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| HISTORY OF THE COACH INN | |
| This cottage was removed from Bessiebelle in 2003. The cottage was originally built for James and Mary Sharrock who were descendants of Joseph and Mary Sharrock who arrived in Australia in 1848 along with their four sons, John 13, James 10, Joseph 7 and Benjamin 5. Their only daughter, Elizabeth was born during the voyage. In the 1950's the cottage was moved across the paddocks at Bessiebelle on wood rollers and erected beside the home of Raymond Sharrock. The cottage was then home to Sebastian (James' son) and Ethel (nee Trigger) Ethel stayed on in her home after her husband's death and lived independently in the cottage until well in her '90's. I have always loved the way her grandson's, Raymond and Gordon referred to the cottage as "NANNA'S HOUSE". Ethel eventually went into the Heywood Nursing home and was the District's oldest resident for years. She lived to be 106 riding her last horse on an excursion at age 104. The cottage was moved to Tarrington by John and Diana Morton and was fully restored. We kept as many of the original features as we could. The kitchen you have today was once the outside laundry with copper and also the bathroom. We have put the bathroom to the right using the original bath and hand basin. The laundry is no longer a fire under the copper but an inside washing machine. The Loo is inside too! |
The dining room today was Ethel's kitchen and dining and between the two windows was her "LUX" wood fired stove. Some of the original tongue and groove Baltic Pine ceilings have been restored. Windows and doors had to be replaced along with the flooring and external walls. The flooring removed from the two front rooms was 6"x1", undressed hardwood , a rarity today. We used some of this for the entrance rails to our two properties. The remainder was dressed and sanded and was used for the kitchen benches. We have added the back veranda. In Ethel's time the back door led onto a path which you negotiated to the "Dunny" at the back of the yard. For the Sharrock family of our District this Cottage plays an important role in their family history and you can visit their website for more of the Sharrock family history. www.sharrock.net.au Today the cottage is used for Tourist Accommodation and sits along side the home of its owners, Diana and John Morton
"The Coach Inn", PH 03 5572 5757 www.thecoachinn.com.au |
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