Glenmore Homestead
Encyclopedia
The Glenmore Homestead and associated buildings once belonged to pastoral run on the Fitzroy River
seven kilometres northwest of Rockhampton
, Queensland
. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and is operated as a tourist attraction
.
The grazing property was originally settled in 1858 by John McCartney. In 1861 it was bought by Samuel Birkbeck and his Mexican-born wife, Damiana. The Birkbecks had eight sons and one daughter, Elena. Samuel Birkbeck died in 1867 and the property remains in the hands of his descendants. George Louis Birkbeck currently owns and operates the Homestead as a function venue and tourist attraction. The balance of the land that remains as a portion of the original property is owned by Arthur James Birkbeck (eldest son of Tolstoy Carlos Birkbeck) and managed by Mark Jason Birkbeck, his second son.
Until the 1980s, the Birkbeck family lived in the original homestead. In the early 1980s, the family opened the house to the public. A souvenir shop was built in 1985.
The buildings at Glenmore Homestead are interesting, as they show several types of early dwelling in the Central Queensland
area. They consist of a log cabin which was built in 1859 by McCartney, a slab cottage
which built in 1858 as a hotel in nearby Parkhurst and moved to the site by Samuel Birkbeck in 1861 as well as a brick cottage which was built by a Mexican employee of the Birkbeck family in 1862. This was originally to be part of a larger hacienda
-style homestead, which was never completed.
Other late-19th century and early 20th century farm buildings are also on site.
Fitzroy River (Queensland)
The Fitzroy River lies in Queensland, Australia. Its catchment covers an area of 142,665 square kilometres, making it the largest river catchment flowing to the eastern coast of Australia. The river is formed by the joining of the Mackenzie and Dawson rivers at Duaringa. The catchment stretches...
seven kilometres northwest of Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register and is operated as a tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
.
The grazing property was originally settled in 1858 by John McCartney. In 1861 it was bought by Samuel Birkbeck and his Mexican-born wife, Damiana. The Birkbecks had eight sons and one daughter, Elena. Samuel Birkbeck died in 1867 and the property remains in the hands of his descendants. George Louis Birkbeck currently owns and operates the Homestead as a function venue and tourist attraction. The balance of the land that remains as a portion of the original property is owned by Arthur James Birkbeck (eldest son of Tolstoy Carlos Birkbeck) and managed by Mark Jason Birkbeck, his second son.
Until the 1980s, the Birkbeck family lived in the original homestead. In the early 1980s, the family opened the house to the public. A souvenir shop was built in 1985.
The buildings at Glenmore Homestead are interesting, as they show several types of early dwelling in the Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
area. They consist of a log cabin which was built in 1859 by McCartney, a slab cottage
Slab Hut
A Slab Hut is a kind of dwelling or shed made from slabs of split or sawn timber. It was a common form of construction used by settlers in Australia and New Zealand during their nations' Colonial periods.-The Australian Settler:...
which built in 1858 as a hotel in nearby Parkhurst and moved to the site by Samuel Birkbeck in 1861 as well as a brick cottage which was built by a Mexican employee of the Birkbeck family in 1862. This was originally to be part of a larger hacienda
Hacienda
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
-style homestead, which was never completed.
Other late-19th century and early 20th century farm buildings are also on site.