Schmidt Farmhouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schmidt Farmhouse |
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Building in 2016
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| Location | 3 Worongary Road, Worongary, City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1880s - c. 1910 |
| Official name: Schmidt Farmhouse & Outbuildings (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 8 April 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601889 |
| Significant period | 1880s circa-c. 1910 (fabric) 1880s-1930s (historical) |
| Significant components | farmhouse, dairy/creamery, barn, kitchen/kitchen house |
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The Schmidt Farmhouse & Outbuildings is a special old homestead in Worongary, Queensland, Australia. It was built between the 1880s and around 1910. This place is important because it shows us what farming life was like a long time ago. It is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it is protected for future generations.
Contents
A Look Back: The Farm's History
This farmhouse and its other buildings were built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The land was first part of a large cattle farm called Murry Jerry in the 1850s. Later, it became a place for growing crops and, most importantly, for dairy farming.
The Schmidt-Kurth family, who were dairy farmers, lived here from about 1901 until around 1986. They helped shape the farm into what we see today.
How the Land Changed Over Time
In 1852, a large cattle farm called Murry Jerry was set up near what is now Mudgeeraba. Later, in 1869, the government wanted to open up big farms for smaller farmers. This land was then made available for people to choose and buy.
At first, people came to cut timber. Soon, farmers started growing corn and later set up dairies. In 1869, a man named WD White chose 200 acres of this land. Old records mention a hut on the property, but it's not clear if it's connected to the buildings we see now.
In the 1880s, the land was sold a few times. It was during this time that the farmhouse, with its special wooden walls, was likely built. It seems farming really started on this land around then.
The Schmidt Family Arrives
Johann Karl Schmidt came to Queensland from Germany in 1881. He worked as a farm helper and later married Bertha Abraheim. Her family also farmed in the area.
In 1891, Carl Schmidt started his own mixed farm and dairy. Around 1901, the Schmidt family moved to the Worongary property. They might have rented it before buying it in 1912. The Schmidt family believes the farmhouse was already there when they arrived.
Dairy Farming in Queensland
The Schmidt family focused on dairy farming, which was a big business in Queensland back then. The government even helped farmers by showing them new ways to farm. They offered money and set up factories for cheese and cream.
Rules were also made to make sure butter and cream were good quality. The Queensland Agricultural Bank was started in 1901 to help farmers get loans. The Schmidt farm was small, with 20-30 cows, but it was typical for small farms at that time.
Around 1910, the farmhouse was updated. A separate kitchen was joined to the house, and the roof was changed from wooden shingles to metal. New windows and other improvements were added. These changes show how living standards improved as dairy farming grew.
Bertha Schmidt passed away in 1924. In 1930, the farm went to their youngest daughter, Eda Catherine Kurth. The Schmidt-Kurth family owned the farmhouse until 1992. Today, the land around the farmhouse is much smaller.
The Gold Coast area has grown a lot, and many old farms have been replaced by new homes. The Schmidt farmhouse is one of the oldest and few surviving farmhouses in the area.
What is the Farmhouse Used for Today?
Today, the farmhouse is home to the 14th Light Horse Museum. This museum has displays about the First World War and the Australian Light Horse. A group of people who re-enact the Light Horse also use the site. They practice skills like tent pegging with lances and swords. They also take part in ANZAC Day ceremonies. The museum is also where the Gold Coast north branch of the National Servicemen's Association of Australia meets.
What Does the Farm Look Like?
There are three main buildings at the site: the farmhouse, a large slab barn, and a small creamery. There are also a few other smaller buildings, like a timber shed and an old outhouse.
The Farmhouse
The farmhouse is made of timber and stands on wooden stumps. It has wooden boards on the sides and back. The front has wider wooden boards.
The house has two main parts: a front section with two rooms and a verandah, and a kitchen area with two more rooms. Part of the back verandah has been made into a bathroom and a small storage room.
The roof was originally made of wooden shingles, but now it has corrugated iron. There is also a brick fireplace and chimney at the back.
The front verandah recently had its old floorboards replaced. There's still a piece of the old handrail and balustrade on one corner. The verandah used to be closed off to create a sleeping area.
When you look closely at the house, you can see it originally had only two rooms at the front. French doors opened from these rooms onto the verandah. The wider wooden boards on the walls show this original layout.
Later, a wall was added to create a central hallway. The ceilings and some inside walls were also updated with new wooden boards. This shows how the house changed over time.
A photo from around 1910 shows some of these changes. The front verandah had new balustrades, the roof was changed, and stairs were added to the side.
The Slab Barn
West of the farmhouse is a big barn. It's mostly built from strong wooden slabs and milled timber, with a corrugated iron roof. The barn is about 15 by 10 metres and is raised off the ground. The middle part has wooden floorboards, while the sides have large timber slabs. Parts of the barn have been rebuilt recently.
The Creamery
The creamery is a small building located in the showgrounds. It's a timber building about 3 metres square with a corrugated iron roof. This building was part of the Schmidt farm.
It has a concrete floor, which is not original. The walls have wooden slats at about three-quarter height to let air in. Inside, there's evidence of old wooden lining. The window openings are filled with wooden shutters.
Why is it Heritage Listed?
The former Schmidt Farmhouse & Outbuildings was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 8 April 1997 because it meets certain important rules.
It shows how Queensland's history developed. This place helps us understand the history of farming in the Gold Coast area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It especially shows how dairy farming grew in the early 20th century. It also highlights the success of German immigrant families in Queensland during that time.
It shows rare or uncommon parts of Queensland's history. Very few farmhouses from the late 1800s still exist in the Gold Coast area. This makes the Schmidt farmhouse a rare and special part of Queensland's history.
It shows the main features of a certain type of historical place. The house, barn, creamery, and other buildings show what a small dairy farm from the late 1800s or early 1900s was like. The main part of the farmhouse is a rare example of how rural homes were built around 1880 in the Gold Coast area.
Images for kids
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Farm in the Mudgeeraba district ca. 1891 (not Schmidt Farmhouse)
