Beringarra Station

Values

· The place is a good example of group of complimentary buildings being of similar construction, materials and proportions.
· The place forms a precinct of buildings constructed for farming life and located in a pastoral setting.
· From 1876, the place has operated as a pastoral property.
· The homestead complex, comprising main homestead building, the kitchen building (connected to the main building by means of a covered way), a store, quarters, laundry, meat house, bough shed, generator shed and swimming pool, together with other structures on the property such as the stone wells, machinery sheds, stone ruins of stables, cart shed and black smiths shop, and shearing shed and quarters is a remarkably large and intact pastoral property in the Midwest region.
· The homestead complex if of mud brick construction; a construction technique no longer utilised, and of which not many examples are left. It indicates the owners used material that were locally available. The anthill floors are also relatively rare.

Physical Description

The homestead complex is located to the south of the Murchison River, near the junction of roads leading to Mt Gould, Cue, Pindar and Byro. Located in the vicinity of the complex are the machinery sheds, stone ruins of stables, cart shed and black smiths shop, and shearing shed and quarters. Within the fenced and gardened area of the homestead complex are the main homestead building, the kitchen building (connected to the main building by means of a covered way), a store, quarters, laundry, meat house, bough shed, generator shed and swimming pool. The main homestead is a large rendered mud brick building with a twin hipped CGI roof. The main section contains a central hallway with 4 large rooms. It has verandahs on all elevations and the rear verandah has been enclosed to form a kitchen and bathroom. The homestead also features antbed floors with carpet laid directly on top.

History

The land at what was to become Beringarra Station was first selected in 1876 by Edward Butcher. In fact it was his sons James and Charles who were the main workers of the property. Which was leased for pastoral purposes with the main stock being sheep. The two brothers had limited funds and are said to have been backed by Charles Crowther. It was actually Crowther who later offered the property for lease. The lease was taken up by the Campbell family in c. 1880, but was sold not much later to the Darlot family in 1882. During the Campbell’s ownership six stone wells were sunk along the sheep run as well as a shearing shed (possibly the stone ruins of stables?). The Darlot family was responsible for the construction of the current homestead building in the mid 1880s. This replaced earlier buildings constructed by the Campbell family, which were washed away in the 1884 flood of the property. In 1910 the property was sold to the Australian New Zealand Land Company, which appointed managers to run the property including Jack Rymer who was a member of the Murchison Roads Board from 1913 – 1923. The Company subdivided and sold the place in 1946. The station is currently a farm stay.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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