A single storey colonial home built in 1835 outside Yass, about 50 km north of Canberra, Cooma Cottage was the home of the famed explorer Hamilton Hume from 1839 to 1873.
Restored in a conservation program by the National Trust, Cooma Cottage houses an exhibition of the life of Hume, plus art exhibitions from time to time.
Cooma Cottage is somewhat more grandiose than I would have expected for a cottage – I would have placed it more into the homestead category. However, it was not open when we were there – maybe it is smaller inside than it looks. Pictures I had seen of it showed a pretty garden at the front door. Obviously the National Trust are not heavily into gardening.
This flowering tree beside the house helped to compensate for the lack of garden.
This is more my idea of a cottage.
This delightful building was also in the grounds. Perhaps it belonged to the gardener.
The National Trust – or someone – had been making more of an effort with this garden than that of the main house, although the hanging basket by the front door has seen happier days. An endearing touch is the picture of the duck outside the front door – an essential warning to anyone of average height or taller.
Outside the cottage was a map of the Hume and Hovell Walking Track.
The route, 440 km long, coincides wherever possible with the path of the expedition led by Hume and Hovell in the spring and summer of 1823-4. For those without a spare spring and summer who are not prepared to walk the whole 440 km, the track also suggests half day, one day and weekend walks.
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