Venetiaville

Originally known as ‘Riversview’, the property named ‘Venetiaville’ is located at 1235 West Portland Road, Lower Portland, New South Wales. The 150 acre block of land described as Portion 49, Parish of Meehan, County of Cook was granted to James Sherwin in 1804. The original house was constructed for Peter Kemp and his family in 1891. The Windsor and Richmond Gazette commented that “Mr. Peter Kemp’s new house is rapidly approaching completion, and will be quite an attractive place.” This sandstone building was of two stories with a broad balcony on the front and each side.

This home was destroyed by fire in September 1904. The Windsor and Richmond Gazette reported on the sad occurrance:-

Great regret is expressed at the loss Mr. Peter Kemp and Mr Henry Kemp have sustained by the destruction of the ex-champion’s river home Vienetaville (sic) at the Mouth of Colo, on Saturday night. All that stands now of this once handsome landmark are the stone walls and parts of the balcony and kitchen. A fire broke out mysteriously about 7.30 on Saturday night, and in an increditably short time the house was razed to the ground.

Mr Harry Kemp has lived there since his uncle, Mr Peter Kemp, removed to Sydney. It is pleasing to report that his furniture - at least that on the ground floor - was all saved. The fire started upstairs during the absence of Mr and Mrs Kemp, and everything on the top floor was destroyed.

The single storey house that stands today was reconstructed from the remains of Peter Kemp’s dwelling by contractor Mr S D Turnbull for Henry Kemp in 1907/08.

According to the book ‘The Coloites’ published by Diana Hazard in 2003, Peter Kemp (junior), born Colo River 1853 was the son of Peter Kemp and Sophia Huxley. He married Henrietta Jones in 1874 and purchased the property known as Riversview from John Lamb in the 1880s. Kemp was a world champion sculler and used to train in the long reaches of the river near his home. The regatta held at Lower Portland in 1881 brought over 1500 spectators to the district to to watch the exciting contests between Peter Kemp and the Grono brothers. Peter Kemp’s wife passed away in 1891 after giving birth to her tenth child. He then married Bertha Lawler later that year. Peter Kemp passed away in 1921.

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