Allan Slab Hut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allan Slab Hut |
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Allan Slab Hut, 2000
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| Location | Warrah Road, Duckinwilla, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | c. 1900 |
| Official name: Allan Slab Hut, Price Property | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 April 2000 |
| Reference no. | 601934 |
| Significant period | c. 1900 (fabric) 1900-1936 (historical) |
| Significant components | tank - water, trees/plantings, hut/shack, fencing |
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The Allan Slab Hut is a special old building in Duckinwilla, Queensland, Australia. It's called a "slab hut" because it was built using flat pieces of wood. This hut was built around 1900. It's also known as the Price Property. The hut is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history. It was added to the register on 28 April 2000.
The Hut's Story: A Family Home
The Allan Slab Hut is a simple building made by hand. It was built in the early 1900s by Henry Price. He was a miner who came from Wales. Henry built this hut for his family to live in.
Moving to Australia
Henry Price arrived in Maryborough around 1900. His wife, Esther Ann Price, and her daughter, Blodwen, joined him later. The family first lived on the land without officially owning it. They formally bought the land in 1913. This land helped them become more independent. Esther Price had faced many challenges in her life. Owning their own home was a big step for them. Their lives show how many poor migrants settled in Australia. They worked hard to make a living on small pieces of land.
Building the Hut
The slab hut was the first home the Price family ever owned. Henry built it himself. He used strong wood, like ironbark, found on their property. Esther was a midwife, helping women have babies. She learned many new skills to live in rural Queensland. She cooked outside and grew vegetables. These market gardens helped the family earn a little money.
Life on the Property
In 1912, Blodwen married Archibald Allan, a miner. They raised their five children on the property. They lived in an old school building moved there in the 1920s. Esther often helped deliver her grandchildren. Archibald Allan rode his bicycle 12 miles to work. He worked long hours, six days a week, in nearby coal mines. This supported his family after Henry Price passed away. Esther and Blodwen sold vegetables to add to his low wages. The sons hunted wild birds for food. Esther was known as a "wise woman" in the area. She likely traded her midwifery skills for other goods. Midwives were very important for birthing women in Queensland until the 1930s. Home births were common, especially in country areas.
Mining Life in the Area
The mines near Torbanlea offered jobs for migrants. But life for miners was still very tough. Coal was found in the Burrum River area in 1863. Mining grew quickly by the early 1900s. The Burrum Colliery was the biggest mine. It led to the town of Howard being founded. Miners worked hard for low pay. They were paid by the amount of coal they dug. They never knew if they would have work the next day. Mining was the only job option nearby.
A Special Achievement
Building the slab hut was a great achievement for the family. It was made using simple methods, like those used for fences. This shows how the family used what they could find or afford. They needed to make do with what they had. Many mining families lived in very basic homes. These were often made from posts, flattened tin, and hessian sacks. Many families couldn't keep their land. The Allan family's property is now a rare piece of private land. It is surrounded by land that went back to the government. The hut was used as a home for a long time. This shows how strong and determined the Allan and Price families were.
Esther Price lived in the hut until she died in 1936. She planted a fig tree that now shades the hut. The hut is among the remains of old orchards and gardens. Three other trees were planted to remember family members. These include two fig trees and a crow's ash. The slab hut was later used for chickens and storage. Today, it is not used.
What the Hut Looks Like
The Allan Slab Hut is a small building. It is about three meters by four meters in size. It is located near Doongul Creek, west of Torbanlea. The hut has a simple rectangular shape. It has a sloped roof and a small addition on the northern side. A large fig tree stands nearby. You can also see parts of old fences and hitching rails.
Building Materials and Features
The walls are made of tall, flat pieces of hardwood. These pieces were shaped with an axe. They are attached to top and bottom wooden beams. This was done with nails or twisted wire. Round corner posts support the structure. There is also a central post on each long side. The floor is made of packed earth, called ant-bed. You can still see it clearly. The main door is on the eastern wall. Above it is a small opening, now covered with corrugated iron. A long window-like opening is on the southern wall. It is now covered with horizontal boards. A metal water tank sits against the southern wall.
The roof is made of corrugated iron. Some of the original roof beams are still there. The triangular ends of the roof are filled with horizontal wooden boards. The small addition on the northern side seems newer. It is roughly built with mixed wooden beams. The roof of this addition is simply nailed to the hut's wall. Three large round wooden posts support its other edge. The western end of this addition is closed off with corrugated iron. The northern wall is covered with chicken wire.
Outside the hut, there was a cooking area. It was made of river stones in a half-circle shape. This hearth is now covered with dirt. You can only see it after heavy rain. Beyond the fig tree, there is a small waterhole. The old orchard area is further out. Only one Chinese Date tree remains there.
Why the Hut is Important
The Allan Slab Hut is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It meets several important criteria.
Showing Queensland's History
The Allan Slab Hut shows how life was for early settlers in Queensland. It represents how people lived in rural areas in the early 1900s. The hut shows the tough living conditions. It also shows the clever building methods used by settlers in the Burrum region.
A Rare Example
This slab hut is a rare example of an early 20th-century building. It was built using very simple, old-fashioned techniques. This makes it a special and uncommon part of Queensland's history.
Beautiful and Evocative
The Allan Slab Hut and the large fig tree next to it are beautiful. They have a special feeling as an old ruin. They fit perfectly into their rustic setting. They remind us of past farming and home life.
Connection to a Community
The hut has a strong connection to the mining families of the Burrum region. It shows the struggles and hardships they faced. It reminds us how hard they worked to build their lives.
