Eidsvold Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eidsvold Homestead |
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Eidsvold Homestead, 2009
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| Location | Eidsvold Road, Eidsvold, North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1850 |
| Official name: Eidsvold Homestead | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600489 |
| Significant period | 1850s (historical) 1850s (slab hut fabric) 1880s-1920s (second house fabric) 1967 (1967 house fab |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, store/s / storeroom / storehouse, garden/grounds, driveway, tennis court, hut/shack, tank stand |
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Eidsvold Homestead is a historic farm property located on Eidsvold Road, near the town of Eidsvold in Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1850 and is a very old and important place in Queensland's history. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected because of its special value.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Eidsvold Homestead was started in 1850 by the Archer brothers. They were a famous family of early explorers and farmers in Queensland. This homestead is one of the very first farmhouses built in Queensland. It's also one of the first in the Burnett area.
The homestead is actually a mix of many different buildings. These buildings were built at different times and in different styles. This shows how farm properties often grew and changed over many years.
The First Home
The oldest building is a simple hut made of timber slabs. It might have been built by the Archer brothers themselves around 1850. This slab hut is a great example of the very first homes built on farms back then.
The Second House
Later, a "second" main house was started in the late 1800s. This house was typical for bigger, more established farms in Western Queensland. It has a main part with rooms that open onto wide verandas through French doors. Vines growing on trellises helped make the verandas even shadier and cooler.
Francis Ivory, who was a member of the Queensland government at the time, lived here. He and his brother Alexander Ivory were known for playing the first golf in Queensland. They set up a few golf holes on the property in the 1880s!
Between the First and Second World Wars, another building was added next to the eastern veranda of this house. It was built in a popular style from the 1920s and 1930s called the Queensland Bungalow.
Modern Farming
Eidsvold Homestead is also important for farming history. In 1955, it was the first place in Australia to bring in the famous and successful Santa-Gertrudis breed of cattle.
The Newest Home
Finally, a new main house was designed by an architect in 1967. This house was built during a time when the farm was doing very well. It's a good example of the work of a well-known Queensland architect named Guildford Bell.
Exploring the Homestead Today
Today, Eidsvold Homestead is a group of buildings surrounded by beautiful gardens. The oldest slab house is on the western side. The group of buildings that make up the "second" house are in the middle. The newest 1967 house is on the eastern side. The property is located near the Burnett River. You reach it from Eidsvold town by crossing a bridge over the river.
The Slab House
The 1850s slab house is the oldest home here. It's in excellent condition and looks like a house from the late 1800s. It has a main part with walls made of vertical timber slabs. A wide veranda goes all around it. The roof is made of corrugated iron, but you can still see the old wooden shingles underneath. This house is now used like a museum.
The Second Homestead Buildings
The second homestead is a group of five buildings. Three of them are connected by stairs or covered walkways. These buildings show different sizes, styles, and how the property grew over many years.
The main part of this group is a house from the 1880s or 1890s. It has a steeply sloped roof and wide verandas. Many French doors open onto these verandas. The house is raised high off the ground on stumps. Vines grow all over the verandas on trellises, making them very shady. This was a common way to keep houses cool in the late 1800s.
A large addition was built next to this house between the two World Wars. It's built in the "Queensland Bungalow" style. This mix of old and new styles shows how people kept adding to their homes as needed. This was especially true in places far from towns in western Queensland. This addition has an open front veranda and lots of windows that open outwards. Fancy wooden screens are placed between the posts under the house. Gardens are often planted here to help keep the house cool.
Other buildings in this group are smaller. They are made of weatherboard and have corrugated iron roofs. One building, now an office, is separate from the main group. Two smaller buildings are behind the 19th-century house. One of these, now a laundry, is also separate.
These buildings are surrounded by large, shady trees and many plants. An old bottle tree grows among the plants.
The 1967 Residence
The 1967 house is the newest and most eastern building. It's a low-set house with walls made of vertical timber planks. This style reminds you of the very first slab hut. It has tall doors and windows, some with adjustable slats, to let in lots of air. The roof is gently sloped. In front of the house is a well-kept lawn with a raised pond. The pond has water plants and large decorative rocks.
Other Farm Buildings
To the west of the main homestead, there are other farm buildings. These include older stables and yards. These working buildings are hidden from the main living area by a line of trees. Beyond these, there are more modern buildings like living quarters for workers and sheds.
Why Eidsvold Homestead is Special
Eidsvold Homestead was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: As one of the earliest homesteads, it helps us understand how farms were set up in this area long ago.
- It shows different building styles: The homestead has examples of homes from three different periods of its development.
- It's beautiful: The homestead is a lovely and charming place set in a rural area.
- It's linked to important people and events: It is connected to the Archer brothers, Francis Ivory, and the first time Santa-Gertrudis cattle were brought to Australia.
