Ah, I see you're approaching Little Milton on your left! Keep an eye out for a charming, single-story cottage with a plain but inviting bungalow style. It's tucked behind a lovely garden area, and if you notice a flagpole, you're definitely at the right spot!
Little Milton is a delightful piece of history. Built sometime between 1830 and 1850, this is thought to be the earliest surviving cottage in urban Wollongong. Imagine it back in the day, with its stables, croquet lawn, tennis court, and extensive gardens-all in the heart of what was once a wide expanse of land.
The original structure was eventually acquired by Rev. George Charter, Wollongong's first Congregationalist Minister, and the grounds were so vast that they could raise the Union Jack on a flagpole to honor the British Empire! They were so dedicated that they even maintained a garden with exclusively white flowers for church services.
Fast forward to the 1880s, and Dr. Timothy Wood Lee, an English doctor, takes over and expands the place to accommodate his surgery and a residence. He ran the practice there for over three decades. Talk about house calls!
By 1970, the property went through a bit of a tumultuous time with ownership changes, a near auction, and debates between historical societies about its restoration. Eventually, Little Milton found its place on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.
This charmer has witnessed so much history-from serving as a bustling household to being the subject of earnest preservation efforts. If houses could talk, this one would have quite the tale to tell! Enjoy soaking in the history, and don't forget to snap a photo or two.
Ready for the next stop? Let's head towards the Old Wollongong Telegraph and Post Office. It's packed with as much history as the letters it probably once held!
