03/10/2019
The Old Homestead
The basic layout of the building is a rectangular central iron framed walled structure with a pitched roof. This has an internal dividing wall with a single unframed door. Surrounding the central structure is a verandah with a screen consisting of corrugated iron, (CGI) attached to the columns under the eaves. Evidence shows that the south-western wall CGI was removed to improve access for use as a shed. The whole structure is on a raised pad surrounded by large rocks.
The current framework is made up of various guages of iron water pipe. The main uprights and top of the inner frame are 2½” pipe connected with threaded joiners “Tee” pieces and 90º bent pipe corners. Some additional uprights and ridge poles and verandah sections have a mixture of 2” and 1½” pipe. 7/8” pipe is attached to the inner uprights with fencing wire to support the CGI cladding. The CGI on the walls is attached to the framework with single strand wire twitch which passes through two holes, each with a metal washer in the CGI and around the backing framework. The internal dividing wall is of similar construction but structurally separate from the outer walls and has moved from the original placement. On all walls the CGI has a gap of about 1m from the roof.
The doorways were framed with roughly squared timbers which appear to be native Cyprus, Callitris intratropica. Two of the remaining frames have evidence of a low catch, approximately 40cm high and the one remaining is a simple, centrally pivoted piece of flat wood that could be rotated to secure the door from the inside only. This indicates that the doors were inward opening and that ‘snake doors’ may have been fitted. Snake doors are a low door or boards across the bottom of the door that can be stepped over but help deter other creatures. Nails in the frame of door 2 indicate that two hinges were nailed to the frame at one stage. At the top of the frame of door 5, is part of a possibly cast iron hinge attached with a screw. These remaining door frame timbers appear to be recycled timber from other purposes and design is inconsistent. Door 1 is framed with more modern dressed timber.
The ridge is supported by three wooden struts on top of the horizontal pipes of the inner structure and a wooden horizontal beam across the large room. A pipe strut supports above the inner wall. The ridge beam consists of a mixture of iron pipe and bush timber. The roofing iron and veranda skirts are secured to the framework with ‘U’ bolts which are flattened on the curve and have a flat plate against the CGI on the outside. The roof has a Dutch gable with a slight change of angle on the sides at the transition from the roof to the verandah. There has been a partial collapse of the ridge struts. There is roll ridge capping along the top and corner ridges but bent CGI is used on the ends of the gable.
The described construction of the building quite varied, it now is framed with water pipe, probably as part of the rebuilding by David Byers following storm damage in November 1913. A quick examination has found the bases of seven wooden uprights which had been cut off at ground level and are still solid. The cut off wooden posts appear to be 18-200mm native Cyprus logs split/cut length ways with the flat side innermost indicating that the cladding would have been internal with the timber exposed externally. One of the wooden posts near door 4 has a bolt through it indicating the presence of a horizontal timber before the floor level was raised. The length of the bolt is about twice the thickness of the timber. This indicates that there were horizontal timbers secured to the columns below the current floor level.
In a photo taken prior to 1913, wooden uprights can be seen supporting the veranda and a roughly squared Cyprus post still remains in the centre of the north-eastern side. This post was probably left as a large boab had grown around it. The tree, which had been there before the homestead was built, had begun to damage the structure and has since been removed. Although native Cyprus has been used, it is not readily available as it only occurs on the high country in the north near the Fitzmaurice River. To obtain this timber would have entailed at least a two week round trip. The most commonly used timber in surviving yards and outstations appears to be Gutta Percha, Excoecaria parvifolia, which although very durable and relatively termite resistant does not last anywhere as long native Cyprus.
Another insight into the homestead is recorded in Northern Territory Pastoral Leases Investigation Committee Report - Bradshaw Station 1935. In this document it describes the homestead as;
House. 40’ x 60’ over all. g.i., on tubular
iron frame, divided into three rooms and verandah all
round, 12’ enclosed for store, cement floor. (1913).
Later I will also document all of the other structures that were at the site in 1934; Kitchen, Stockman’s quarters, Cart shed, Feed room and Blacksmith’s shop, Blacks’ quarters, Hay shed and Meat house, [sic].
Despite speculation to the contrary, the pipe homestead is a renovation of the original wooden framed structure. The remaining timber demonstrates that despite being rebuilt the building retain the same footprint although door positions have changed.
