Wairuna Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wairuna Homestead |
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Wairuna Homestead, 2013
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| Location | Wairuna Road, Wairuna, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1940s - 1960s (post-World War II) |
| Built | 1940s |
| Architectural style(s) | Modernism |
| Official name: Wairuna Homestead and Cemetery, Wairuna Station Homestead and Cemetery | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 9 August 2013 |
| Reference no. | 602823 |
| Significant period | 1899- |
| Builders | Harold and Norman Johnston |
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Wairuna Homestead is a special historic home located on Wairuna Road in Wairuna, Australia. It was built in the 1940s by Harold and Norman Johnston. This place is also known as Wairuna Station Homestead and Cemetery. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 August 2013 because of its important history.
Contents
A Look Back at Wairuna's History
Wairuna Homestead is about 80 kilometres south of Mount Garnet. It sits near the start of the Burdekin River. The property includes a timber house from the 1940s, an old cottage, a head stockman's house, barracks, sheds, a butchering hut, and a small cemetery started in 1899.
From 1881 to 1976, the Atkinson family owned and ran Wairuna station. They were a very important family in North Queensland's cattle industry. From the 1930s, Wairuna station became a key place for scientific research. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) worked there. They studied how well Brahman-cross cattle would do in northern Australia. This research later helped create the Australian Brahman cattle breed.
For over 20 years, Kenneth Edward James Atkinson lived at Wairuna. He was a major leader in starting the Australian Brahman breed. He helped create the Australian Brahman Breeders' Association in 1946. He played a huge part in developing Brahman cattle in Australia.
Early Cattle Farming in North Queensland
The northern part of Queensland, where Wairuna is, was settled quickly by cattle farmers in the early 1860s. By the end of 1861, most of the good land was taken. James Atkinson (1824-1899) tried to set up a farm with Ezra Firth. Later, around 1863, Atkinson and Firth started Mount Surprise station.
Early cattle farmers in North Queensland faced many challenges in the 1860s. They found that the land was not good for sheep. There were no easy markets for cattle because towns were too far away. Selling cattle to other farmers was almost the only way to get rid of extra animals. Ports were far, and getting to them was hard. The climate was tough, and Queensland had money problems from 1866.
The money problems made things very hard for farmers. Many farms were given up. Few farms did well. The problems with sheep and cattle markets did not look like they would get better soon.
Gold Rush Brings New Hope
The 1870s brought some relief to cattle farmers. New goldfields in the north created a local market for fresh meat. From 1872, buyers from Ravenswood and Charters Towers goldfields bought a lot of cattle. The gold rush in 1873 made cattle prices go up a lot.
This new demand for beef helped cattle farming start again in North Queensland. More ports were built, and the sugar industry grew. This second wave of growth, from 1874, created a demand for cattle not just in Queensland but also in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
In 1881, James Atkinson sold some of his land and bought Wairuna station. He moved there with his family and cattle. The Wairuna lease had been started in 1879 by Henry Stone and Duncan McAuslan.
The homestead was built on a high spot that would not flood. Early writers said the homestead was beautiful. One person wrote it was "very prettily situated on a hill overlooking a grassy margined lake."
Challenges and Changes in the Cattle Industry
From the 1880s, North Queensland cattlemen started selling their cattle in southern markets. Cattle numbers grew quickly in the 1890s. However, the cattle industry still struggled. There were too many cattle, and prices were low.
Big changes happened in the beef cattle industry in the 1890s. A money crisis in 1893 caused many large farms to be taken over by banks. Also, new laws created "grazing selectors," who could lease smaller areas of land. The third big change was the success of freezing plants. This allowed cattle farmers to sell their beef to other countries.
At the same time, a disease called cattle tick killed many cattle. A drought from 1898 to 1902 also caused problems. Wairuna lost half of its cattle from the tick disease in 1896.
James Atkinson died in 1899 and was buried in Wairuna Cemetery. His three sons took over the farm. They increased their land and cattle.
From the 1890s to the 1950s, the North Queensland beef industry faced many problems. Cattle tick was common, and cattle needed to be dipped to control it. Markets went up and down. For example, a boom during World War I was followed by a big drop in beef sales in 1921. New diseases also appeared. Droughts continued to be a problem.
The Birth of Brahman Cattle in Australia
To solve these problems, some cattle farmers started looking into Brahman or Zebu cattle. These cattle were known for being resistant to ticks and good at handling hot, dry weather. As early as 1910, William McDowall bought two Brahman bulls. Their offspring were used to breed with other cattle.
Ken Atkinson, James's grandson, started breeding Brahman cross-bred cattle at Wairuna in 1936. He bought 15 heifers and two bulls that had some Brahman blood. He also bought a pure-bred Brahman bull named "Abel" in 1939.
Scientists also became interested in developing cattle for tropical areas. In 1920, Dr John Anderson Gilruth visited Texas, USA. He believed that cattle breeding experiments in North Queensland would be a good idea. In 1929, a group suggested studying how to create a new breed of tropical cattle.
Dr Ralph Bodkin Kelley of the CSIR went to the USA in 1931 to learn about Brahman cross-breeding. When he came back, a plan to set up a cattle breeding station was rejected by farmers. However, in 1933, Dr Gilruth made a deal with three cattle companies and one farmer. They would pay to buy and bring Brahman cattle from the USA to Australia. They would also provide British cattle for breeding.
This group imported 18 Brahman cattle in 1933. These cattle were sent to Waverley station to get used to the new environment. Then they were divided among the group members for the CSIR breeding trials.
Wairuna's Role in Brahman Breeding
Ken Atkinson took over managing Wairuna around 1930. In 1939, the homestead had an old house, a dairy, sheds, and other buildings. Many of these were replaced during Ken Atkinson's time. The current main house was built in 1940. It cost £2500 to build and was described as "one of the most attractive in north Queensland."
From his office in the house, Ken Atkinson managed his Brahman breeding program. He also held important positions in cattle industry groups. He helped create the Zebu Breeders Society of Australia in 1946, which later became the Australian Brahman Breeders' Association (ABBA). He was its first president from 1946 to 1960. He also helped start the North Queensland Saleyards Pty Ltd and was its chairman for many years.
In 1943, Wairuna station was about 700 square miles. It was well-watered by creeks and lagoons. Ticks were present, so British cattle needed regular dipping.
By 1943, Wairuna had 170 Brahman cross-bred cattle. Ken Atkinson aimed to have a herd that was about 3/8 Brahman. He had a plan to achieve this. Wairuna had already sold Brahman-cross bullocks.
The spread of Brahman cattle became possible after November 1941. The CSIR allowed group members to sell Brahman and cross-bred cattle to others. Ken Atkinson helped spread these cattle by selling Wairuna cross-bred animals to farms near Mount Molloy, Georgetown, Cooktown, Tully, and Coen.
Atkinson bought more pure-bred Brahman cattle from other places in Queensland and overseas. By 1947, Wairuna had 850 pure and cross-bred Brahman cattle. Between 1949 and 1951, Atkinson imported two Brahman bulls and two heifers from the USA.
In 1946, Atkinson and Maurice De Tournouer started the first Brahman breeders association in Australia. Atkinson was the president. This group helped register Brahman cattle, which was important for the industry.
In 1947, North Queensland farmers decided to build saleyards. Ken Atkinson was the first chairman of the board. The Mareeba Saleyard opened in 1948 and is still used today.
Modernizing the Beef Industry
From the 1950s, cattle farming in North Queensland changed a lot. Better beef prices gave farmers confidence to develop their properties. The Queensland Government also became more involved in improving the industry.
In 1952, Ken Atkinson was a founding member of another group, the Australian Zebu-Cross Beef Cattle Breeders Association. This group aimed to improve cross-bred cattle.
Between 1952 and 1954, Wairuna cattle were used in a study. This study compared the weight and meat quality of Brahman cross and British steers. It showed that Brahman-cross beef had advantages for North Australian cattle farming.
From 1960, Ken Atkinson's oldest son, Jon, managed Wairuna. Ken moved his pure-bred Brahman cattle to another property to be closer to buyers.
The 1960s and 1970s brought more improvements. Better roads for cattle, improved pasture management, and the use of adapted breeds like Brahman cattle helped the industry. The ABBA grew a lot. By 1971, there were many purebred and registered Brahman cattle in Australia. Research by CSIRO and DPI showed why Brahmans were so good for the region.
The demand for Australian beef grew worldwide. This caused cattle prices to increase. However, in 1975, too much beef was produced globally, and prices dropped. Prices stayed low until 1979.
The development of Brahman cattle completely changed the beef industry in northern Australia. It helped farms become profitable. In 2000, a study found that Brahman genetics added billions of dollars to Australia's economy. About 40,000 cattle farmers gained extra profit each year. Brahman cattle accounted for 90 percent of the genetic improvement in the Australian industry.
Wairuna stud played a big part in the early days of Brahman cattle breeding. Many Brahman cattle today can trace their family lines back to Wairuna.
Without the work done at Wairuna by Ken Atkinson and others, the North Australian cattle industry would not be what it is today. Ken Atkinson was given an award, the Order of Australia, in 1983 for his service to farming. He died in 1990 and was buried in Wairuna cemetery next to his grandfather.
The Atkinson family owned Wairuna until 1976. It was sold because beef prices dropped. Since then, Wairuna has had several owners. In 2010, the Queensland Government bought Wairuna for national park purposes.
In recent years, Wairuna has faced natural disasters. In 2011, Cyclone Yasi damaged buildings. In 2012, a fire damaged fences and other parts of the property.
Wairuna Homestead, like other old farms, was like a small village. Workers lived on site. Aboriginal people were important employees on farms in North Queensland from the 1870s. They lived in barracks or in camps near the homestead. The Warrungu people have a Native Title Land Claim over the land, including Wairuna.
In May 2013, there was a plan to knock down the Wairuna Homestead buildings. This made community members work to protect the homestead and cemetery. Many people, including family members, former employees, and the local council, asked for it to be protected.
What Wairuna Homestead Looks Like
Wairuna Station is about 117 kilometres south of Mount Garnet. It is a large property of 76,500 hectares. It sits at the start of the Burdekin River, next to the Girringun National Park.
The homestead is on a knoll (a small hill) surrounded by lagoons and wetlands. It is a very pretty place.
The Wairuna homestead includes the main house from 1940. It has an old kitchen and store attached. There is also an early cottage and a 3-car garage/workshop. Other buildings nearby include two barracks, an amenities block, a butchering hut, and sheds. The old stockman's house is on another small hill to the south. There are also remains of an old Aboriginal campsite about 200 metres south of the stockman's house.
The Main House
The 1940 main house is a strong, single-story timber building. It has a low, sloped roof. Verandahs (porches) are on the north and east sides. They have projecting porches that mark the entrances. The walls inside and on the verandahs are made of timber boards.
The house has six rooms. The living and dining room are on the east side. Four bedrooms are on the west. A hallway runs from the front door to the kitchen at the back. The living and dining room share a large brick fireplace. Two bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and shelves.
The old kitchen and store at the back were part of an earlier building. A bathroom has been added to the house.
Other Buildings
The cottage is a single-story building on stumps. It has timber walls and a corrugated iron roof. It is a typical two-room cottage. Verandahs were added later. A covered walkway connects the cottage to the main house.
The other buildings around the homestead are farm structures. Most are made of timber, with corrugated iron or fibre cement walls. They usually have concrete or dirt floors. The old barracks building has a timber floor. Both the barracks and the old stockman's house have timber walls and corrugated iron roofs.
The cemetery is about 500 metres from the homestead, on the west side of the lagoon. It holds the graves of James and Kenneth James Atkinson. Their headstones are surrounded by a decorative iron fence. James Atkinson's large marble headstone can be seen from the homestead.
Some new buildings, like a four-bay shed, have been built since the Atkinson family left. These are not considered historically important.
Why Wairuna Homestead is Important
Wairuna Homestead was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 August 2013 for several reasons:
It shows how Queensland's history developed. Wairuna Homestead and its buildings are important because they show how Australia's beef cattle industry grew. It was a key place for early experiments with Brahman cross-breeding. This work helped create the Australian Brahman cattle breed, which has greatly helped the Australian beef industry.
It is beautiful to look at. Wairuna Homestead is beautiful because of its location and views. It sits high on a hill that does not flood. It overlooks lagoons full of wildlife, surrounded by low hills. The views make you feel peaceful and like you are far away from everything.
It is special to a community or group. Wairuna Homestead is special to the Atkinson family, former employees, and community members. It is a valued place where people worked, lived, and felt connected. This was shown when many people tried to protect the homestead buildings from being knocked down in 2013.
It is linked to important people or groups in Queensland's history. Wairuna Homestead is important because it was connected to James Atkinson and his family for 95 years. This family made a big contribution to Queensland's beef cattle industry.
Wairuna Homestead is especially linked to Kenneth James Atkinson. He was important in Queensland's history because of his role in Brahman cross-breeding experiments. He helped establish and develop the Australian Brahman cattle breed. He also founded the Australian Brahman Breeders' Association and was its first president. He also helped start the North Queensland Saleyards Pty Ltd and was its first chairman.
Images for kids
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Wairuna Homestead, 2013
