When William and Anne and their children were released from Quarantine, they were recorded as having left to find work at the Paterson River, and William was acting "on his own account". Other passengers from the "Maitland" had been engaged by various employers, so did William have a contact? Did he have a promise of work? |
ANAMBAH ECHOES MACKAY WEALTH |
If appearances are anything to go by then the Mackay family of "Anambah" Maitland seemed to avoid the economic upheavals of the 1890s. While many great colonial families were suffering from financial woes the Mackays, headed by John Kenneth Mackay, were in the process of building their high Victorian house on their grazing property on the western outskirts of Maitland. The house, finished in 1889, was designed by J.W. Pender who also designed the White family homestead at "Belltrees", Scone. Anambah - with its beautiful cedar joinery, consists of 23 rooms, 10 marble fireplaces, tiled hall and verandah and a free standing billard room -stood as a testimony to the shrewd business acumen of the Mackay family. The Mackay family kept the property until after World War I when it then passed to a succession of owners. However, during the next few decades the home fell into disrepair with the only residents being local birds. |
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In 1980, the present owners Stephen and Heather Berry bought the home and decided to return the home to its former glory. Mr Berry said although the home needed complete renovation, no structural changes had occurred during the years. "The cedar was not painted and the fireplaces were still intact," he said. "Our aim is to give the home its Victorian feeling once again." Mr Berry described the home as high Victorian boom style. It was a very flamboyant and decorative style and the architect Mr Pender piled decoration onto decoration when he designed Anambah, he said. No expense was spared by the Mackays; in addition to the home they also built elaborate brick stables and servant quarters, he said. The original grant for the Anambah property was made to George Cobb in 1823 but his brother John Cobb, who received a grant at Minimbah near Singleton, farmed the holding. Mr Berry said the Cobbs owned the two properties until the mid-nineteenth century. The Mackays, a well known grazing family from Dungog bought the holdings in the 1870s, he said. Mr Berry said the family used the farm as a fattening property for their cattle which were brought to Anambah for finishing before slaughter in Sydney. |
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This article by Louise Mills
From: The LAND MAGAZINE, 31 March, 1988 (Page 19) |
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The above photographs of the house exterior, the view from the Drawing Room into the Dining Room, and the view of the Main Bedroom are from Issue 1 - 1998 of "Reflections" - magazine of the National Trust of Australia. |
| Postscript: The Fairhall family was honoured to have Stephen and Heather Berry as guests for our Family Reunion on 8 November, 2008, and they shared with us some of the stories, and photographs, of the restoration of 'Anambah'. We look forward to continuing this link over the coming years, in the interests of building upon, and preserving, our family history. |
| Heritage Links for Anambah: 1. University of Newcastle Pender Archives: 2. The NSW State Heritage Register: |