Boulia Stone House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boulia Stone House |
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Boulia Stone House, 1996
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| Location | Pituri Street, Boulia, Shire of Boulia, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1880s-1890s |
| Official name: Boulia Stone House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600039 |
| Significant period | 1880s-1890s (fabric & historical) |
| Significant components | kitchen/kitchen house, residential accommodation - main house, basement / sub-floor |
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The Boulia Stone House is a special old house in Boulia, Queensland, Australia. It's called "heritage-listed" because it's an important historical building. This means it's protected to keep its history safe. The house was built around the 1880s or 1890s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Contents
The Story of Boulia Stone House
Local stories say the Boulia Stone House was built in the mid-1880s. People aren't sure exactly who built it or why. Some think it was built by Ernest Eglington, a police officer and magistrate. He might have used it as a temporary police station or courthouse. Others believe James Edward Jones, a local store owner, built it as a shop or his home.
How Boulia Town Grew
By the mid-1870s, people were settling all over northern and western Queensland. Wool and sheep farming were becoming more popular. But it was hard to live in these remote areas. It was far from markets, and transport was expensive.
Around 1877, a small group of tents appeared by the Burke River. This was the start of Boulia. A store was set up by Ernest Henry. In 1879, the area was officially made a town reserve.
The town grew slowly at first. A mail service to Cloncurry began quite quickly. In 1882, the town was surveyed, and land was sold in 1883. Government offices soon followed. A telegraph station was built in 1884.
By 1891, Boulia was a busy community. It had about 150 people. There was a police magistrate, police officers, and a post office. There were also two hotels and three storekeepers. A school was built by 1893.
Who Owned the Land?
Henry Sanders Shaw bought the land where the Stone House stands in 1884. James Edward Jones, the store owner, bought the land in 1897. He owned it for 20 years. The land was sold in 1917. But the Jones family bought it back in 1939. They owned the house until 1978. Then, the local council, the Shire of Boulia, bought it.
Building the Stone House
No one knows the exact date the house was built. But local stories suggest it was in the mid-1880s. Some say James Jones built it in 1885. Others think Ernest Eglington built it around 1884. He might have used it as a temporary courthouse.
Another story says three stonemasons from Armidale, New South Wales, built the house. It supposedly took them four years! The stone came from a nearby place called Limestone Ridge. The wood for the roof was cut locally. The iron roof sheets were brought by train to Hughenden. Then they were carried by horse-drawn carts to Boulia. It's even said the house was built without any nails!
James Jones didn't buy the property until 1897. So, if he built it earlier, he must have rented the land. He took out a loan eight months after buying the property. This might be when he built the house. It's also possible he built it as a store. It has two entrances and a cellar. A cellar is a great place to store food that goes bad easily.
The House Today
In 1976-77, the house was repaired with help from the National Trust of Australia. Experts planned the work. A plasterer from Brisbane fixed the walls.
After the repairs, the building became a museum. It opened in the mid-1980s. In 1987, the Boulia Historical Society was formed. They help run the museum. In 1994, a big storm damaged the roof.
What the Stone House Looks Like
Boulia is a small town in western Queensland. It's about 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Mount Isa. The Stone House is on the corner of Pituri and Hamilton Streets. It's close to the main street of Boulia.
Most buildings in Boulia are newer, from the 1930s or later. But some old wooden buildings still exist, like parts of the Post Office (built in 1885). The Stone House is the only old stone building left in town.
Building Materials
The outside walls of the house are made from local sandstone and limestone. They are held together with lime mortar. The stone is laid in a rough, natural way. But the edges and openings are neatly squared.
The house has four main stone rooms. There's also a wooden kitchen at the back. An enclosed verandah extends behind the house. The roof is made of corrugated iron and is shaped like a hip.
Inside the House
You enter the house through two glass French doors. There used to be another set of doors like these. The windows are double-hung. Some window parts are missing. Other doors are simple, four-panel doors. The roof timbers are bolted together. The window frames are held with wooden pegs.
The inside walls are plastered. There is no ceiling, so you can see the wooden roof structure. The main wooden beams show marks from being cut by hand. The front two rooms and the back verandah have concrete floors. Other rooms have wooden floors.
There's a wooden trapdoor at the back of the house. Steps lead down to a basement room. This room has a low ceiling. You can see the stone walls, and the floor is dirt.
Today, the house is full of museum items. These displays show what life was like in western Queensland long ago.
The Grounds
The area around the house has some grass and small trees. At the back, there are sheds. These sheds are also part of the museum. A tall wire fence surrounds the property. At the front, a large sign tells visitors about the museum and the Stone House.
Why the Stone House is Special
The Boulia Stone House is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's very important to Queensland's history and culture.
A Glimpse into History
The house was built in the mid-1880s. It shows how Boulia and the surrounding area grew. This happened after new land laws were introduced in 1884. It also shows how sheep farming became very successful. The house is proof that Boulia was an important trading center back then.
It's said to have taken four years to build. This shows how people used local materials in remote areas. It's part of a tradition of stone building in central Australia and western Queensland from the late 1800s.
A Rare Find
The Stone House is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Boulia. It's also the only stone building in the town. Local people value it greatly as one of their few historic places. The local council bought it and made it a museum. This shows how important it is to the community.
Beautiful and Unique
The Stone House is admired for its beauty. It adds a special character to the town of Boulia. Much of the original building is still there. The stone walls on the outside show the natural colors and textures of the region.
Connected to Local Families
Before the Boulia Shire Council bought it, the house belonged to the Jones family for at least 70 years. Members of the Jones family still live in the area today. This shows its strong connection to the local community's history.
