Fachwerk Farmhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fachwerk Farmhouse |
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Fachwerk Farmhouse, 2014
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| Location | 445 - 469 Beenleigh Redland Bay Rd, Carbrook, City of Logan, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1873 |
| Built for | Christian Kruger |
| Official name: Fachwerk Farmhouse, Krugers Farm | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, built) |
| Designated | 7 February 2005 |
| Reference no. | 601647 |
| Significant period | 1870s (fabric) 1860s-1970s (historical) |
| Significant components | dam/reservoir, garden/grounds, trees/plantings, farmhouse |
| Builders | August Von Senden |
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The Fachwerk Farmhouse is a very old and special house located in Carbrook, near the Logan River in Queensland, Australia. It was built around 1873 by August Von Senden for the Kruger family. This farmhouse is unique because it was built using a traditional German method called "fachwerk." It's also known as Krugers Farm and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance.
Contents
History of the Farmhouse
This brick and timber farmhouse was built in the early 1870s. It was made for Christian Kruger and his family, who were German immigrants. They built it using special methods and materials from rural northern Germany. Many settlers along the Logan River in the mid-1800s also came from Germany.
Land for Farmers
The farm is on what used to be the Logan River Agricultural Reserve. The Queensland Government created these reserves to help farming grow. They wanted to produce more food and crops like cotton and sugar. This would make the colony less dependent on imported goods.
In 1860, a law allowed the government to sell good farming land cheaply. About 20,000 acres along the Logan River were set aside. This area became the Logan River Agricultural Reserve in 1861. Christian Kruger's land was part of this reserve.
German Immigrants in Queensland
The government also wanted more people to come to Queensland. They needed more workers and farmers. So, they offered "land orders" to immigrants. These orders were like vouchers for land. German immigrants were among those encouraged to come.
Between 1861 and 1881, over 9,500 German immigrants arrived in Queensland. Many settled around the Logan River, in places like Bethania and Beenleigh. By 1871, 20% of the Logan-Albert district's population was German-born. People even called the area "Germany." Many German families kept their language and culture alive through churches and schools.
The Kruger Family's Journey
Christian Kruger, his wife Wilhelmine, and their two children arrived in Queensland in 1865. This was a busy year for German immigration. Most came seeking cheap farmland. The Kruger family first lived in Bethania, where Christian worked as a farm labourer.
In 1867, Christian selected 31 acres of land at Gramzow. Gramzow was named after a town in north Germany. It was later renamed Carbrook in 1916 during World War I, due to strong anti-German feelings. Christian Kruger bought the land outright in 1872.
Building the Fachwerk Farmhouse
Like many early German settlers, the Krugers first built a simple hut. They worked hard to clear the land and plant crops like maize. After a few years, the farm was doing well. They could then build a larger, stronger home.
The current farmhouse was built around 1873. The Krugers built it using the "fachwerk" method. This style was common in rural north German communities. Fachwerk means "shelf-work." It involves building a strong timber frame. Then, the spaces in the frame are filled with materials like brick or wattle and daub.
Other buildings in the Logan River area were also built this way, but most do not survive today. Building fachwerk houses needed very skilled builders. This was because of the complex way the timber frame was put together.
August von Senden, a neighbor, might have been the master carpenter who built the frame for the Kruger's house. He was known as a carpenter and farmer. The Kruger family believes 14 men assembled the timber frame in just one day. The bricks used to fill the frame were handmade. Unlike German houses with thatched roofs, this farmhouse had a shingled roof. It was also raised on timber stumps, which was common in Queensland.
The farmhouse survived a big flood in 1887. Water rose several feet inside, but the house stood strong. The Kruger family focused on growing sugar. Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Kruger, Christian's son, took over the farm in 1886. He and his wife raised 13 children there. The Kruger family owned the farm until 1978.
What the Farmhouse Looks Like
The former Kruger's Farm is a 12-hectare property on the Logan River. The farmhouse is located near a dam, closer to the river. It's an elevated timber-framed brick cottage with a corrugated iron roof. It has a simple rectangular shape with verandahs on the longer sides. The house has a main level and an attic.
Fachwerk Construction Details
The farmhouse shows the traditional German "fachwerk" building method. This means it has a timber frame, and the walls are filled with bricks. The timber frame is made of strong, hand-cut wood. Each piece is marked with Roman numerals to show where it goes. The timber pieces fit together with special joints, held by wooden pegs instead of nails.
You can clearly see the timber frame on the outside and inside of the house. The timber posts divide the walls into panels. Bricks fit tightly into these spaces. The original bricks are soft and reddish-brown.
The roof is a simple gable shape, covered with corrugated iron. The verandahs have shallower roofs that continue from the main roof.
Inside the Farmhouse
The north verandah has a timber floor and stairs. It has timber posts with decorative brackets. This verandah looks out onto a lawn and garden.
The south verandah has been changed over time. Part of it is now a bathroom. The rest is enclosed with sliding doors.
Inside, the farmhouse has three rooms on the ground floor. There's a central living room and two side rooms. The floors are timber. The timber frame is visible in some walls. The original ceiling was removed, and a new timber floor for the attic now forms the ceiling for the ground floor rooms. A steep stair leads to the attic.
Some parts of the house were changed in the 1980s. Brickwork on the eastern and western walls was replaced. Windows were also replaced with modern ones.
Other old structures on the farm include three timber sheds and cattle yards. These sheds are in poor condition.
Why the Farmhouse is Special
The Fachwerk Farmhouse was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005. It's important for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: This farmhouse is a visible reminder of the many German immigrants who came to Queensland in the 1800s. It shows how these communities settled along the Logan River. It's one of the oldest buildings in the Logan district.
- It's very rare: This farmhouse is the only known surviving example of "fachwerk" construction in Queensland. It shows how German culture and building traditions were brought to Queensland.
- It can teach us more: Studying the farmhouse can help us learn about traditional north German building techniques. It might also show us other old structures or remains that tell us about how people lived long ago.
- It shows a unique building style: Fachwerk is a special way of building with timber and masonry. The farmhouse is mostly original and clearly shows how a traditional German half-timbered building looks.
- It's linked to important people: Because it's so unique, the farmhouse has a special connection to the early German immigrants. These groups played a big part in settling Queensland, and their families still live in the area today.
