ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER))
Coleraine-Bnalmoral Road BALMORAL, Southern Grampians Shire
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Statement of Significance
The Englefield Sawmill Hut and associated former sawmill and school sites, are located around the Coleraine-Balmoral and Englefield Roads intersection about 8.0kms south of Balmoral. The settlement at Englefield dates from the early 1920s when the surrounding land was subdivided for Closer Settlement, the Hamilton to Horsham railway was opened and sawmills were located near the siding. The sawmills were ephemeral and eventually moved on but the management took an keen interest in their children's education. A small school was established in 1926 and by 1930 a timber schoolroom cum public hall was built by volunteer labour using local materials. It became State School No. 4292 and it was typical of its type, both in form and in history. The school closed in 1945 under the policy of consolidation and the building was removed. At some early stage, the hut was built on the roadside. It is vernacular in its form, scale, detailing and use of materials, specifically off cuts from the sawmills and is a very late example of an early tradition. Nothing is known of its occupants who are likely to have been itinerants. The hut remains significantly intact but in poor condition. It is all that remains of the former sawmilling industry of Englefield.
How is it significant?
The Englefield Sawmill Hut and associated former sawmill and school sites are of historical and architectural significance to the community of Balmoral and to the shire of southern Grampians.
Why is it significant?
The Englefield Sawmill Hut and associated former sawmill and school sites are of historical significance as markers of important changes in the occupation and use of the area and a passed way of life. The Englefield Sawmill Hut is of architectural significance as a very late example of the early vernacular tradition of hut building and as a rare surviving example of housing for itinerant workers.
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ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Physical Conditions
Nothing remains above ground of the sawmills or the school and those sites may have little archaeological potential. The sawmill hut is in a poor condition.
ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Physical Description 1
The hut is located some distance from the roadside amongst regrowth trees. It is a single roomed timber building with a skillion lean-to addition in timber on the south side and a large timber and iron chimney on the east side. The walls are made from sawmill off-cuts and the roof is corrugated iron. There is a primitive floor. Nothing of the former school, which was located at some distance from the hut, remains above ground.
ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Historical Australian Themes
Theme 3 Developing Local, Regional and National Economies
3.4 Utilising natural resources
3.4.4 Making forests into a saleable resource
Theme 5: Working
5.2.1 Timber getting (sawmills, tramway camps etc)
Theme 6 Educating
6.2 Establishing schools
6.5 Educating people in remote placesENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Usage/Former Usage
abandoned
ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Integrity
High degree of integrity
ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Physical Description 2
Frank Nicholls, school correspondent
Tom Byrne, school correspondent
J. J. Smith, school correspondent
Keith McInyse, first teacher
Mr. Jones, second teacher in 1928
Murray McIntosh, third teacher in 1929
Richard Knight, teacher in 1930
Spencer Anderson, teacher in 193?
Mabel Ewen, teacher in 1942
Emma Thompson, teacher in 1943
Miss Sharp, teacher in 1944ENGLEFIELD SAWMILL HUT (AND SCHOOL SITE (FORMER)) - Physical Description 3
located on road reserve
Heritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
Year: 2002
Grading:
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