Allumbah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allumbah |
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Allumbah, 2001
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| Location | 7 Mulgrave Road, Yungaburra, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | c. 1926 |
| Official name: Allumbah, Artist's Gallery | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600486 |
| Significant period | 1920s (fabric, historical)k |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house |
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Allumbah is a special old house in Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia. It was built around 1926. This house is also known as the Artist's Gallery. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical building.
Contents
A Look Back: Allumbah's Story
Allumbah is a single-story wooden house. It was likely built in 1926. The land it stands on was part of the very first settled area in Yungaburra.
How Yungaburra Began
Yungaburra started as a village settlement called Allumbah in 1888. A "Village Settlement" plan let people get farm blocks. Their homes were grouped together in a village. Around this time, a railway line was being built. It connected the port of Cairns to the Tableland area.
The first farms in Allumbah were set up in 1891. But the village plan didn't work out well. The railway reached Mareeba in 1895 and Atherton in 1903. This made it much easier to get to the area.
The Williams Family's Role
After 1900, more people moved to Allumbah. A small town grew to serve them. The land where Allumbah house stands was given to Albert Soffe and Frederick Campbell Williams in 1916. They were looking after their father Henry Sydney Williams's property. Henry Williams was a key person in the area. He had a store and a butchery. He also owned a hotel.
His sons continued the family business after he passed away in 1905. In 1907, they opened a small hotel in Allumbah. It served workers building the railway. In 1910, the railway reached the town. The town was renamed Yungaburra. This was to avoid confusion with another town.
Growth and Change
The railway brought fast growth to Yungaburra. A sawmill, a store, and a large hotel were built. Many other shops and houses also appeared. The Williams family built their big hotel across from the railway station.
In 1926, the Gillies Highway opened. This was the first good road to the Tablelands. Yungaburra became a popular spot for tourists. People came to see the nearby lakes. This led to another period of growth for the town. The Williams hotel became even bigger. The family also started other businesses in Yungaburra.
The House's Owners
In 1926, the land for Allumbah house was separated from the larger Williams property. It was given to Frances Amelia Wardle. She was Henry S. Williams's daughter. The house is believed to have been built around this time.
After Mrs. Wardle passed away in 1947, the house went to her daughter, Marion Lehfeldt. Then, in 1954, it was transferred to other Williams family members.
Later, the house was repaired and updated by new owners. In 1981, Christian and Jacqueline Souilijaert bought it. They used it as an art gallery. Many local people still call it "the art gallery." Even though it's been a home again since 1988. The house has been changed over the years. In 1998, the bathroom and kitchen were updated. The back verandah was also made into a larger deck.
What Allumbah Looks Like
Allumbah is a wooden building. It has a roof that slopes on all sides and also has pointed sections. The roof is covered with corrugated iron. The house sits on stumps. These stumps are low at the front. They get taller as the ground slopes down towards the back.
Outside Features
A low wall made of volcanic rock runs along the front of the property. This wall is like others seen in Yungaburra. For example, the walls in the gardens of the Lake Eacham Hotel.
In the middle of the front of the house, there's a part that sticks out. It has three windows and a small roof over them. Above this, there's a decorative wooden section. To the right of this, there's a wide verandah. It wraps around the side of the house. The back part of the verandah has been enclosed.
The verandah roof has wooden boards on the underside. It is held up by wooden posts. These posts have fancy wooden supports. The verandah also has a wooden handrail and slatted railings. Four sets of French windows open onto the verandah.
Inside the House
The other side of the house has rooms. These might have been part of an old verandah. A verandah at the back has been made into a larger wooden deck.
Inside, the walls are made of wooden boards. The floors are also wood. The main rooms have high ceilings. The doors from the main room to the bedrooms and study have decorative windows above them. The ceilings in the rooms around the edge of the house are sloped. This suggests the house started as a main four-room section with verandahs around it. The kitchen and bathroom are modern.
Why Allumbah is Special
Allumbah was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's considered important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history unfolded.
Allumbah was built during an important time for Yungaburra. It stands on land that belonged to the original Williams family. This shows where the first settlement of Allumbah was located. This was even before the current town center.
- It has special beauty.
Allumbah is a wooden house built in a traditional style. It adds to the unique look of Yungaburra.
- It is connected to important people in Queensland's history.
The house was built on land owned by the Williams family. It stayed in their family for many years. This connects Allumbah to the Williams family. They played a big part in building businesses in Yungaburra.
