The Manse

The Manse is a heritage-listed building in Mount Druitt, a suburb of Sydney in New South Wales, that now serves as a community museum. The single-story brick house, built in the Victorian Georgian style with a gabled roof and verandas on two sides, is considered the oldest surviving structure in the settlement. It was probably built in the late 1880s, after the land, which had originally been part of Major George Druitt's large estate, was divided into smaller parcels. The builder was probably the local notable John Harris. The Kennedy family lived in the house until about 1895, when they donated it to the Presbyterian Church, which needed a residence for its minister.

From 1896, the building served as the residence for a series of ministers of the Mount Druitt congregation. After a split within the church, Blacktown City Council bought the house in 2001. During the rental period that followed, some historic items, such as a fireplace and an organ, were lost. Extensive restoration work was carried out between 2007 and 2008 to prepare the building for public use. Today The Manse is home to the Mount Druitt Historical Society and is part of the New South Wales State Heritage Register, where it was listed in 1999.

The property sits in a quiet setting marked by a parking lot and an open lawn. In the background lies a remnant of Cumberland Plain Woodland, a vegetation community typical of the region and dominated by eucalyptus species such as grey box and narrow-leafed ironbark. You can tour the historic building and learn about local history, while the surrounding landscape offers a glimpse of the area's natural flora. Despite a few modern updates, such as a new veranda floor and a roof vent, the house remains largely in its original condition and reflects the rural character of the early colonial era.