Springmount

Statement of Significance

Springmount has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
The place is a striking and well-executed and uniquely designed Federation Queen Anne homestead dwelling, as a large and generously proportioned timber bungalow and wrap-around verandah, with its high pitched gable roof, projecting twin gable wings, elaborate yet sophisticated timber detailing and adornments, latticework and bay windows and cultural landscape setting.
The high-quality nature of the design and construction of the homestead dwelling is a testament to the Leishmans, the builder Mr Sangster and the Albanian workmen.
The place is associated with the Leishman family, who were early settlers to the Nanarup area having faith in its potential and establishing one of the most successful farming properties in Albany which was then transformed into an enduring health and holiday resort
The place is associated with the Braun family who were long term owners and managers of the place as a guesthouse/hostel and established its prominence and reputation as a premium holiday destination.
The place is associated with the famous entrepreneurs and philanthropes, and local Nanarup residents, Paul and Joan Terry, who carried out important and sympathetic conservation work in 1991.
The place represents the enduring position that Albany has held as a popular and desirable seaside and holiday resort destination which resulted in the many purpose built hotels and hostels as well as the conversion of many private house into guest houses and hostels to meet the demand both in the town and in the outlying districts.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Rural setting with simple landscaped garden surrounds
• Large weatherboard Queen Anne Bungalow with many outstanding features of this style
• Symmetrical facade
• Twin projecting gable wings either side of a rectangular central section
• Decorative barge boards and ventilators in the gables finished with finials
• Bay windows
• Verandah shading front and sides of house
• Adorned timber posts on verandah
• Central double stairway leading up to main door – in poor condition
• ‘Queensland style’ use of lattice work on verandah and as screens to the base of the house – in poor condition

Some obvious modifications include:
• Extensions to the rear

History

Springmount was built for Henry J C and Alice Leishman. Henry Leishman came from Wimbledon England originally immigrated to Queensland to farm as a young man. Alice (nee Bunny) was born in Victoria in 1859 and the sister of the famous artist Rupert Bunny. After completing her education in Europe, Alice returned and not long after met Henry at a dance at her home in St Kilda. They married and had twin daughters Lilian and Grace and son Hugh Arthur. They initially lived in Queensland, then they moved to Albany in 1892.

In spite of advice to the contrary, Henry set his mind on Nanarup for their home:
Mr Fenwick, who was then the land agent of the W.A Land Company, endeavored to persuade Mr. Leishman to settle on the Great Southern Railway, but he would not listen to the proposal. He decided that he would rather be independent of the railway, and at the same time have no cares as to water. He looked around Albany and found at Nannerup [sic.] plentiful water and good land and at the same, time the most inaccessible bit of country. (Albany Advertiser 25 August 1898)

Henry purchased a portion of Captain Douglas’s land then gradually added to it until it comprised 300 acres. One of the main appeals was that a ridge ran through the property from which sprouted perennial freshwater springs. They lived in a temporary house in Nanarup until Springmount was built, taking its name from the many springs which flowered on the property. By 1898, Springmount, was one of the most notable farms in the district. A detailed description of the property was published in the Albany Advertiser:
We passed up what seemed to be the beginning of a winding carriage drive and crossed two or three rustic bridges below which we could hear the waters rushing then we came to a large house standing out
boldly amid the timber and looking for all the world like an English grange. We found a warm welcome from Mr. Leishman and his good lady and their daughters.

…The house which is of ten rooms surrounded by a wide latticed verandah was built under great difficulties. The material was brought by boat to the Nannerup [sic.] boat harbor about three miles from Springmount and then carted over heavy broken country to the site. There were times when it seemed that the difficulties would never be overcome, but the sturdy Albanian workmen, engaged under Mr. Sangster on the contract, were not to be beaten. The house is built upon piles which in front are eight feet high and the back of the house reaches the ground. The space underneath the house is used as a general storeroom. The rooms are large and high and altogether the dwelling is a model of arrangement and comfort. (Albany Advertiser 25 August 1898).

Gravel walks were also laid around the house and winding in amongst the mature red gums, and rosebushes, creepers and flowers were also planted. At the front of the house was valley where fruit and vegetables were planted and behind the house the garden was five acres with an orchard (including apples, figs and blackcurrants) and a market garden, poultry and later dairy with Leishman becoming a providore of fresh produce for the Oriental Market.

After the end of World War I, they left the farm to their son Hugh who had returned from active service. Tragedy struck the Leishman family. In January 1924 Hugh was badly injured from being gored by a bull and the following year in August 1925 he died aged only 38. Daughter Lillian died from pneumonia in June 1924. Henry Leishman died in 1935, and with Grace married (in 1910 to Ted Sands of the Albany National Bank) and her other two children also having passed away, Alice was now on her own. She now lived in Albany and became very involved in the Women’s Rest Centre in (Lower Stirling Tce), serving as secretary for 15 years before she finally left Albany in 1950 to live in Perth with Grace. Alice Leishman died in Perth in March 1951.

In the 1930s Springmount became a guest house. By 1934 Mr and Mrs Robert (Bob) Henry Braund had moved to the property – likely as a leasehold - and converted the commodious homestead into a guest house advertising their superior guest house, Springmount. Mr and Mrs Braund, who had met and married in Scotland moved to Katanning in the 1920s before moving to Nanarup. They had a daughter Jean and son Archie. Bob’s parents, Robert Ascot and Annie Stewart Braund also lived in Katanning, as did Mrs Braund’s mother, Jane Koch.

Owing to its location near the beach, Springmount became very popular with holiday makers and weekend parties as a health resort and fishing spot. The guest house was advertised as having a tennis court and the Braunds also maintained the orchard established by the Leishmans. Near to the house was the Southern Ocean Tea Rooms that the Braunds also managed from 1935, as well as the camping area beach and holiday huts. By 1936, the name Springmount doesn’t appear in advertising by the Braunds, instead the name Lake View Guesthouse – the name derived owing to views of the Taylor Inlet - is connected to the Braunds, and later the Nanarup Hostel and Tearooms but it is not known if these are the same places. In 1937, Bob Braund was also appointed by the Albany Road Board as caretaker for the Nanaurp Reserve and camping ground. Tragically, in January 1938 Bob Braun took his own life, found dead in the bush behind the tearooms from a self-inflicted gunshot. He was aged 51 and had been suffering from depression. Mrs Braund likely moved back to Katanning after her husband’s death.

In the early 1940s the owner of the property was now H. E Herbert.

In 1991, Springmount was bought by Paul and Joan Terry who faithfully restored the run-down homestead using the guide of old photographs. Paul and Joan Terry were well-known entrepreneurs and philanthropes, most famous for having built the new Esplanade Hotel at Middleton Beach in 1991. Paul Terry was killed in a helicopter crash in Hawaii in 1993. Springmount was then purchased by the Twentyman family and continues to be a working farm.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High/Moderate
Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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.