GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX
Henty Highway, GLENISLA VIC 3408 - Property No 049
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Statement of Significance
Glenisla squatting run was established in 1843 by a Scotsman named Simpson who named the run after a kirkdom near Balmoral. In 1860 Charles Carter and Sons acquired the run. From the 1870s the Carter family owned or leased vast tracts of Grampian and Wimmera pastoral lands, including the sheep and cattle stations at Rosebrook, Moora Moora, North Brighton, Walmer, Kelwell, Wartook, Pine Plains and North Walmer. The current homestead was built for one of Carter's sons, Samuel. Among Samuel Carter's many public offices was an eight year stint as Protector for the Aborigines for the Glenisla district, Chairman of the Wimmera hire Water Trust, and Commissioner for the Wimmera Waterworks Trust. Construction of the homestead was commenced in 1873, but delayed because of a dispute over the siting of a government road reserve. It was completed in c1875. The homestead was strategically located on the overland gold route from Adelaide to the Victorian gold fields, as well as on the later north-south mail route between Horsham and Hamilton. The single storey homestead is constructed of Mount Bepcha Grampians sandstone and is formed by a symmetrically arranged group of four buildings - the house, the kitchen block, the servants quarters and a store building arranged around a large rear stone paved courtyard. The axis of the buildings runs directly north-south. In the courtyard are half cylinder sandstone spoon drains which lead to timber box drains and an ovoid water tank beneath the courtyard. The courtyard has a simple timber post verandah on three sides. A more elaborate verandah with moulded timber posts and brackets surrounds the front of the house. The stables behind the house are believed to have been constructed in the 1850s and are built of sawn horizontal slabs with a later corrugated iron roof. Two simple weatherboard clad mens huts stand close to the stables.
How is it Significant?
Glenisla is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria and to the Shire of southern Grampians.
Why is it Significant?
Glenisla is historically significant as one of the original mountain stations on the slopes of the Grampians. The station has significant historical associations with the Carter family. Samuel Carter was of considerable importance in the development of the South Wimmera and in the development of the pastoral industry of that area of the state, particularly the irrigation scheme fed by Wartook Reservoir. Glenisla is historically significant as an important centre of communication. A post office was located at the homestead until 1970 and the c.1940s telephone exchange survives in a small room off the courtyard. The old kitchen was used as the district polling booth until 1968. Glenisla is architecturally significant as the northern most pastoral station in the region built of local sandstone. The formal planning of the homestead, with the rear offices forming a protected courtyard, is unusual. It bears some comparison to the two-storey sandstone homestead Gringegalgona, built at the same time about 50km to the south-west. The stables are an excellent representative example of 1850s horizontal slab construction.
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GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Conditions
Excellent
GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 1
The house, although fine and well built, is quite conventional for its time. The style is a simple interpretation of the standard symmetrical Italianate villa with the facade divided into two sixteen foot wide sections on either side of an eight foot wide door. The plan has a central passage with principal rooms off it. The timber verandah, decorated with brackets forming stylised trefoils, is on three sides. The rendered brick chimneys are capped with polygonal terra cotta chimney pots with heart shaped perforations typical of the 1860s and earlier. The most distinctive feature of the house is the large glazed front door.
The interiors are similarly conservative. The ceilings are approximately sixteen feet high with standard plaster cornices and roses in the principal rooms. Marble mantels are opposite the front windows. The rear door of the central passage is also distinctive. Service rooms are ranged around the rear courtyard with a detached store room closing the quadrangle. The courtyard is paved with sandstone and has a gutter around its perimeter.GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Historical Australian Themes
Theme 3: Developing local, regional and national economies
3.5 Developing primary production
3.5.1 Grazing stock
3.5.2 Breeding animals
3.5.3 Developing agricultural industries
Theme 5: Working
5.8 working on the landGLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Usage/Former Usage
Continuing as a pastoral property
GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Integrity
Excellent degree of integrity for house, outbuildings, stable and twentieth century garden.
GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 2
Hector Norman Simson
Donald Simson, trustee for Jane Simson and John Simson
Charles Carter and Sons
Samuel Carter
White, Henry E, architectHeritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
Year: 2002
Grading:
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GLENISLA HOMESTEAD COMPLEXSouthern Grampians Shire H0444
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CANUNDA (FORMER GLENISLA) SHEEPWASH, SHEEPDIP, LONE GRAVE AND WOOLSHED SITESouthern Grampians Shire
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