About Jellore Cottage

Situated in the historic village of Berrima in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Jellore Cottage is a heritage listed 1860s colonial cottage which allows you to step back in time. This charming rustic cottage enables you to experience the idyllic lifestyle of the early pioneers.

Offering a unique experience in self-contained accommodation Jellore Cottage also has the convenience of modern amenities. From the cosy sitting room complete with open fire, to the traditional kitchen and adjoining dining room furnished with antiques and colonial bush furniture typical of the period. The cottage has a range of books and dvd player for your entertainment as well as gas heating for year round comfort.

You may choose to prepare meals in the cottage kitchen, provisions for a hot breakfast are provided, either on the electric hotplate and oven or perhaps in keeping with the character of the cottage on the wood-fired stove. The kitchen has a fridge and all necessary utensils. There is an abundance of local cafes and restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for those who want to relax entirely.

Jellore cottage sleeps up to four people, one double and one twin, boasting Victorian iron bedsteads and accompanying luxurious linen. The bathroom has been lovingly reconstructed with a Victorian claw foot bath and shower, as well as a separate WC. A small laundry with washing machine is provided for longer stays.

The cottage gardens are an ideal place to relax, providing an outside dining area with BBQ facilities.

The Heritage...

Listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register, Jellore Cottage is a fine example of a superbly maintained 19th century weatherboard and slab cottage.

Built in the 1860's, many of the original features of the cottage have been retained; the vertical slab walls, hardwood timber floors and pine ceilings. It is believed that the exterior front wall of the cottage is today lined with orginal weatherboards which were hand-crafted and the inside of that same wall is lined with original lining boards. Packing cases were used to line the side walls, which remain today as well as the internal walls which were constructed of sawn timber slabs.

Interestingly the rear facade of Jellore Cottage, made of roughly hewn timber slabs, has a more primative appeal than that of the front. This architecture is more indicative of pioneering bushman which is evident with the Settlers Hut, situated at the rear of Jellore Cottage.

The rear walls were originally lined with hessian, of which remnants can still be seen. The orginal 'roundback' floorboards were made from sawn timber, the sawn side used for the walking surface, the underside remains round.

The cottage was renovated in the 1950's. At that time the interior walls, floors and ceilings were lined with masonite, a compressed wood fibre board. The masonite was undoubtedly introduced to better insulate the cottage and give it a modern look. At the same time the open fire in the sitting room was covered with boards, the fuel stove removed from the kitchen and the chimney sealed. These renovations unintentionally helped to preserve the original interior features of the cottage which were later revealed in 1992 when restoration began.

During the restoration process the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales removed eleven different wallpapers from the cottage, now found in their archives in Sydney. A selection of these layers and accompanying newspaper lining is displayed in the dining room. The bathroom was renovated in period style, the open fire and fuel stove reinstalled as well as modern day heating and cooling.

Jellore Cottage is one of few vertical slab cottages in New South Wales currently in good condition. With much of the original fabric of the cottage preserved, the remainder has been faithfully restored or reconstructed.

Today Jellore Cottage is a reminder of times past, a popular escape for people wishing to immerse themslves in the experience of pioneering times in what is now, an historic village.