Glenmore Homestead, Rockhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenmore Homestead |
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Glenmore Homestead, 2009
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| Location | Belmont Road, Parkhurst, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | c. 1858 - c. 1920 |
| Official name: Glenmore Homestead | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600823 |
| Significant period | 1860s-1870s (historical) |
| Significant components | store/s / storeroom / storehouse, residential accommodation - main house, furniture/fittings |
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Glenmore Homestead is a special historic place near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It includes a main house and other old buildings. These buildings were constructed between about 1858 and 1920. The homestead is located on Belmont Road in Parkhurst. It sits beside the Fitzroy River.
This property was once a very large cattle and sheep farm. It covered about 329 square kilometres! Today, it is much smaller, around 20 acres (8.1 ha) (about 8 hectares). Glenmore Homestead is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Contents
A Look Back at Glenmore Homestead
Early Days and New Owners
Glenmore Homestead started as a grazing property in 1858. The first person to lease the land was John Arthur McCartney. In 1860, there was a plan to make Rockhampton a bigger town. This plan would have included Glenmore, but it didn't happen.
In 1861, the Birkbeck family arrived in Rockhampton. Samuel Bradford Birkbeck had worked as a mining engineer. He bought Glenmore Homestead with his wife, Damiana de Barre Valdez, in 1864. They had eight sons and one daughter.
Farming and Changes
The Birkbecks first tried raising sheep on the property. However, the climate was not good for sheep. So, they decided to switch to cattle. They even brought 1,500 cattle all the way from Texas!
Samuel Birkbeck passed away in 1867. His sons, Robert, Alfred, and Carlos, took over managing the property. The Birkbeck family has owned Glenmore Homestead ever since. Until the 1980s, family members lived in the old buildings.
Growing the Homestead Buildings
When the Birkbeck family arrived, Glenmore had a four-room house and two log cabins. One log cabin was built around 1859 by McCartney. People believe it is the oldest building north of the Fitzroy River. Today, this log cabin is used for storage.
The original buildings were not big enough for the growing Birkbeck family. So, they moved a large slab building to the property in 1861. This building was originally a hotel in Parkhurst, built around 1858. It was known as the Bush Inn.
In 1862, a limestone brick cottage was built by Dennis Cifuentes. He came from Mexico to help the Birkbeck family. This cottage was meant to be part of a much larger, hacienda-style home, but it was never finished.
Land Changes and New Additions
Over time, the Queensland Government wanted to divide large properties into smaller farms. In 1869, more than half of the Glenmore property was taken back by the government. It was then offered as smaller blocks for new settlers. The Birkbeck family was able to buy some of these smaller blocks to keep part of their original land.
Later, more buildings were added to the homestead. A blacksmith's shop was built around 1890. Other sheds were added by 1920. In 1985, a cottage called the "Walter and Eliza Hall Cottage" was moved to the site. This cottage was originally built around 1914 to provide homes for older couples.
In the early 1980s, Glenmore Homestead opened to the public. It became a place where people could visit and learn about history. It also hosted events. A souvenir shop was built in 1985. Today, parts of the original property are still owned and managed by the Birkbeck family.
What You Can See at Glenmore Homestead
Glenmore Homestead shows different types of early buildings from the Central Queensland area. The main buildings that are part of its heritage listing include:
- The log cabin (built around 1858-1859)
- The slab homestead (built around 1858, moved in 1861)
- The limestone brick cottage (built in 1862)
- A timber blacksmith's shop (built around 1890)
- Timber sheds (built around 1920)
Other buildings on the property, like the souvenir shop or the owner's residence, are newer and not part of the heritage listing.
The Log Cabin
The log cabin is a single room hut. It is made from horizontal logs that fit together at the corners. The inside walls were lined with bark. The roof was originally made of wooden shingles, but now has corrugated iron over them. This old cabin is currently used for storing farm tools and other items.
The Homestead Building
The main homestead building is made of vertical timber slabs. It was moved to this spot in 1861 and placed on a stone base. It has eight rooms and is about 12.5 metres long and 5.5 metres wide. There are verandahs (porches) on the west and east sides. French doors open onto the eastern verandah. The roof is made of corrugated iron. A smaller, two-room timber part was added to the south-western end. This part used to be the kitchen.
Inside, the main room is set up as a dining room. Visitors can look inside the building from the verandah to see how it was once used.
The Limestone Brick Cottage
This cottage is shaped like a "T" and has four rooms. Its walls are made of limestone bricks covered with a lime plaster. The triangular parts of the roof (called gables) are made of adobe, a type of mud brick. There is a verandah on the south-western side. The roof still has its original "gospel oak iron" cladding. The outer walls are very thick, about 53 centimetres (21 in) (21 inches) thick! The inner walls are also thick, about 50 centimetres (20 in) (20 inches). The ceilings are made of timber.
The largest room in the cottage is a sitting room. It holds many items that the Birkbeck family brought from Mexico. These include Damiana Birkbeck's silver crucifix and musical instruments like a guitar and mandolin. Two other rooms have display cases. The fourth room is used for storage.
Near the cottage, there is an old toilet building made from stone found on the property.
Why Glenmore Homestead is Important
Glenmore Homestead is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for several reasons:
- It shows Queensland's history: The homestead helps us understand how the Rockhampton area developed. It shows how early European settlers explored and settled Queensland. It's also special because the Birkbeck family has owned it for so long, since 1864!
- It shows different building styles: The homestead complex has many different types of homes built over time. These include the log cabin, the slab-built homestead, and the limestone brick cottage. It also has other old buildings like the blacksmith's shop and a stone toilet. This shows how building methods changed over the years.
- It has a nice look: The homestead is surrounded by old trees like Ficus and Burdekin plum trees. This makes the whole area look very beautiful.
- It connects to the Birkbeck family: Glenmore Homestead has a strong link to the Birkbeck family. Several generations of the family lived and worked here. They helped develop the area around the homestead.
