Morpeth House and Closebourne House, Heritage site in Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia.
Morpeth House and Closebourne House stand at 365 Morpeth Road as two sandstone residences displaying Victorian Regency architecture alongside supporting buildings. The property stretches along the Hunter River banks with extensive grounds and gardens throughout the precinct.
Edward Charles Close built both houses between 1829 and 1849 on a land grant, establishing an early foundation for European settlement in the region. This period shaped Morpeth into an important centre for the growing community.
The Wonnaruah people maintained settlements along the Hunter River long before Europeans arrived, shaping the cultural identity of the area. Visitors walking the grounds today can sense this deeper history woven into the landscape.
The property contains lecture halls, dormitories, and administrative areas that reflect its current use as an educational and conference venue. Visitors can explore the gardens and river setting to gain a full sense of how the precinct functions today.
St John's Chapel was built in 1941 using salvaged sandstone from older structures on the site, merging historical materials into the newer design. This resourceful approach shows how builders reused existing materials long before sustainability became a modern concern.
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