THERE has been much interest in the property on the corner of Newtown Road opposite the Highway Store in recent months as vegetation has been stripped away to reveal Thornleigh, built in the late 1890s.
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Thornleigh is owned by Narelle and Norm Pearce who bought it from Carol and Roy Sheehan in October 2003.
However, it is only in the past six months that the Pearces have been working on the property.
They have cleaned up the garden, replanted the front and pulled down the 1960s building on the site.
Now they are drawing up plans to use the building as a house-restaurant or professional rooms.
A kitchen and a toilet block will be built on the rear and a veranda around three sides.
Thornleigh on Newtown has also been called Bismarck House and it was also the Alwyn Private Hospital in its lifetime.
Research by Norm Pearce has shown that in 1857 the land was granted to Robert Tooth and two years later a Mr Manning owned it, and a year later a Mr Mort.
In 1873 Anton Sattler purchased the land.
He had arrived at Twofold Bay in 1855 on the 'Caesar' from Germany with 56 other German immigrants.
In 1857 he was a ferryman on Merimbula Lake and in 1858 he married Caroline Saffira Sturah.
There are rate notices for the house from 1885.
It was then called Bismarck House after the German Chancellor.
The steps were built in 1893 and you can still see the MD and AD (Burns) that concretors engraved on the bottom step.
In 1900 Bismarck House was to let and it was was occupied by Bull RN, and in 1905 by Alfred Ebsworth.
In 1908 it was reported in the Bega Standard that "Mr Olaf Lassen has finished rebuilding Bismarck House for the Sattler Estate and has made an excellent job of it".
"There are 12 rooms and of these the dining room 24' x 16', and drawing room 21' x 16' are the largest.
"Steel ceilings have been used throughout with artistic effect.
"Water has been laid on to the kitchen and wash house.
"Mr George Boardman and staff did the painting and used deep terracotta colour picked out with white and cream, which is pleasing to the eye.
"Bismarck House occupies a splendid position and commands some very pretty views.
"Mr H G Shaw, police magistrate, and family move in on January 4.
"The height of the walls are 11 feet 10 inches.
"Mr Lassen has fixed up the an ingenious filter, his own patent, to filter water from the roof before entering the underground tank."
In 1910 the house was occupied by Henderson Roderick William, auctioneer of Gipps Street, and in 1911 by Nurse Hood's Private Hospital.
In 1914 it was advertised as Alwyn Private Hospital run by Matron Copeeieith.
Research by Coral Sheehan found that "One might search the whole of Australia and fail to find a more suitable site for an institution than the one occupied for Alwyn Private Hospital".
"Within walking distance of the town of Bega, in a southerly direction, it is erected on an eminence, where magnificent views of mountain, valley and river may be obtained.
"Apart from the splendid elevation of the situation, the varied scenic beauties play an important part in restoring convalescents back to health.
"The Hospital is ably conducted by the esteemed matron, Miss Phoebe C Cope, who is a member of the ATNA and NZRNA and holds a medal for the latter, presented to her by the NZ Government.
"Miss Cope was trained in New Zealand.
"Miss Cope assumed the matronship of Alwyn Private Hospital for Dr Merrick O'Reilly in June 1914.
"Since then some very difficult operations have been performed with the greatest success.
"Patients are received from all the medical practitioners in the district.
"Only medical, surgical and midwifery cases are received, all infectious cases being declined.
"The matron has two assistant nurses.
"The hospital contains numerous large airy rooms, a well-equipped operations theatre, an x-ray department and wide roomy balconies for patients.
"The institution is erected on four to five acres of land.
"There is a wall-layered flower garden in the front, and on the left a variety of fruit trees are planted, and nearly all the vegetables required are raised in the kitchen garden.
"Patients are regaled with home-grown fruits and vegetables, poultry, new laid eggs and rich milk and cream.
"Altogether Alwyn Private Hospital is the finest institution of the kind on the south coast and is worthy of the support of ladies and gentlemen who are in need of the most skilful medical attendance and careful nursing." (Coral Sheehan source unknown).
In 1915 Miss Cope, matron of Alwyn Private Hospital, had joined up for war service with Nurse Lonegan.
The hospital was temporarily closed by Dr Reilly.
Then in 1916 Matron Baillie took over the renovated Alwyn Private Hospital.
In 1922 it was sold to TA Starr for 700 pounds.
In 1923 the Bega District News reported that "Matron Murton of the Private Hospital would like all babies born at the Private Hospital since she has been in charge to a garden party at the hospital on November 24 at 3pm. Bring their parents, brothers and sisters."
In 1944 we reported that Mr SC Plevey is one of Bega's more artistic gardeners and has transformed the front of his home on Newtown Road, known as the private hospital, and before that as Bismarck House, the residence of the late Anton Sattler."
Thornleigh House went through various owners until it was bought by the Pearces in 2003.
