Tamblyn Homestead

Statement of Significance

Tamblyn House has high aesthetic, social and historic significance for the Stoneville community and the Shire of Mundaring.

Physical Description

Tamblyn House is well located back off the road amongst large pine trees and eucalypts. The substantial, Federation/Art nouveau period house, has high laterite stone walls with a gable end to the front that terminates the front veranda that wraps around from the south side.

History

Before it was purchased by Cornish born mining engineer Edwin Tamblyn, this property was owned by the Dowie brothers, who, from c 1896, operated a timber business in the area. The Dowies had taken over the timber concessions and private siding of James McDowell. Later the siding became known as Dowies siding and from July 1905, as Stoneville, after the Chief Justice Edward Albert Stone. The Dowie brothers lived in a weatherboard cottage they had transported from Kalgoorlie and which has recently been demolished. James Esson Dowie was an inaugural member of the Greenmount Road Board, serving from 1903-1908.
The first house which Edwin Tamblyn built on the property was a small cottage which he used as a weekend retreat for the family who lived in Bassendean. All that remains of this house is the chimney and fireplace. The present house was built by the Bassendean builder Hyde, using a stonemason named Bailey who was brought from England to work on the 1913 William Tanner designed Guildford Grammar School Chapel. Tamblyn's house, built of local stone, took 3 years to complete, and features leadlight which originally cost 1 shilling 3pence a foot. In December 1927, Tamblyn's daughter Mary is mentioned in the local paper as having a prize winning essay in the end of year Arts and Crafts exhibition. Fruit from the extensive orchard was sent by train in wooden cases to the Eastern Goldfields. Although Edwin died soon after the house was completed, the family continued to live there until the early 1960s. During the depression Mrs Tamblyn was considered a 'soft touch' for the unemployed who came looking for work.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High

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.