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Bathurst is a large regional city located about 200 km from Sydney in the Central Tablelands. The Wiradjuri are the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the area. Bathurst is the oldest island settlement in Australia, and has a rich history including the first Australian gold rushes. There are several museums in the city, including four house museums. One of these is Miss Traill’s House, which was built in 1845.

The house was initially built for Reverend Thomas Sharpe following a Crown land grant in 1841. There were further additions to the house and land in the following years. After Reverend Sharpe and his wife died in 1877, the property was rented out by their sons, and it was a girls’ school known as Wyoming Lodge in 1896.

The property changed hands over the following decades from 1905, with changes made to the structure and layout. In 1932, it was rented to Mrs Gertrude Traill, a widow, and her daughter Ida. Mrs Trail had grown up in nearby Kelso and had strong family connections in the area.

In 1937, the property was purchased in Ida’s name. Ida was descended from two pastoralist families in the region, and inherited many items associated with the Lee family. This included artwork, furniture, ceramics and horse racing memorabilia: her grandfather, George Lee, was a famous horse breeder.

In 1971, Ida made arrangements to leave the house, selected contents and furniture to the National Trust to ensure it would not be demolished in the name of progress. The collection includes a wide variety of pieces gathered over four generations.

The property, which has lovely gardens, is a popular stop and offers a glimpse into a different time, with many items of interest in the collection. You can read a little more about Miss Traill’s House and Garden here.

Photo: pieces from the ceramic collection, Miss Traill’s House & Garden