Station Master's Residence, Forsayth facts for kids

The Station Master's Residence in Forsayth is a special old house. It is located on Fourth Street in Forsayth, Australia. This house was built around 1910. It is considered important because of its history and design. Because of this, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is protected for future generations to see and learn from.

A Look Back: History of the House

This house was built around 1910. It was part of a private railway line called the Etheridge railway line. This railway helped connect mines and factories of the Chillagoe Railway and Mining Company. The company's main engineer, Archibald Smith Frew, designed this house. He also designed two similar houses in Almaden and Einasleigh.

The Railway and Its Designer

A very important mining businessman named John Moffat started looking for copper in the Chillagoe area in the late 1880s. Later, he teamed up with investors from Melbourne. They planned to build a private railway. This railway would link Chillagoe to the government's railway system at Mareeba. The plan for this railway was approved in 1897. Archibald Smith Frew surveyed the route for the line.

Archibald Smith Frew was a skilled engineer. He worked for the Queensland Railways Department starting in 1879. He helped build the Croydon railway line in 1890-1891. He also built much of the Cairns railway network in the early 1900s. Frew designed all the buildings needed for the Chillagoe railway line. Many of these buildings, which are now gone, had unique roofs with multiple gables. This is a special feature you can still see on the Forsayth house.

Forsayth and the Etheridge Line

The Etheridge railway line 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. It was first called Charleston. But on December 15, 1910, its name was changed to honor James Forsayth Thallon. He was the Commissioner for Railways at the time.

A S Frew designed Station Master's houses in each of these towns. These houses were part of a bigger plan. This plan included a station building, cattle yards, and sheds for goods.

Design of the Station Master's Houses

The Station Master's houses in each town were quite similar. They all had a special roof with three parallel gables. These gables showed how the rooms inside were arranged. The middle room was a dining room. On either side of it were pairs of bedrooms.

The houses in Einasleigh and Forsayth were larger than the one in Almaden. They were planned to have lattice at each end of the dining room. This would have made the dining room a central breezeway, allowing cool air to flow through. However, they might have been built with enclosed ends instead. Behind the main house, there was a separate building. This building had a kitchen, a storage room, and a servant's room. Its roof extended to the back to cover a laundry area.

Changes to the Railway and House

The Chillagoe Company faced many challenges over the years. Even though it wasn't always making money, it kept going until 1923. It played a big part in the mining and railway industries of North Queensland. You can still see signs of its work today. For example, there are ruined factories at Chillagoe and old mine sites.

The railway lines built by the company are still used today. These lines went from Mareeba to Mungana (built in 1901) and to Forsayth (built in 1910). At one point, this was the longest private railway network in Australia. In June 1919, the Queensland Government bought most of the Chillagoe Company's assets. This included the railways. So, the Forsayth railway station became part of the Queensland Government rail system.

The Station Master was no longer needed after floods closed the line in early 1927. When the line reopened for rail motor traffic, a "Porter in Charge" took over. This continued until the 1990s. Then, a local agent handled the small amount of railway business. Today, the line is mainly a tourist attraction. The Savannahlander train runs on it from Cairns. In 1991, Queensland Rail divided the land. They sold the Station Master's Residence as a private home.

What the House Looks Like

The former Station Master's Residence is a single-story timber building. It sits on concrete stumps. It also has a separate kitchen building. The main part of the house is covered in weatherboards. Its roof has three parallel gables and is made of corrugated iron. A verandah goes all around the house. It has its own roof, which is held up by timber posts. There are sash windows and French doors. These doors open onto the verandah from the front and back of the house.

Behind the main house, there is a rectangular timber building. A walkway connects it to the house. This building has exposed wooden studs. It has a single gabled roof covered with corrugated iron. The roof extends at the back and is supported by timber posts. A small addition was built on the side of this building. This addition holds a bathroom.

The buildings are surrounded by a fence. This fence is made of timber posts and chain wire.

Why This House is Special: Heritage Listing

The former Station Master's Residence in Forsayth was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it meets certain important standards.

Showing Queensland's History

This house is one of three similar homes. They were built as part of the private railway system of a major mining company. These houses show how important the Chillagoe Company was to North Queensland's economy from 1898 to 1914. The railway was vital for the company. It brought fuel for the factories and carried minerals out. But it also served the community. It helped people living along the line and in the towns.

The Etheridge line was a rare example of a private railway. The fact that Station Master's residences were built shows how important and high-quality this railway was to the Chillagoe Company.

Rare and Unique Heritage

The Etheridge line is special because it was a private railway. The Station Master's residences show the quality and importance of this railway to the Chillagoe Company.

Beautiful Design

The former Station Master's residence is a good example of a traditional Queensland house. It has a unique and pleasing design. It adds a lot to the look and feel of Forsayth.

Connection to Important People

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 style of house design.