Ever wonder about the history of Turkish baths in Australia? Let me tell you about the Turkish Bath Museum.
The Turkish Bath Museum is located on the grounds of the Wynstay Estate. This estate was originally known as Yarrawa. It was the first property established in Mt Wilson in 1875. Richard Wynne was the first Mayor of Burwood NSW. He also was the benefactor of the Wynne Art Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Evidence suggests Richard Wynne built the Turkish Bath in the 1880s. It was built for his wife Mary Ann. She had been in poor health. Richard Wynne’s library shows a keen interest in natural therapies. He also was interested in the therapeutic benefits of Turkish Baths.
The Turkish Bath Museum is an unusually fine example of late Victorian architecture. It features polychrome brickwork and Italianate details. It also bears some Turkish allusions. Look for the red brick cross pattern along the upper exterior walls. The brickwork throughout is skillfully laid. It is finished with fine tuck pointing. The 450mm double cavity walls were unusual for that time. They provided insulation against rapid heat loss.
Richard Wynne came to Australia as an assisted migrant from Dublin in 1842. The ship’s manifest described him as a bricklayer. Family tradition says he made the darker red bricks. He used local clay for them.
The stained and hand painted glass windows are a rare and beautiful feature. They were made in England in the 1880s. The elaborate turret has oval timber louvres for ventilation. It has an ornate cast iron filial and other ornamentation. Cast iron cresting extends along the ridge of the roof. The original corrugated roof sheeting was replaced in 2010. Galvanised steel was barrel rolled in Adelaide to match the original.
The three main rooms have tiled floors. These floors slope downward from a center ridge to floor level wall vents. The original ceilings were concrete. They had coke barrel vaulted structures. These were similar to one that may still be seen in the basement area. The ceilings were covered by a 1920s adaptation of the building.
In 1995, the owners of Wynstay began planning with interested locals. They wanted to make this building available to the community. They wanted to set up a museum of local history. In 1996, this dream became reality. The building and its precinct was leased to the local historical society. The lease was for 50 years at a nominal rental of two dollars per year. Local fundraising and government support helped conserve and refurbish the building. In the Spring of 1997, Ms Hazel Hawke officially opened it. She was the Chairperson of the NSW Heritage Council at the time. At the same time, a spectacular exhibition opened. It celebrated the Centenary of the Wynne Art Prize. Paintings by past winners were displayed.
The Turkish Bath Museum is now open to the public regularly. Volunteer guides are on hand to tell about local history. They can tell you about the building itself. They can tell you about other heritage listed sites in this garden village. The wrought iron gate to the museum area was recently made by Scott Leonard. He is a local resident and metalworker.
Take some time to explore this unique piece of Australian history. The Turkish Bath Museum offers a glimpse into the past. It showcases the ingenuity and vision of early settlers. It highlights the importance of health and well being.