AA company house
AA House is one of the oldest surviving colliery structures in Australia and one of Newcastle’s oldest buildings. It was the AA Company mine manager's residence. Council acquired the property in the 1990s with funds from the NSW Heritage Office to preserve it as a cultural tourism and education resource.
The house is located at 195a Denison Street, Hamilton. Visits are strictly by appointment only - contact Council's Facilities Management Unit on 02 4974 2000.
History of the House
AA Company House is a typical house of the 19th century. It was constructed around 1848 and is one of the oldest intact colliery structures in the country. It is listed as a place of state heritage significance.
You can read a detailed chronology of dates and activities in the History of AA House 488 kb pdf
The significance of the house
The house is significant on both a national and local level as it is a rare example of its kind still left relatively intact in Australia. It shows the changing function of the place as a residence over some 110 years.
Other significant features include:
- The form and fabric of AA House is intact and retains many details of successive waves of construction throughout the 19 th and 20 th centuries. It yields information about the lives of the inhabitants over a 150 year period including the Little family.
- A well at the rear of the property was one of the earliest water sources for European inhabitants in the Cameron Hill area.
- The site signifies the coal mining activities of the AA Company which made Newcastle and the Hunter nationally famous, contributing greatly to its economic prosperity.
Read a Statement of Significance (729 kb pdf) for AA Company House.
Council's Role
Council has undertaken a range of conservation works since it purchased the house in 1997:
- 1999 Stabilised and reinforced the roof structure
- 2000 Installation of power; reglaze and repair damaged windows, doors and joinery
- 2001 Cataloguing, archiving and registration of the collection of objects
- 2002 Restoration of floors to bedrooms and central corridor
Read a more detailed chronology in Conservation Works: Council's Role 1065 kb pdf
Archiving and cataloguing
Newcastle City Council has now completed an archiving and cataloguing project for the house.
The project identified a total of 108 items within the house, including:
- Linoleums
- Wallpapers
- Soft furnishings
- Furniture
These items form " The Collection" (883 kb pdf) for the House. A summary of artefacts is also included in Archaeology 578 kb pdf
Chronology of Construction
The original cottage was constructed between 1849 – 50. It has four rooms around a central hall with a front verandah.
- In 1900, the dining room/ pantry addition was built and a sitting room formed by opening up two of the original rooms.
- In 1920 the house was redecorated and the bathroom/ laundry addition added.
The Chronology of Construction (361 kb pdf) shows drawings of the house as it formed over time.
Where to from here?
Council has now completed the first stage of conservation works. The next stage will involve the development of a protocol for the use of the House as well as options for its long term care and management.
Find out about existing Conservation Policy Statements Strategies 752 kb pdf
