Tamala Homestead, Outbuildings and Cottage Ruins

Statement of Significance

The Tamala Homestead and associated buildings have high historic significance for their connection with the establishment of the pastoral industry in the district, the subsequent settlement of Shark Bay and the first lessee, Francis Louis von Bibra. Further the group of buildings has high aesthetic value and make an important contribution to the historic record of the district.

RECOMMENDATION:
The owners should be given every encouragement to preserve the remains of the original stone single room cottages and shepherds cottage, these buildings are the least disturbed and have the most historic significance.

Physical Description

The Tamala Station Precinct consists of a number of buildings, many of which have been restored.

TAMALA HOMESTEAD: A hipped corrugated iron roof extends to cover verandahs which are supported on timber posts. Walls are white painted random rubble stone. Windows have been replaced with aluminium frames and all timber floors except one have been replaced with concrete and slate. Two large rendered chimneys are topped with decorative chimney pots.

GUEST QUARTERS (Formerly part of the Shearers' Quarters): This is a simple painted rendered stone building with a gable corrugated iron roof which extends to cover the front verandah. The verandah is supported on timber posts and there are two timber doors to the verandah. A corrugated iron building which adjoined the north side of this building has been demolished.

ORIGINAL SINGLE ROOM COTTAGES: Sited some 50 metres east of the main homestead are two adjoining single room random rubble stone cottage ruins. One has some roof timbers in place, the other still has some walls partially standing.

WORKER'S (MEN'S) QUARTERS. This is a white painted random rubble stone building. The gable corrugated iron roof has been extended to the front to cover a verandah which is supported on timber posts. Internal doors have been inserted to connect three individual sections of the building which now serves as a manager's office and quarters. Two large stone chimneys have decorative terra cotta chimney pots.

STABLES: This white painted random rubble stone building has a gable roof which extends to form a verandah both front and rear. The verandahs are supported on pine poles. To the interior there is a central loft for fodder storage with stables to the rear. The front verandah facade has a single entry door and three small windows with timber shutters.

SHEARING SHED (Currently, Workshop and Quarters): This is a large white painted random rubble stone building. The main building has a hipped corrugated iron roof with central wings to the west and east. The main building is used as a workshop, the west wing is single men's quarters and the east wing is used for storage.

MARRIED QUARTERS: This small timber framed corrugated iron clad building has a shallow pitched gable roof which extends to cover the front verandah. The verandah has some pine and some timber posts. The cladding is used horizontally to the front and vertically to the sides. Windows are aluminium framed. The interior has been refurbished.

SINGLE MEN'S QUARTERS: This is a small metal framed building clad with corrugated iron with a corrugated iron roof. The roof extends to cover verandahs to the north and south which are supported on metal posts and has some infill of corrugated iron.

SHEPHERD'S COTTAGE RUINS: The ruins of a single room stone shepherd's cottage are sited in a small valley to the north of the main road. The cottage is built as a dry stone structure with the entry doorway still visible.

History

Tamala is said to be the first settled station in the district. It's buildings date from the 1860s. It is believed that a shepherd, Andrew Ogilvie, brought sheep from the Northampton District to Shark Bay for winter grazing. The boundaries of Tamala were surveyed in 1875 and Francis Louis von Bibra was the first lessee. By 1900 Andrew Ogilvie controlled the property. The property at one time also included the Carrarang lease.
(Source: Max Hipkins & Associates, "Survey of the Built Environment of Shark Bay", Department of Planning and Urban Development, 1991, p.5-6.)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.