Broadacres

Statement of Significance

This home when built was the most significant in the district and probably remains so to this day. Although there does not appear to be any record of the design of the building it was of exceptional quality and craftmanship for the times and in the district. The owner of the time had obtained some wealth during the Goldrush of the 1890's. The house shows craftmanship and expertise of design not seen very often in the area.

Physical Description

This is a substantial house built of cement block with fine detailing of red coloured cement quoining, and carefully rendered tuckpointing. There were extensive wide verandahs with tongue and groove flooring, and elaborate window joinery and fine french doors to all rooms. There were four main rooms with central hall and vestibule. The jarrah joinery was of exceptional quality. The design of the windows, internal doors and windows and doors in the vestibule show some early Art Deco features, a step away from the Federation style evident up until then.

History

The property was first taken up by Arthur Kewley in 1907 but was sold to Colin Braid and his wife Janet in 1910. Colin Braid had come from New South Wales to the Goldrush of Western Australia in the 1890's, but after sometime in West Africa and Scotland returned to buy land in the newly opening up Cowcowing agricultural classification. He first built a small weatherboard cottage with corrugated iron roof lined with tongue and groove jarrah boards. The original two rooms still remain with the substantial cement block building adjoining. Colin Braid was a very strong supporter of the local Progress Association and played a sigificant role in the agitation and lobbying for the railway line and then for reliable access to the Dukin siding across the Cowcowing lakes. In 1925 he employed Maitland (Mick) and Peter Bonser to build the new house at "Broadacres". However he had Tuberculosis and by this time was a very sick man and died before the house was completed. His widow, with her son Norman, then ran the farm until she retired to Perth in 1940. In that same year Norman married Eva Kerr, from the Koorda district and lived in the house until they sold the farm in 1964. In 1956 during a period of great prosperity for the agricultural areas, the prominent architect, Marshall Clifton, was commissioned to design an addition of a sitting room and a spare bedroom to the front of the house. This was done in a very sensitive manner without disturbing the essential fabric of the original house built in 1925. Bill and Leslie McNee and their family have occupied the house from 1964 until this day but have not substantially changed the fabric or character of the house. In recent times they have done up the bathroom to give it a Federation theme.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: The additions made in 1956 left the original house almost intact except for the regabling of the roof and the painting of the cement blocks. Modifications: In 1956 an addition of a sitting room and bedroom was made to the front of the house, enclosing part of the original front verandah to form a 'breezeway'.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update