Tarella has a long and interesting history. It was built in 1890 by John McLaughlin after he married and had four children with Ada Amanda Moore. They lived in Waverley, Sydney.
Tarella Cottage
Tarella was their family holiday cottage, a Blue Mountains retreat, but after John’s death in 1918, the family’s large Waverley home was sold and Tarella became the residence for various family members.
John’s eldest son, John Harley, inherited Tarella. His mother, Ada, and his two sisters lived in the cottage for years but, sadly, Ada passed away in 1927 and his sisters moved out. John Harley then lived in the cottage until his sisters purchased it from him and returned to enjoy the later years of their lives together here. During all this time the cottage remained mainly unchanged.
John’s eldest son, John Harley, inherited Tarella. His mother, Ada, and his two sisters lived in the cottage for years but, sadly, Ada passed away in 1927 and his sisters moved out. John Harley then lived in the cottage until his sisters purchased it from him and returned to enjoy the later years of their lives together here. In all this time the cottage remained mainly unchanged.
Now as a museum, Tarella Cottage displays McLaughlin furniture, photographs, homewares and personal items spanning the lives of all family members, their careers and their experiences through decades of great change for all of them. There are also some items which belonged to Ada McLaughlin’s relatives, the family of George Moore who built and owned ‘Farnham’ at Randwick NSW.
Many other items within Tarella are significant pieces from the Blue Mountains Historical Society’s collection. These assist to make the cottage a living museum… we hope you feel as if you’ve just stepped in but have found that the McLaughlins have just stepped out for a minute.
Upon arrival and entry, visitors are always surprised that Tarella Cottage looks small but, when they enter it, they are surprised to see so many rooms and so many stories unfolding throughout.
You have downstairs and upstairs to explore! There is also a separate Old Kitchen at the rear of the cottage and on cold days you can enjoy the warmth of the original fireplace within.
The nearby research centre, ‘Hobby’s Reach’, holds additional significant items of the McLaughlin Estate and other collections which span a fascinating range of local area history.
Source: https://bluemountainshistory.com/tarella-cottage-museum/
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