Final Fulham

Wimmera Mail Times Picture: Elijah Macchia

The Fulham Station homestead, at Kanagulk, was originally settled in 1840 by Francis Desailly. It was the first homestead to be settled in the Balmoral area.

Today, current owners Greg and Heather Walcott have the refurbished homestead on the station and its 65 acres (26.3hectares) on the market.

Greg & Heather (Wimmera Mail Times Picture: Elijah Macchia)

 The original landlord, Sir John Owen, may have never seen the land. He sold it privately to George Armytage and his family who established the buildings. The buildings date from 1846 and were progressively built after that.

In 1857 Fulham became the home for Charles Armytage and his wife Caroline. Eight of their 10 children were born at Fulham (50 miles from the nearest doctor). Fulham's remoteness encouraged them to purchase Como House in South Yarra as a town house in 1864.

The Armytages finally sold their Fulham and Mt Sturgeon properties in 1948, to the Soldier Settlement Commission, and the Commission developed Fulham Estate into settlement blocks.

 
Greg Walcott’s father successfully applied for the homestead block, and the homestead has been with the Walcott family ever since. Greg then inherited Fulham from his father and has spent almost his entire life living at the property.
Now they are moving on, and Fulham is looking for a new owner.

Wimmera Mail Times Picture: Elijah Macchia

Fulham Homestead was first listed with the National Trust in July 1965. Most of the heritage-listed buildings at Fulham have been built with ironstone. The stone is from within a kilometre of the homestead which was built on an ironstone shelf. The homestead is made from rubble-coursed ironstone with 2ft-thick walls, and contains two bedrooms, bathroom, living area, office and kitchen.

The Guesthouse

Along with the homestead building, there is a detached guesthouse featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge and fully renovated kitchen, as well as a reading room with windows that frame an ancient Moreton Bay fig tree.
 

The tennis court & gardens (Wimmera Mail Times Picture: Elijah Macchia)

Greg and his wife Heather have developed the site - from the garden with sculptures Greg as created, along with a vegetable patch, a child’s play set under a tree and a lawn tennis court. “The garden was established when the property was built and then it was bulldozed. When (Heather and I) were married it was only a horse paddock, so we gradually re-established the garden in stages...there were a few established trees but very little else so eventually we have developed it right down to the water’s edge,” he said.

The garden slopes down to meet the Glenelg River at a broad bend. The property has its own watering hole finished with a bbq pit, wooden bench & table, an outdoor toilet, and a canoe landing stage.

The station cookhouse

The station cookhouse is one of the 10 heritage listed buildings which the Walcott’s have reinvigorated to a dining room with the original fireplace and stone oven still intact, now utilised as a wood-fired pizza oven.

Greg said moving away from this piece of 'living history' where he had spent almost 65 years of his life, would be a huge change.

Wimmera Mail Times interview video
If you have a spare $1.1 million- $1.2 million, then, Expressions of Interest close on Friday May 25 at 1pm.

School sports

With the Olympic Games over for another 4 years, maybe it's time to check out some local sport -

'Weekly Times' article and photos of the Sports Day held at Balmoral, in 1936.

THE representatives of ten schools in the Balmoral and Harrow districts met at Balmoral on April 17 to compete for the Glenelg Schools' Sports Association Shield, when Balmoral experienced its first win in seven years, their students bringing success by winning the relay flag race in the growing dusk.

The Harrow competitors

Students from Balmoral, Harrow, Kongbool Kanagulk. Pigeon Ponds, Telangatuk East, Vasey, Gringegalgona, Yulong and Urangara schools participated in the meeting, which attracted visitors from all parts of the district. The right to hold the shield for the next 12 months could not be determined until the final event on a full afternoon's programme was completed.

The Telangatuk East Team

Yulong, with an enrolment of 15 scholars, staged a fine performance in pushing the winning school so closely, the ultimate points scored by the schools being as under: —Balmoral (scr.), 68 points- Yulong (34), 61; Vasey (34), 47; Kongbool (33), 47; Telangatuk East (10) 45; Gringegalgona (42), 42; Harrow (8) 39; Urangara (32) 36; Kanagulk (23) 36; Pigeon Ponds (18) 30. It appears there was some form of handicapping, which leveled the playing-field amongst the the bigger (Harrow & Balmoral) and smaller (Urangara & Yulong) schools.

 Chidren from the smaller schools, Urangara, Gringegalonga, Kanagulk, Vasey, Kongbool, Pigeon Ponds and Yulong.

Apart from the wonderful running and skipping of the girls, among whom the Yulong girls were outstanding, the Dempsey brothers (Balmoral) showed unexpected pace, Dave Dempsey winning the Under 9, 10, and 11 events in run-away fashion, and Jack Dempsey gaining sprint honors in the Under 12 events, and Evan Rees (Telangatuk East) took the Under 13 high jump at 4ft 3in., and gained several points for his school on the flat.

Balmoral line again

I'm re-posting the Balmoral line, as I've come across some more information and taken some recent photos. This post does not replace the original one from November 2012, I've just swapped some photographs, added new ones of current views to compare against the old, and finally I'm including Natimuk itself (really on the Carpolac line) in reply to a Comment I had on Remlaw (see below).
The Balmoral line was a north-south running cross-country line that connected Hamilton, and ultimately Portland, with Horsham, via the junction at East Natimuk. The line from East Natimuk to Noradjuha officially (and finally) closed in 1986, with the Horsham to East Natimuk closing in October 1988. Noradjuha to Hamilton had been closed since July 1979.
Leaving Horsham the line to Natimuk passes Remlaw. I had an historic photo from Museum Victoria purporting to be a wheat bag stack at Remlaw in 1930.

Museum Victoria photograph

I've since had a Comment posted saying they believe the location is in fact Natimuk, not Remlaw, so I felt compelled to investigate, and now I too conclude that it is at Natimuk, facing west towards Carpolac.

Natimuk today - with the same peppercorn tree & gum tree on the horizon

Checking at Remlaw, the trees in that locality don't match, so well done that eagle-eyed follower, and thanks for your comment (I've contacted the Museum too).

Rows of sugar gums in front of the Remlaw silos

Before reaching Natimuk East, the line had to negotiate a crossing of the Wimmera River at Quantong (though the road bridge was called the Vectis Bridge in the early days). Below is a great photo by Bob Wilson of one of the last trains to cross the bridge in 1983. The timber trestle bridge was built in 1887, and is 133m long.

The road & rail bridges at Quantong (from 'Power to the rails' by John Scott)

Natimuk East was the former junction station, splitting the westward Carpolac line and the Hamilton cross-country branch line heading south via Balmoral. Not much trace of the platform remains, it is still an important grain receival point with large bunker storages. 

At Natimuk East, the Carpolac line ran in a curve from the left then down the centre of the photo, while the Balmoral line enters from the right, its platform mound is between the two groups of trees then it runs parallel to the Carpolac one past the silo, where they join and veer right towards Horsham at about the shadowed area.

The Natimuk East silo shed with the bunkers behind

From Natimuk East the line passed through Noradjuha to Jallumba. Jallumba opened in September 1912 and closed in 1979.

Jallumba, the platform mound is on the left

The Jallumba Goods Shed 1989 (from When There were Stations)

Site of the Jallumba Goods Shed today - no trace

From Jallumba the line continued south passing Carchap. Though not a listed siding, Carchap boasted a school and pumping station as it was on the water channel from the Toolondo Reservoir (built 1952-53).

The Carchap bridge the school was on the right

This bridge is the only one I've found still existing (apart from the Fulham trestle) on the Balmoral line all the other bridges and culverts have been removed. From Carchap it was only a few miles to Toolondo.

The abandoned Toolondo yard, not even the Super works operate from there any more

With the rails removed at Jeffries it is now difficult to plot the line's course.

Jeffries in 1980 (VRS photo)

The overgrown track at Jeffries today

Further south was Kanagulk, due to wartime shortages the line did not extend to Kanagulk until the end of 1917, and strangely the Kanagulk station looks better today than it did back in 1980.

Kanagulk in 1980 (from Winkieg on Flickr)

Kanagulk today

Railways - Balmoral line

The Balmoral line was a north-south running cross-country line that connected Hamilton, and ultimately Portland, with Horsham, via the junction at East Natimuk. The line from East Natimuk to Noradjuha officially (and finally) closed in 1986, with the Horsham to East Natimuk closing in October 1988. Noradjuha to Hamilton had been closed since July 1979. There was not much left along the line by this time.
The first part of the line was built from Horsham, reaching Noradjuha in 1887. From there it reached Toolondo in 1912 and Kanagulk in 1917 then Balmoral in 1919. A passenger service survived between Horsham and Balmoral until August 1951.
Natimuk East was the former junction station, splitting the westward Carpolac line and the Hamilton cross-country branch line heading south to Hamilton via Balmoral. Not much trace of the platform remains at East Natimuk but the grain silo is still in place. It is still an important grain receival point with large bunker storage.

The lonesome looking Natimuk East building (WTWS photo)

The short section south from Natimuk East to Noradjuha closed on 8 December 1986, not quite making the century - the line had reached Noradjuha in August 1887, only the silos and platform mound remains. 

Noradjuha (VRS photo)

Horsham bound goods train at Jallumba, 1971 (from "VR stations & stopping places")

 Jallumba is south of Noradjuha, and it opened in September 1912 and has been closed since 1979. In 1986 the goods shed was all that remained of this site. I searched for evidence of the shed in 2012, but there was only waist high phalaris and a few bulokes.

Jallumba shed in 1989, now gone (WTWS photo)

Toolondo the section to Toolondo was completed in September 1912. By 1987 the partly roofed goods shed, some rail and some signals were left, and in 2007 only the shed footings, platform mound and some small silos were in evidence. 

Toolondo freight yard in 1987 (WTWS photo)

Between Toolondo and Kanagulk was Jeffries which opened in December 1917

Tracks to nowhere at Jeffries in 1980 (VRS photo)

Kanagulk was located between Balmoral and Toolondo, and due to wartime shortages the line did not reach Kanagulk (the railway names for Fulham) until 17th December 1917. Photos of the rail bridge at Fulham.

Kanagulk in 1980 (VRS photo)

Further information and photographs at

 Victorian Railway Stations and When there were Stations and Neville Gee's "VR stations and stopping places"

Pioneering families

"The Armytages of Como : pastoral pioneers" by Anita Selzer Patriarch George Armytage was born at Ticknall, Derbyshire in 1795, and died of gangrene on 12th July 1862. He and his wife Elizabeth had 11 children. He had owned a number of pastoral holdings which included: Mt Cotterell, Geelong, Ingleby on the Barwon River, Murrandara (Mundarra) near Edenhope, Ganoo Ganoo near Chetwynd, Fulham at Kanagulk on the Glenelg River near Balmoral, and Buntingdale (Portland Bay district) (a total of more than 225,000 acres!). George was a pioneer in the pastoral industry and a leader in promoting wool as a major export.

Como watercolour by Penleigh Boyd (1910)

In 1857 George gave his son Charles Henry (1824-1876) Mostyn and Fulham stations. George also acquired Mt Sturgeon in 1863. Fulham became the home for Charles and his wife Caroline in 1857. Eight of their ten children were born at Fulham (50 miles from the nearest doctor). Fulham's remoteness encouraged them to purchase Como as a town house.   Como House in South Yarra was purchased by Charles and Caroline in 1864, and they raised the children here. The home remained in Armytage family hands until 1959 when the last surviving children - Constance & Leila - handed it over to the National Trust. The house is still stocked with the Armytage family furniture, and provides a glimpse into the lives and times of a dynasty.

The Fulham homestead

In the late 1880s Charles' son George Herbert (1861-1925) lived at Fulham as the manager. In 1885 Harold Augustus (Charles' 3rd son) took over management of Mt Sturgeon. His brother Ernest Adolphus lived at Clunie Station near Harrow till he died in 1898. The Armytages finally sold the Fulham and Mt Sturgeon in 1948 to the Soldier Settlement Commission.

Fulham's formal gardens from the verandah

The Armytages were one of the colonial squattocracy families, made rich on the wool from the sheeps' back, their genteel lifestyles relied on tough management, skilful raising of livestock, and an army of farm workers and servants (Mt Sturgeon at one time employed 130 men).
This book showcases their history, and the legacy Como provides, preserving their elegant way of life.

Looking towards the homestead from the Fulham railway bridge

Still going strong

Some other timber bridges around the region that, while disused are still standing.
Jeparit Bridge
A by-passed timber road bridge over the Wimmera River on the outskirts of Jeparit. Built in 1892 of hewn timber corbels supported by big timber struts, it has 7 main trestle and girder spans using an uncommon strut & crown girder construction.

Fulham Bridge


The timber trestle rail bridge on the disused Hamilton to Natimuk East line, over the Glenelg River near Kanagulk. The bridge was built in 1917, is 189m long and has 31 spans. It is next to the homestead of the historic Fulham pastoral station owned by colonial squatters the Armytage family.

Antwerp Bridge
A by-passed timber road bridge over the Wimmera River, west of the Antwerp township on the Antwerp-Woorak Road.
Quantong Bridge

A rail bridge over the Wimmera River at Quantong, on the closed Carpolac rail-line. Built in 1887 the main bridge is 133m long, and the approach bridge in 55m long (the beams of the approach bridge were removed and re-used on the refurbished Winters Flat Bridge on the Maldon tourist rail-line).

Tarranyurk Bridge
A by-passed timber road bridge over the Wimmera River west of Tarranyurk on the road to Tullyvea. According to the Parish Map, the bridge was erected about 1905.

Technical information from "Wooden wonders"

Going, going, gone

During this flood time, property is under threat, and one type of property is bridges. Here a few local bridges no longer there.

Natimuk Rail Bridge


The timber rail bridge over the Natimuk Creek on the western outskirts of Natimuk was built in 1894 to serve the grain producers to the west - Arapiles, Mitre, Duffholme, Gymbowen, Goroke, Mortat and Carpolac sidings (photos of the sidings are at Victorian Railway Stations). With the closure of the 'Carpolac rail-line' in 1986, the bridge's days were numbered. The Public Transport Corporation tendered for its removal in 1987, however parts of it were dismantled and stolen before the work could be completed. Horsham Rural City Council are now working with Bicycle Victoria to develop a Rail Trail to Mt Arapiles passing the site.

Glenorchy Bridge


This disused road bridge (one of many surrounding Glenorchy) over the Wimmera River, was closed at the beginning of 2008, and dismantled in 2009.
The Northern Grampians Shire Council saved some of the timbers to construct a picnic table & seats at the site.

Dairy Creek Bridge


The buttress remains of the road bridge over the Dairy Creek, now the lake-bed of the Lake Bellfield water storage, in the Grampians. The Dairy Creek settlement was abandoned and flooded when Lake Bellfield was created in 1969. The bridge and building foundations are only visible during low water, drought conditions.

Kanagulk Bridge


The partly demolished timber rail bridge over the Kanagulk flood-plain (Glenelg River) on the southern approach to the Fulham Bridge, on the Noradjuha to Balmoral line.

Bourke's Bridge


A colonial all timber bridge named after Mrs Margaret Bourke. It was built in 1889 and later largely destroyed by fire. Rather than rebuild it, it was bypassed by a new concrete road bridge just upstream. The bridges are on the Glenelg River near Chetwynd on the Edenhope-Casterton Road.