Nhargo Farmhouse (ruin)

Author

Shire of Irwin

Place Number

01220

Location

west side off Brand Hwy Bonniefield

Location Details

Local Government

Irwin

Region

Midwest

Construction Date

Constructed from 1890

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Register of the National Estate Nominated 30 May 1984
Classified by the National Trust Classified 02 Apr 1984
Register of the National Estate Indicative Place
Municipal Inventory Adopted 10 Mar 1998 Category 2

Statement of Significance

Nhargo Farmhouse has historic significance given its connection to the settlement of the Irwin District and the Waldeck family. The place demonstrates the use of local materials and given its position and high visibility from Brand Highway the place makes a high contribution to the character of the district.

Physical Description

1997 Situated on a small hill, the former Nhargo Farmhouse is constructed of random rubble limestone. It appears that the building was originally constructed as a four room house with a rear skillion and that subsequently an addition of similar dimensions was added to the south. The hipped roof design has some remaining corrugated iron sheets to the south end while to the north side the remaining timber boarding indicates that the roof was originally shingle. There are two tall chimneys to the north. The house has concrete floors to the north while the southern section has an elevated timber floor with a concrete lined cellar which is accessed through a timber manhole. There is evidence on the front east wall of a verandah and the north wall has had a hole cut through to allow the building to be used as a piggery at one time. 2004 The building has lost some of its roof and generally deteriorated since1997.

History

This land was part of the pastoral lease of Hamersley and Company. In 1865 Joseph Grant bought the property as a tillage lease and he built this house on the hill overlooking his property. In 1878 Grant advertised his property, Nhargo, for sale. The property was later sold to Frederick Waldeck, owner of Bonniefield (Place No. 8). On his sudden death in 1883, his widow Isabella, with the help of her brother David Brand and family friend Francis Pearse, took over the management of the farms, which were very successful. Isabella retired in 1901 leaving the farms to her sons Fred and George Waldeck. The houses and property were sold to Charles Dowden in c.1927 and Nhargo was used as a farm workers cottage until the Ferris brothers bought Nhargo about 1935-6. The present owners have established an ostrich farm on the property. (Source: IDHS Records)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Medium

Condition

Poor

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
IDHS Records
HCWA Database No. 1220
AHC Reference 009673 01-01

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use FARMING\PASTORAL Homestead
Other Use FARMING\PASTORAL Other
Present Use VACANT\UNUSED Vacant\Unused

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall STONE Limestone
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron

Historic Themes

General Specific
OCCUPATIONS Rural industry & market gardening
OCCUPATIONS Grazing, pastoralism & dairying
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Land allocation & subdivision

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.