Originally built for Dr George Wigan (c1851-1909) 'Southall' at 98 [ now 100] Barney Street was - and still is - a handsome Victorian mansion. Designed by Albert Bond, architect, of 131 Pitt Street, Sydney, and constructed by Harper Brothers of Armidale, it was completed in the spring of 1886 Such an outstanding house inspired an enthusiastic account from an Armidale Express reporter who 'had a look over the new residence' as it neared completion.
Quote
‘The rooms afford ample space and are well lit, with lofty ceilings. On the lower floor is a wide hall with finely carved balustrades leading to the upper rooms, and the hall door displays the doctor’s crest embossed upon the glass, viz., a leafless oak with the motto ‘carpe diem’.
Water and gas are laid on, the former from a cistern near the roof which supplies the house, kitchen, &c. The water, when required, is pumped up from a well to supply the cistern.
The dining-room is a fine apartment, as also the surgery. The latter is a well finished room and beautifully lit by the segmental headed windows which form a portion of the large bay window in the front. There is also a fine drawing room and ladies’ work room. By folding doors, in leaves, these two apartments can be thrown into one, giving a length of 35 feet. There are a number of fine bedrooms, and the ventilation is well studied. Electric bells with every portion of the house, and a speaking tube in the doctor’s bedroom affords him the opportunity of conversing at once with anyone requiring his services, on the premises.
The servants’ and bath rooms are well situated and perfect drainage is secured throughout the building and grounds. There is a fine iron balcony and some ornamental frieze work over the verandah pillars. From the balcony there is a beautiful view of the surrounding country, while immediately in front the spectator looks down upon the pretty park which is now a favourite resort. The building, altogether, is a most substantial one. The foundation is concrete, the walls are 18” thick, and the bricks have been carefully chosen so as to present a uniform character. There is a great deal of ironwork throughout the building of the best description, and the hearths are nicely tiled. Altogether, Dr Wigan’s new residence is an ornament to our town and reflects great credit upon the architect and the contractors.’
(Armidale Express 22nd October 1886)
Apparently the well-appointed interior of the house diverted the reporter’s attention from the polychrome brickwork which is such a feature of the exterior. It was especially designed not ‘to present one uniform character’!
The inner hall doors remain, still fitted with functional white porcelain handles and heavy glass panels bearing finely etched neo-classical designs. The outer door, which once proudly displayed the doctor’s ‘leafless oak’ and the motto from the Roman poet Horace, meaning literally, ‘enjoy the day’ (or in its full context, ‘enjoy the present and trust as little as possible to the future’) has, alas, long lost its Horatian philosophy in a plethora of green glacier glass.