Station Master's Residence, Einasleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Station Master's Residence, Einasleigh |
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Station Master's Residence, 2008
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| Location | Railway Reserve, Einasleigh, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | c. 1909 |
| Official name: Station Master's Residence, Einasleigh (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600505 |
| Significant period | c. 1909 (fabric) c. 1909-1920s (historical) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - station master's house/quarters, trees/plantings |
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The Station Master's Residence in Einasleigh is an old house with a lot of history. It was built around 1909. This house was once home to the person in charge of the train station. It is located in the Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history and should be protected.
Contents
A Home for the Station Master
This house was built around 1909. It was part of a special railway line. This line was owned by a private company called the Chillagoe Railway and Mining Company. The railway connected mines and smelters to the main government train network.
The Railway's Engineer
The company's main engineer was Archibald Smith Frew. He designed this house. He also designed two other similar houses. These were built in Almaden and Forsayth. Frew was a very experienced engineer. He had worked on other railways in Queensland.
Building the Etheridge Line
The railway line, known as the Etheridge railway, was built between 1906 and 1910. The main towns along this line were Almaden, Einasleigh, and Forsayth. Forsayth was the very end of the line. Frew designed the Station Master's houses in each of these towns. These houses were part of all the facilities needed for the railway. This included the station building, cattle yards, and sheds. The train siding at Einasleigh was ready by March 1909. Soon after, trains started carrying ore from the mines.
The House's Design
The Station Master's houses in these towns looked quite similar. They all had a unique roof with three parallel gables. A gable is the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof. This roof design showed how the rooms inside were arranged. The middle room was a dining room. On each side of the dining room were two bedrooms. The houses in Einasleigh and Forsayth were bigger than the one in Almaden. They were designed with a detached building at the back. This building had a kitchen, a storage room, and a servant's room. It also had a covered laundry area.
The Railway's Journey
The Chillagoe Company faced many challenges. Even though it wasn't always making money, it kept going until 1923. This company was very important for mining and railways in North Queensland. You can still see signs of its work today. There are ruined smelters and old mine sites. The railway lines built by the company are still used today. They were once the longest privately owned railway lines in Australia. In 1919, the Queensland Government bought most of the company's assets. The railway then became part of the government's system.
Later Life of the House
Einasleigh had a station master until 1927. Then, the railway line had to close because of floods. When the line reopened in 1928, a gatekeeper took over. This was often a woman. Later, in the 1970s, a new house was built. After that, railway workers called "fettlers" lived in this old house. Today, the railway line is mainly a tourist attraction. It is famous as the Gulflander.
What the House Looks Like
The former Station Master's Residence is a single-story building made of timber. It stands on concrete stumps. The roof has three parallel gables. It is covered with corrugated iron. There are vents under each gable. The main part of the house has a verandah on three sides. A separate roof supported by timber posts shades this verandah. The house has sash windows and French doors. These doors open onto the verandah. Part of the verandah has been enclosed. Inside, the walls are covered with horizontal wooden boards.
The separate kitchen building that was shown in the original plans is not there anymore. A large, old mango tree stands next to the house. It is a noticeable and important part of the property.
Why This House is Special
The former Station Master's Residence in Einasleigh is a very important historical site. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it meets certain standards that show its value.
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
This house is one of three built for a major mining company's private railway. It shows how powerful the Chillagoe Company was in North Queensland's economy from 1898 to 1914. The railway was vital for the company. It brought fuel for the smelters and carried minerals away. But it also served the local communities. It helped people living along the line and in the towns. The Etheridge line was rare because it was a private railway. Having special houses for the Station Masters shows how important this railway was to the Chillagoe Company.
- It is a rare part of Queensland's heritage.
The Etheridge line was a private railway, which was uncommon. The fact that the company built high-quality houses for its Station Masters shows how important and well-planned this railway system was.
- It is beautiful and well-designed.
The house has a special beauty. It is a great example of a traditional Queensland house style. It adds a lot to the unique look of Einasleigh.
- It is connected to an important person.
This house is important because of its link to the famous engineer, A. S. Frew. He designed both the railway line and the buildings along it. He put his own touch on the local house styles.
