August 1, 2024
There was everything from bush poetry and folk music to Cobb & Co Coach rides at Moore’s historic Stonehouse open days last weekend.
Friends of Stonehouse members joined with owners Loretta and John Eastwood to organise the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the historic buildings.
Out There Cycling’s shuttle buses were kept busy ferrying visitors up and down the highway from Moore to the complex on Saturday and Sunday.
The Stonehouse buildings were built between 1874 and 1888 by members of the Williams family who had emigrated from Gloucestershire.
In 1874, Robert Williams bought 2000 acres when Colinton Station was resumed and construction began on the collection of structures.
The hand-hewn stone buildings, built on the old coach road to Nanango at the foot of the Blackbutt Range, served as the district’s hotel, inn, post office, voting place and stagecoach stop.
They quickly became famous, even getting a mention in the 1880s folk song, “Brisbane Ladies”
The Eastwoods, who bought the property in 2012, have been restoring the historic buildings, getting help from expert stonemasons based in Brisbane.
Kent Roxborough, from Classical Stone Australia, had a stall at the weekend demonstrating his work.
There were also displays of whip-cracking, spinning, ploughing, blacksmithing and vintage machinery to explore.
A vintage pie cart was popular, as were the market stalls and heritage displays.
A special medallion to mark the sesquicentenary was struck and available to buy.
