Nanutarra Station Complex

Statement of Significance

Nanutarra, comprising a mud brick and iron Victorian Georgian homestead (c.1883/4) and vernacular outbuildings [meat house (c.1940s), visitor’s quarters (c.1950s) and outhouse] located in an open yard, together with gravesites, shearing camp (ruins), and archaeological remnants, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: the homestead is a good example of Victorian Georgian architecture, featuring two detached wings. the place is a good representative example of a pastoral station complex dating from the late nineteenth century, having been established c.1878 as part of the early pastoral development of the Ashburton region. the historic development of the station demonstrates the characteristic expansion of remote pastoral properties, particularly in the State’s north west, from simple nineteenth century family homesteads to the large pastoral complexes of the present. from the 1870s to the 1930s, the place was owned and predominantly managed by members of the prominent Western Australian Higham family. the place’s early and ongoing success relied in part on the Aboriginal workers and their families who lived and worked at the place from the late nineteenth into the twentieth century; and, the place is representative of stations in the State’s north west that were run and overseen by European pastoralists and supported by an Aboriginal population, who both lived and worked on the station, from the late nineteenth century until well into the twentieth centuries. the bough shed, bathroom, vehicle shelter, machinery shed, workers’ quarters and fence are of little significance.

Physical Description

Exterior: Nanutarra Homestead is located on Lot 4 on the western side of the Northwest Coastal Highway opposite the Nanutarra Roadhouse. To the south of the homestead is the Ashburton River. The homestead is located within a fenced yard, which is largely grassed with a number of large trees around the perimeter.
The homestead comprises two wings (known as the north wing and the south wing), each with a verandah to all sides and corrugated iron roof sheeting. The verandahs are supported by steel posts and have poured concrete floors. The two separate buildings were once connected by a central verandah.
The north wing (c.1884) was constructed from locally made bricks and comprises three rooms. The external walls appear to have been lime washed over an extended period but are now finished with paint. Windows are timber double hung. The roof sheeting has recently been replaced.
The construction date of the southern wing is unknown. However, it is considered that it may be part of the initial c.1878 temporary dwelling constructed by Higham. Extensive renovations were conducted to the south wing in the1950s. It comprises a former kitchen and living area, constructed from bricks with timber double hung windows. The bricks have been painted. Attached to the western end of this wing is a timber framed and corrugated iron clad store,with awning windows.
There are a range of other buildings around the homestead including a shed to the north; a visitor’s quarters to the east; a bathroom to the west; and a meat house to the south. Refer to the Conservation Plan for further details on these buildings. In addition, there are three marked graves surrounding the Homestead: one to the northwest, one to the south and another to the southwest.
The Shearing Camp is located to the north of the homestead and comprises a number of ruinous buildings, bare slabs, and the remains of water tanks. The most notable structure remaining in the camp is the Shearer’s Quarters, which comprises a steel and timber structure with corrugated metal sheeting.
Interior: The internal walls of the north wing are finished with painted plaster, and it has 130mm tongue and groove floorboards on timber joists. The ceiling is lined with 150mm tongue and groove timber boards. The central room contains a brick fireplace with a timber surround and has doors on the east and west.
The south wing has painted concrete floors, and the ceiling lining is fixed to the underside of the rafters. The kitchen has a large, plastered brick fireplace and chimney with a built-in wood stove.

History

The area known as Nanutarra was granted to Richard Hicks in 1866. Like many of the stations in the Northwest, Nanutarra was used as grazing land for a number of years prior to being developed with a permanent settlement. By 1880 and as early as 1878, Harry Higham took up this lease, along with several others nearby to run sheep on the land. It is believed that Harry had constructed some sort of temporary structure at the station around 1878, however the Nanutarra Homestead as it is recognised today was not commenced until 1883 (completed 1894) when the brickmaker began moulding bricks on site.
The building was designed by Raglan Jarvis of Fremantle and initially comprised of what is now known as the north wing. Higham built the home for his wife, Maud Batement who he would not bring to Nanutarra until a suitable abode existed. The Higham family were a prominent early family in the Ashburton region who amongst other things lobbied for improved conditions including but not limited to a mail service, port improvements, a police station, and a roads building.
The success of Nanutarra was dependent on skilled labour and Higham had many Aboriginal workers undertaking a variety of tasks including fencing, shearing, team mustering, and stock work. By the 1900s, Higham had left a manager in charge of Nanutarra, a common trend amongst pastoralists as stations increased in size.
After a period of drought in the mid-1930s, the place was transferred to the Boolaloo Pastoral Company, owned by the Barrett-Lennard family. In the 1960s cattle were introduced to Nanutarra for the first time, with the fall of wool prices contributing to this decision. The Barrett-Lennard family sold the Station to the Australian Cattle Company in 1985 and since this time it has continued to be run as a cattle station.
The Bogle family purchased Nanutarra Station in 1992 and lived in the homestead until late 2000 when operations were moved to Uaroo homestead. However, following the death of Robert Bogle in late 2007, both Nanutarra and Uaroo pastoral properties were sold in 2008, but the homestead has remained under the ownership of the Bogle family and separate from the surrounding cattle station.
In 2000, Nanutarra received $5,000 from the Heritage Council of Western Australia for the preparation of a Conservation Plan for the place. Restoration works have been completed at the property in recent times.

Archaeology

Nanutarra has the potential, through its built fabric from several eras and the sites of demolished buildings, to yield information regarding the evolution of pastoral industry practices from the 1880s to the present.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Fair. Areas of masonry and render have deteriorated in the north and south wings due to rising damp and moisture ingress, and minor cracking has occurred in the original walls as a result of movement. The roofs are in poor condition with the exception of the roof to the north wing, which has recently been replaced. The elements at the Shearing Camp are in a poor condition.

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.