Greycliffe Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greycliffe Homestead |
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Greycliffe Homestead, 2009
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| Location | 48 Gladstone Road, Biloela, Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | c. 1863 - |
| Official name: Greycliffe Homestead | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600017 |
| Significant period | 1860s (historical) 1860s-1870s (fabric) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house |
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Greycliffe Homestead is a very old house in Biloela, Queensland, Australia. It was built around 1863. This special home is now protected as a heritage-listed site. It shows us what homes were like a long time ago. Today, the homestead is looked after by the Banana Shire Historical Society.
Contents
The Story of Greycliffe Homestead
Early Days and Explorers
Long ago, in 1844, an explorer named Ludwig Leichhardt explored the Callide and Dawson Valleys. Later, in the 1850s, European settlers started to move into this area. This was even before Queensland became its own state in 1859. In 1863, a man named Frederick Barton started the Greycliffe pastoral station. A pastoral station is a very large farm where animals like cattle or sheep are raised.
The Nott Family Arrives
We don't know exactly when William Nott moved to Greycliffe. But in 1871, he married Sophia Collins. They had many children. In 1877, their son Alfred David was born at Greycliffe. He was the first of seven more children born there. In 1879, William Nott took over the lease for the land. Over the years, he added more land to the station.
How the House Changed Over Time
The Greycliffe house started as one large room with a fireplace. Over time, it grew bigger. It eventually had two bedrooms with a hallway between them. It also had a verandah all around it, with extra rooms. The kitchen was a separate building. Inside, the ceilings were made of stretched calico, which is a type of cloth. The walls were decorated with chintz fabric glued right onto the timber.
In the 1920s, the homestead was repaired. The old wooden roof shingles were replaced with corrugated iron sheets. This made the roof stronger and more waterproof.
The Nott Family Leaves Greycliffe
William Nott passed away in 1903. His oldest son, William Ingliss, then managed the property. Some of his brothers and sisters went to fight in World War I. His sister Jessie helped to run the station.
The Nott family continued to live at Greycliffe for many years. In 1972, Emma Nott passed away at 92 years old. She was the last person to live in the homestead building. After her nephew, Robin Nott, also passed away, the property was sold in the late 1970s.
Moving the Homestead to Biloela
After Greycliffe station was sold, the house was empty. The Banana Shire Historical Society was worried it might be damaged or catch fire. So, in 1979, they decided to save it! They bought the building and moved it. They took it apart into two sections and moved it about 37 kilometers (23 miles) to Biloela.
Moving old buildings like this was a popular way to save important places back then. The homestead was rebuilt at its new location on Gladstone Road, Biloela. It became the headquarters for the Historical Society. You can visit it by arranging a time with them. Sadly, the old separate kitchen building did not survive the move.
What Greycliffe Homestead Looks Like
Today, Greycliffe Homestead is located in Biloela. It's on the corner of Gladstone Road and Lawrence Street. There are other buildings nearby, including another old slab hut and a shelter for machinery.
The homestead is a single-story timber building. It sits on low wooden stumps. The roof is hipped and made of corrugated iron. The house is built from timber slabs on a pole frame. It has a verandah that goes all the way around, with extra rooms built into it.
Inside, the main part of the house has a large living room with a brick fireplace. There are also two bedrooms separated by a hallway. The original fabric ceilings are no longer there. You can enter the front of the building by timber steps, and there's a ramp at the back.
Why Greycliffe Homestead is Important
Greycliffe Homestead is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a very important historical place.
- It shows Queensland's history: The homestead helps us understand how Queensland was settled. It shows how large pastoral stations were developed before towns and farms grew. It's a key part of the history of the pastoral industry in Queensland.
- It shows old building styles: Greycliffe is a great example of an early homestead. It was built using materials found right on the property. It shows the building methods used for homes a long time ago.
- It's important to the community: The community really values this homestead. People worked hard to save it and move it to Biloela. It's a big part of the local history. It's also the main focus of the Banana Shire Historical Society.
- It's linked to important people: The homestead is connected to the Nott family. They were early settlers who helped develop the area.
