Gough Whitlam's birthplace, Residential house in Kew, Australia
Gough Whitlam's birthplace was an Edwardian villa at 46 Rowland Street in Kew with brick walls and a Marseille pattern terracotta tile roof. The building featured detailed hand-crafted timber finishes throughout before its demolition in 2016.
Martha and Fred Whitlam purchased the villa in December 1914, and their son Gough Whitlam, who would later become Prime Minister of Australia, was born there in 1916. The house stood for over a century in Kew before being demolished in 2016 despite community efforts to preserve it.
The house bore the name Ngara, derived from the Darug Aboriginal language meaning to listen, hear, and think. This choice of name connected the residence to the indigenous heritage of the land.
The building was demolished in 2016 and no longer exists, so visitors will find only an empty lot at the Rowland Street location today. Those interested in the area's past can explore other historical properties in Kew to understand the suburb's residential heritage.
According to local records, Gough Whitlam was born on the kitchen table of this house, giving a future Prime Minister an unusual start to life. This detail adds a personal dimension to the site that continues to capture the curiosity of those interested in Australian political history.
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