Skin Rug

History

Details about the making of this skin rug are unknown but it is almost certainly wattle bark tanned. It was made pre 1912 and belonged to the Hill family who came from 'Buttabone' station in the Warren district of New South Wales.

Mr and Mrs Hill came to Sydney to live in 1912; first in MacLeay Street and then at Rose Bay. Mrs Hill died in 1965 aged 100.

The rug was stored in a calico bag in the attic at Rose Bay and was untouched until 1998 when a Hill descendant inherited the house and found it in the attic. It is thought it was never used. It was donated to The Pioneer Women's Hut through Deirdre O'Donnell, previously Deirdre Hill. It is displayed occasionally at the museum.

"Among the various properties offered at auction on the 14th February 1870 by Richardson and Wrench on behalf of the Christie and Wentworth partnership, were 'Merangbone' and 'Buttabone', consisting of about 10,000 acrea in six adjoining blocks with 3,000 cattle and 4,000 wether sheep. G Hill Jnr., the buyer paid 4 pound ten a head for the cattle and 6/- each for the sheep. The total price was about 15 thousand pounds … Eventually 'Buttabone' was the largest freehold property on the Macquarie. The present large woolshed was built about 1890 to accommodate sixty two machine shearers ... In 1924 the Hill family severed their connection with the Warren district when 1108,000 acres of 'Buttabone' was sold at auction in subdivision."

[Reference: "Across the Black Soil Plains - a History of the Warren District" by RM Brennan]

Description

Skin rug, probably rabbit. Centre backs of 72 fine winter skins used, 6 skins across and 9 in length. Exceptionally well matched and very supple tanning. Blue baize backing with traditional scalloped edge. Brown rat tail braid 90mm from the edge on the back and also a centre design with rat tail brai

1910 x 1700 mm