Sunday, April 23, 2006
If you want to explore further into the history of the people who inhabited Lithgow and worked at the Blast Furnace a trip to Eskbank House is a must.
Eskbank House was erected in 1842, or thereabouts, for the first Industrialist in the area, Thomas Brown. When Thomas sold the property and it was used as a home by workers at the nearby Iron and Steel Works.
The house is one of those beautiful old sandstone homes with wooden additions that were added as different owners came and went through the years. The interior of the house has been made into a museum. Each room is roped of so you can’t enter but you can stand at the open door and view the original décor of the time. They are all beautifully presented with certain items of interest labeled. A large plaque is positioned at each door explaining what all the items of furniture are and what they were used for in their day.
The rooms within the house include the Drawing Room, the Dining Room, the Children’s Bedroom, the Master Bedroom, the Courtyard which was enclosed by one of the later tenants and the Breakfast Room which is now the museum gift shop and point of entry.
Additional to the house are a number of small external buildings–the Garden House, the Coach House and Workers Cottage and the Lithgow Pottery Collection Building.
The Garden House is located of a stone pathway leading from the house and is a delightful small, hexagonal shaped, fully enclosed structural, which was erected as museum in the mid-1800s, which is still it’s purpose today.
The Lithgow Pottery Collection Building houses a small display of pottery found in the area and originating from the local pottery in Lithgow. It was the first pottery in the area to create it’s own glazes.
The Coach House is open for viewing and has a fully restored coach inside along with other related items of the same era. Around the corner is the Blacksmiths Area where you can still view anvils, an old cart and many other items of interest.
On the lawn, near Inch Street, you will find an old Tank Engine and several other items of machinery.
Eskbank House is located on the corner of Inch Street and Bennett Street, not far from Blast Furnace Park and is open daily from 10am to 4pm and costs $3 per person admission.
It’s a lovely way to spend a couple of hours and the lady in the gift shop was very helpful and was more than eager to answer any questions we and you may have.
PS: Eskbank house also has special exhibitions and events happening from time-to-time–sorry, can’t help you out with what, but I’m sure if you contacted the Lithgow Information Office they could provide you with more details. The Information Office details can be found in this journals overview.