The Swiss House
July 8th, 2006
The Swiss House was built in the 1850s, it was imported from Europe perhps Switzerland, perhaps Germany, with every piece numbered. It was originally erected in High Street next to the Avoca Hotel. In 1870, it was moved on red gum rollers by bullocks down to its present site near the river.
Photograph by John T. Collins 1907-2001
Photograph by John T. Collins 1907-2001
July 9th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
[...] The post entitled Watford House provides you with an example of how content can be ‘posted.’ [...]
December 19th, 2006 at 9:21 am
[...] The Avoca Project explores the impact and influence of a variety of art based practices arising from Watford House in the town of Avoca in central Victoria – Australia. It involves experts in historical, ecological and social sustainability as well as artists of international repute. [...]
August 1st, 2009 at 3:12 am
Hello Avoca Project:
Evidently this house was imported into Australia by my Great Grandfather Charles Kelvey Pearson who was an Alderman or City Counsellor at the time. I gather he ran the hotel (and gambling establishement) as well. His daughter Violet Pearson was my Grandmother and a very fine woman. (lived in Geelong). It would be good to hear more about the place.
Cheers,
Graham Smith
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
February 20th, 2011 at 8:13 am
Responding to Graham Smith, Vancouver: The pre-fabricated house erected for/by Charles Kelvey Pearson at Avoca, Victoria was probably imported by his brother-in-law, Frederick George BAUER, b. in Germany, married to Ann Rebecca Pearson. If you google Frederick Bauer, Geelong, you will find other examples of these houses. Frederick was an entrepreneurial man and the first to open Queensland to sugar plantations and import labour from the tropical islands. He funded the plantation by money from Melbourne businessmen. The historical details are long and fascinating. I think you and I are related. I am descended from CKP’s brother, Frederick Thomas Birks Pearson.