house to a beautiful, functional home.

Beautifully produced, The Wallpapered Manse by well known heritage architect Peter Freeman, chronicles the events that fashioned the manse, built in 1865 in Moruya, and shares the step-by-step process of restoring a dilapidated historic building. We are shown the detailed restoration of an Australian historic house.

About the book

The chapters of the book chart a fascinating journey through time. They include:

‘ … Certain Presbyterians on the Moruya River’ 1838–1862
‘ … A Commodious Manse including a Water Tank’ 1862–1865
The Manse in 1865
‘ … Long Years of Faithful Ministerial Labour’ 1863–1916
The Manse in 1916
‘ … Was the Going Too Tough?’ 1916–1956
The Manse in 1956
‘ … A Cold House with Blue Wallpaper’ 1956–2009
‘ … A Long Love Affair with Wallpaper’ 2010–2012
Rescuing an Endangered House

Having seen some of the rescued wallpaper I am particularly interested in reading the two chapters about the wallpaper.

If you know of anyone interested in the Eurobodalla area, or in history, architecture, art or a plain ‘good read’ this beautifully produced book is highly recommended. While the release date has not as yet been finalised, discounted pre-orderspre-orders are now being taken. The book will be formally launched at Moruya Books in November and will definitely be available by Christmas. A perfect gift!

About pre-publication purchase

For pre-publication purchase at $26 (GST included), please make online payments to Peter Freeman Pty Ltd BSB 012517 Acct 249737075 or by cheque to Peter Freeman PO Box 1007 Moruya NSW 2537

About the project
• The manse restoration project was funded by the Endangered Houses Fund of Sydney Living Museums.
• The book was supported by Sydney Living Museums, Sydney Living Museums Members and Your Community Heritage Grants from the
federal government.
• Highly Commended in the NSW National Trust Awards 2013 (as a pre-publication)

About the Author
For over fifty years Peter Freeman has been involved in conservation architecture research and sketching. He is the author of twelve books on Australian architecture including The Woolshed: A Riverina Anthology and The Homestead: A Riverina Anthology.

Do you have any memories of the Manse? Do you have any images that you would like to share with the MDHS? If so, please use the comment box at the foot of the post.

Do you have any local buildings that you admire and would like to see featured on this blog? If so, please let us know by adding a comment.

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