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Eden House Restaurant
Eden House Restaurant (2015).jpg
Eden House Restaurant, 2015
Location 20 Gillies Highway, Yungaburra, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century)
Built c. 1914
Official name: Eden House Restaurant, Nibbles Tea House/Restaurant, Private residence
Type state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated 21 October 1992
Reference no. 600467
Significant period 1910s (fabric)
1910s-1920s (historical, social)
Significant components residential accommodation - main house, well, trees/plantings
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Eden House Restaurant is a historic building in Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia. It was built around 1914 as a private home. Today, it is a restaurant. This special building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is protected for its important history and unique design.

History of Eden House

How Yungaburra Grew

Yungaburra was first known as Allumbah Pocket. This name meant "red cedar." In 1910, a railway line reached the town. This connected Yungaburra to Cairns. The town's name was then changed to avoid confusion. Later, in 1926, the Gillies Highway opened. This road brought many tourists to the nearby lakes. This led to more growth and development for Yungaburra.

The First Owners

Eden House was built around 1914. It was originally a home for Arthur Herbert Belson. He was a timber merchant from the Atherton Tableland. His brother was the first leader of the Eacham Shire Council. The house was first called Cedrella. It was known for its wide verandahs and "Old English" gardens. It became a very important social spot in the area.

Changes Over Time

In 1922, the house was passed to George Alfred Duffy. He was Arthur Belson's son-in-law. George Duffy later became a Member of Parliament for Queensland. The house changed owners a few more times over the years. In 1958, Alfred and Alice King bought the property. They also ran the local Tivoli cinema. This cinema is now the Yungaburra Community Centre.

Becoming a Restaurant

In 1988, the house was sold again. It was then carefully rebuilt over two years. The goal was to turn it into a restaurant. Most of the original outside walls were kept. The house was rebuilt to look much like it did before. A new section was added at the back for kitchens and toilets.

The building first opened as "Nibbles Tea House." In 1998, new owners took over. They added a large dining deck on one side. They also improved the gardens. In October 1998, it reopened as "Eden House."

What Eden House Looks Like

Eden House Restaurant (2015) - verandah
Verandah, 2015

Eden House Restaurant is a single-storey timber building. It has a hipped roof made of corrugated metal. Wide verandahs wrap around three sides of the building. The house faces the Gillies Highway. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

The front of the house looks balanced and neat. There is a main entrance in the middle. French doors open onto the verandahs. These doors have special fanlight windows above them. The verandahs have timber posts and railings. The walls of the verandah are made of horizontal timber boards.

Eden House Restaurant (2015) - interior
Dining area, 2015

Inside, the front part of the house is used for dining. Some inner walls were removed to create more space. Decorative arched timber details were added. Part of the original central hallway remains. It has a fancy pressed metal ceiling. Other rooms also have pressed metal or timber ceilings.

At the back, there is a newer section. This part holds the kitchen and toilets. A large timber dining deck was built on the northern side. It has a curved roof to provide shade.

The gardens around the house are well-kept. They include several large, old trees. You can also find the remains of an old well. A driveway on the southern side leads to the back of the property. A timber picket fence runs along the street.

Why Eden House is Important

Eden House Restaurant is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is recognized for its special value.

Showing Queensland's History

Eden House helps us understand Queensland's history. It shows how Yungaburra developed. The house was built around 1914. This was when the town first grew after the railway arrived.

Its Beautiful Design

Eden House still has parts of its original structure. With its old trees, it adds a lot to the look of Yungaburra. It is considered a very beautiful building.

Connection to Important People

The house was built for Arthur Herbert Belson. He was a timber merchant. His brother was the first leader of the Eacham Shire Council. Later, George Alfred Duffy owned the house. He became a local Member of Parliament. The King family, who ran the local cinema, also lived here. In the early 1900s, the house was a major social spot.

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