Muralambeen Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muralambeen Homestead |
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Muralambeen Homestead sketch
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| Location | Off Bosworth's Road, Forrest Beach, Shire of Hinchinbrook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1881 - c. 1900 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Muralambeen Homestead | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 25 February 2005 |
| Reference no. | 602362 |
| Significant period | 1870s-1880s (historical) 1880s-1900s (fabric) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, garden/grounds |
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Muralambeen Homestead is a historic house located near Forrest Beach, Queensland, Australia. It's a special place because it's been around since the late 1800s. The main house was built between c. 1881 and c. 1900. Today, it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Muralambeen
Muralambeen Homestead is found on Bosworth Road, about 8 miles (13 km) south-east of Ingham. It sits on the flat lands near the Herbert River. This area was first explored by Europeans in the mid-1840s.
Early Settlers and the Allingham Family
The land where Muralambeen stands was first claimed in 1876 by Christopher Allingham. His family had moved to Australia from Ireland in 1841. They were farmers and business people. Christopher was one of the first European settlers in this part of Queensland.
In 1859, Christopher returned north with his cousin, John Allingham. They brought cattle and sheep. By 1861, they started a large farm called Hillgrove. John later married Frances Allingham. She was reportedly the first white woman to live north of the Burdekin River.
Building the Homestead
In the 1870s, the Allingham family expanded their farming lands. Christopher Allingham took over the land for Muralambeen in 1876. He passed away soon after, and the land went to John Allingham.
In 1880, John was told he needed to build a house on the property. This was a rule for people who claimed land back then. John and Frances were living at another farm, Kangaroo Hills, which sadly burned down in 1881.
By 1883, a simple house was built at Muralambeen. It was a small, one-room timber house with a verandah. It also had a separate kitchen and bathroom. John and Frances lived there for about two years. They made the house very comfortable and created a beautiful garden.
Growing the Property
After John Allingham died in 1885, his brother Johnstone Allingham took over the property. Johnstone and his family moved to Muralambeen around 1894-95. Around 1900, Johnstone added a big new section to the house. This included four new bedrooms.
When Johnstone died in 1901, his three sons managed the farm. Frances Allingham, John's wife, also lived at Muralambeen again. The homestead became a happy meeting place for the Allingham family. The family continued to own and manage the property for many years.
In 1940, a cyclone damaged the house. Repairs and new additions were made. In 1952, the old kitchen was taken down, and a new one was built inside the house. The land around Muralambeen was also used to grow sugar cane. Over the years, parts of the land were sold off, making the homestead property smaller. The Allingham family still owns Muralambeen today.
What Muralambeen Homestead Looks Like
Muralambeen is a single-story timber house. It has a roof made of corrugated iron. The house is surrounded by a shady garden and agricultural land. Two creeks, Lucy and Palm Creeks, flow nearby.
The House's Design
The house is raised about 1 meter (3 feet) off the ground on concrete stumps. It has verandahs (covered porches) all around it, except for one corner. These verandahs are partly enclosed with screens and windows.
The roof of the house has changed over time. It started as simple hip roofs, but additions have made it more complex. The house is mostly built from timber. The walls are made of timber boards, laid horizontally. Some newer parts of the house use cement sheeting. The older parts have double-hung windows and French doors that open onto the verandahs.
Inside the House
The house was built in different stages. It has an original main part and a newer section, forming an L-shape. These parts are connected by an enclosed breezeway. A breezeway is like a covered walkway.
The breezeway is the main entrance and the largest living area. It connects the east and west verandahs. It used to be an open space but is now enclosed with windows.
On one side of the breezeway are three bedrooms. One of these was originally two rooms. A small room, once screened, is now part of the verandah.
On the other side of the breezeway is the oldest part of the house. It has two bedrooms. The kitchen and a dining area are built into what used to be part of the original verandah. The kitchen was once a separate building. There's also a small room for washing dishes, which is now the laundry.
The laundry area is a concrete slab on the ground. It's separated from the main house and was built where the original kitchen used to be. It also has a toilet and shower.
The Gardens
The garden around the house has large shade trees and many decorative shrubs. The lawns to the north and east of the house were once rose gardens and tennis courts. There's also a large shade structure and a small garage near the house.
Why Muralambeen Homestead is Special
Muralambeen Homestead was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005. This means it's considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's Past
Muralambeen helps us understand how Queensland developed. It shows how early settlers, like Christopher and John Allingham, explored and settled new areas in North Queensland. The house itself, built in the late 1800s, is a great example of homes from that time.
A Typical Homestead
Muralambeen shows what a rural homestead from that era looked like. It's a single-story timber house with large verandahs. You can see how it grew over time with additions to the original building. It's a well-preserved example of architecture from Queensland's farming frontier.
Connected to Important People
The homestead is also special because of its long connection to the Allingham family. They have been involved with the property for almost 130 years. Christopher Allingham was one of the first European settlers in the area. The Allingham family were pioneers who played a big part in the history of farming in North Queensland.
