Mundabullangana Station

Child Places

• 18445 Mundabullangana Wool Shed - Shearing Shed

Statement of Significance

The homestead and accompanying buildings form a substantial complex, Of particular interest are the stone buildings - the homestead, part of the old kitchen block and the two store buildings. The homestead is typical of the Pilbara in architectural form having a central core of stone with surrounding verandahs with two small rooms under the verandah at the corner of the house , Howev.er the unusual aspect of the building is the high quality of workmanship and materials used, such as the decorated cast iron columns, the quality of the blue stone work/pointing .and. cement quoins, The plan also displays the sophistication of a large entry all entered from a formal front door . Despite the comparative opulence of the dwelling, the idea of the separate kitchen block was maintained (until recently:) bearing witness to the.staffing arrangements and feeding arrangements typical of Pilbara stations in their ·heyday, The historical importance of Mundabullangana lies wit11 the original foundersJ the McKays and their importance in the development of the district, The scarcity value lies in the quality of the homestead and the size of the complex of related buildings . The significance of the woolshed lies in its size and its innovative organisation of the shearing process and the methodoogy of its structure. It is one of the few multi-level shearing sheds in Western Australia

Physical Description

1) Homestead - the roof is corrugated galvanised iron in a near single pitch over the centre core of the house and the verandahs,originally the main roof and verandah roof were broken. The walls are 600mm thick and of bluestone externally and 400mrn thick internally. The floors are concrete possibly poured over original flag stone floors. The verandahs surround the centre core though there are stone walled rooms built under the verandan roof line at the south east and north west corners. On the east side an enclosed lean-to section housing the present kitchen and dining room , has been added. In the area thus enclosed the stone walls previously facing onto the verandah have been painted . Internal walls are plastered . Verandahs are supported by decorative cast iron columns. Rendered quoins around the french doors are painted black and with an alternating pattern . This painting is of recent origin. The plan is formal with a front door facing west and a wide central passage. 2) Jackaroos' quarters . 3) Old kitchen block - this structure is in part timber framed with corrugated iron cladding and in part white washed stone work. There is also an infill protion clad in flat asbestos. 4) Stone outbuildings - two structures with bluestone walls which have been painted on the outside with silver roof paint. 5) Hangar - the walls are corrugated galvanised iron - the west side is open and the roof is covered with brush wood ·. 6) Small corrugated galvani sed iron clad room surrounded by a verandah. 7) Quarters - recent structure clad in galvanised crimpdeck sheeting. 8) Large open sided steel framed structure - the roof is of corrugated galvanised iron with "MUNDA" painted on it. 9) Store - galvanised iron clad hump backed (vaulted) roof. 10) Work shop - galvanised iron clad building SHEARING SHED The shearing shed , shearers quarters, shearers dining room.and kitchen are about 19kms from the homestead and were erected in 1927, One of the few two storey wool sheds in lvestern Australia 1 it was designed by Gordon Craig and buil.t by J. Jacoby and his sons Darby and Harry. It is a substantial corrugated iron clad structure supported on stumps some l200mm above ground and access from ground leve.l is gained by a series of timber framed ramps. The structure is of considerabl.e height and the centre section under a gable transverse to the main axis of; the building is 5.3M from floor line to plate height. This section contains a mezzanine floor . The shearers'·quarters consist of a bedroom block and kitchen block, both galvanised iron clad . There are also a tumble down galvanised iron clad structure and some recent transport­ able units on the site - not included in the assessment,

History

Assessment 1983 Construction circa 1900 In association with other members of the Denison Plains Co, Donald Mckay and his brother R.L. Mckay first took up leases near Roebourne in 1866 but after suffering disastrous stock losses from cyclones and floods, R.L. Mckay set out to look for a more propitious area, and in 1872 eventually settled on a tract of country to the eastwards along the Yule river, called by the aborigines Mundabullangana, meaning the end of the stone country. Here they prospered, as even during the great drought when many stations lost everything they were able to shear 66000 sheep after the drought broke. The McKays also held Sherlock and-Mallina leases for a period and were the pioneer settlers of Roy Hill Station. P. McKay, eldest son of Donald, became sole owner of Munda in 1903. The present homestead was built about the turn of the century - a substantial blue stone building erected by Scottish stonemasons , consisting of four large rooms with a wide passage - used as the living area - down the centre , the whole surrounded by verandahs . Until about 1960 there were numerous well kept outbuildings - overseer's house, bachelors' quarters , cottages for marr ied workmen , store , blacksmith shop , garages , kitchen and wages staff dining room, ablution blocks for whites and aborigines , etc., etc. , - some of which have deteriorated since the decline of the pastoral industry. McKay sold the station in 1925 to a partnership of the Craig Brothers who owned the adjoining Portree station and amalgamated the two properties with Gordon Craig as manager. Present owner I.R. McTaggart & Sons .

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