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Nieder Weisel – 109 Webster Street, Ballarat
Nieder Weisel is a Grand home in the heart of Ballarat just 2 minutes walk from beautiful Lake Wendouree. The charming Victorian residence offers accommodation, training, boardroom and dining options in a private home that carries memoirs of yesteryear.
Nieder Weisel truly is…. "a Victorian Experience" cast with some of Ballarat’s most important history. To preserve as much history as possible, the current owners (Samantha & Greg McIntosh) have named the rooms of the main house, creating a chronological tour to be shared by those who visit.
Mr Edward Stephens, a legal manager of various mining companies in Ballarat and District, tendered the construction of an extensive brick residence in Webster Street in 1885. This home was soon to be known as the most prestigious home in "Ballarat’s most fashionable street" (from a book written by Gordon and titled Ballarat’s most fashionable Street). Architects E. James and CO., and builder Mr William Barrow proceeded construction of the building in 1885 for Mr Stephens, which was completed 1886–7. On 24/08/1893 an obituary was published in the Ballarat Courier, regarding the funeral procession of Edward Stephens aged 64 years. The first room on your right as you enter the home is named in his memory ‘ the Stephens Room’. In 1893 Mr John Heinz (a butcher) purchased the house and became City Councillor the following year. ‘Nieder Weisel’ (meaning below the river) is a village in Germany, the home town of the Heinz Family. In 1895, 109 Webster Street was named Nieder Weisel after the Heinz’s home village. Mr John Heinz was mayor of the Ballarat city in 1899 – 1900 and died on 28/06/1907, still a councillor (listed as H Heinz). There are still many descendants of Mr John Heinz living in Ballarat now. Nieder Weisel was extended in 1901 with two upstairs wings, now renovated as self-contained Bed and Breakfast apartments. Mrs Sophie Heinz was listed as the property holder of 83 Webster Street when re-numbered 109 Webster Street in 1906. One of the bedroom apartments upstairs is named ‘Sophie’s Suite’. The 2nd self-contained bedroom suite upstairs is named St John’s apartment in recognition of the sisters of St John of God (to be explained in the later part of this article). The Red Cross purchased the residence in 1919 and the "30-roomed house" was used for the care of wounded soldiers. In 1922 it was converted to a private hospital & opened on 15 September 1922 by Sir James Barrett still managed by Red Cross and registered with the Public Health Department. At this stage the hospital was renamed ‘Novar’ in honour of The Countess of Novar, who as Lady Munro-Ferguson was the first President of the Australian Red Cross. The large boardroom is named the ‘Novar Room’ in memory of Lady Munro-Ferguson’s contributions to Red Cross. Even though the property was now named Novar it was also commonly referred to as McDonald’s Hospital after Mrs McDonald, a very successful nurse that worked at the hospital. The library is named ‘The McDonald Room’ in recognition of her exceptional work. On the 15 September 1922 the first baby was born at Novar and christened Novar Mossman. In 1956 Mental Health Authority took over the property for Psychiatric services. In the 1980’s St John of God Hospital acquired Novar and it remained vacant except for an extended family of possums…. for about 13 years. Even though semi vacant, the property was sometimes used for crawl training by the fire Brigade and also security training. This was carried out under-ground in the ‘Summer House’ where apprentice fireman could practice using breathing equipment by torch light. The Summer House was purpose built by the Stephens family as a summer retreat, to rest away from the harsh Ballarat summers. With two formal rooms (originally with marble mantles), central passage-ways and 4 small rooms, there is still much to be discovered beneath the floors of the ground level. After many years of being used as a hospital property, original features and history have been hidden and in some cases lost by the remodelling required for its use. On March 22nd 2001 Gregory and Samantha McIntosh and their 4 children (Casey, Chloe, Demi and Beau) purchased 109 Webster street and renamed their new home Nieder Weisel, the original name given to the property 106 years ago by Mr Hines. Restoration began on 22nd March 2001 to return the property to her former glory. To
find out more history on Nieder Weisel
visit Nieder Weisel in Germany |
