Carss Park Historical Heritage Building: Carss Cottage Museum

Carss Park is only a 10-minute drive from Hurstville, the largest Chinese area in Sydney. It features hiking trails, coastal boardwalks, a children's playground, barbecue areas, and a natural seawater spa along the waterfront, with gentle sandy shores for children to play safely. There is the Carss Cottage Museum, whose owner, a Scottish carpenter named Carss, immigrated to Australia with his wife Helen. He ran a hotel and worked in publishing, striving for nearly 30 years to acquire this large 120-acre estate, and in 1865 built this stone house overlooking Kogarah Bay. The stone steps, stone seats, and stone arch in the courtyard are all 150 years old.

The last time I visited Carss Park, it was overcast, and later it rained, so I didn't go to the Carss Cottage Museum on the hill and hurried home. This time, the weather was good, so I headed straight for the museum.

The stone arch, over 150 years old, leads to the Carss Cottage on the hill.

Carss Cottage Museum, a historical heritage building. The owner of this stone house, a Scottish carpenter named William Carss, immigrated to Australia with his wife Helen. He ran a hotel and worked in publishing, striving for nearly 30 years to acquire this large 120-acre estate, and in 1865 built this stone house overlooking Kogarah Bay. The stone steps, stone seats, and stone arch in the courtyard are all 150 years old.

After William Carss built the house, he could enjoy a 270-degree panoramic view of the inner sea from his backyard, watching the sunrises and sunsets. He passed away only 13 years later at the age of 78. In later years, his daughter sold the land, and the municipal government preserved this historical heritage without indiscriminately building halls or offices, turning it into a park for everyone to enjoy.

Carss Cottage is now a historical heritage building of the Georges River Council and also a museum, open on Sundays but temporarily closed due to the pandemic.

From the garden, you can see the waterfront view of Kogarah Bay on the opposite shore.

Pigeons and cockatoos are often seen flying around in the park!

On weekends, every pavilion is filled with family gatherings, creating a joyful atmosphere, and there are many children.

There are hiking trails, coastal boardwalks, a children's playground, barbecue areas, and several free barbecue grills. Along the waterfront, there is a natural seawater spa, and lovely parrots as well. Stepping into nature sweeps away the gloom of the pandemic, leaving one feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Natural seawater spa experience along the waterfront

A seawater pool enclosed by rocks allows you to stand by the pool and enjoy the impact of the seawater spa; it is a semi-natural seawater pool. Since Australia's seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, it is very suitable for visiting Australia in winter to escape the cold.