49-608: Gold Creek Homestead is a 140-year-old stone and brick building located off Gungahlin Drive in Ngunnawal a north-western suburb of Canberra , Australia . It is adjacent to the Grove Ngunnawal retirement village currently being developed by Lend Lease. The Gold Creek Homestead Complex referred to a group of four buildings including the 697m homestead, a stone and timber cottage, a buggy shed and an entertainment and function centre (formerly
98-465: A 20,000-gallon concrete holding tank through very long lengths of two-inch polypropylene pipe. The water pump could completely fill the holding tank in about twelve hours. Today, this tank is located not far from Clarrie Hermes Drive in Harcourt Hill. From the tank, bore water was gravity-fed through buried pipes to 26 watering troughs. The entire reticulation system could be controlled by one person from
147-504: A bill twice, Cook called the 1914 election . The election had been called before the declaration of war in August 1914, and the campaign was conducted with the caretaker government going onto a war footing. At the election, the Liberals were soundly defeated with another Labor majority in both houses. While the party itself disappeared into history, many of its key legislative initiatives, such as
196-504: A condominium-style development. The go-ahead for the project depended on ACT Government approval which was ultimately not forthcoming. While the 'Gold Creek Golf Estate' didn't see the light of day, in a major touch of irony, the government put its considerable financial backing behind the Gold Creek Country Club, a golf course development that bears, some would argue, striking similarities to the plans submitted by John Warren. In
245-612: A handful of local farming families including Frederick Campbell (of Yarralumla ) that lobbied the Federal Government for improved compensation during the land acquisition process in the lead-up to the creation of the Federal Capital Territory (now the Australian Capital Territory ). John Bruce was responsible for introducing scientific farming practices based on Agricultural Science at Gold Creek during
294-471: A machinery shed). The Gold Creek Homestead Site was a 41-hectare parcel of land, specifically Block 1 and 2, Section 23 Ngunnawal upon which the aforementioned complex was situated. Gold Creek Homestead was at one time at the centre of 'Gold Creek' a sprawling 1,594 hectare (3,940 acre) rural property, the largest in the Ginninderra district. Portions of the former property are or will be occupied by parts of
343-633: A merger. The party wound up splitting as a result. The main body, including Deakin and his supporters, merged with the Anti-Socialist Party in May 1909 to become the Commonwealth Liberal Party (CLP), popularly known as "the Fusion Party", with Deakin as leader and Cook as deputy leader. The more liberal Protectionists defected to Labour. Deakin and the new CLP now held a majority on the floor of
392-451: A portion of the historic site was nominated for inclusion on the ACT heritage register. (See diagram to the right). The nomination addressed two specific criteria Criterion (d) The site is highly valued by the community or a cultural group for reasons of strong or special religious, spiritual, cultural, educational or social associations . The name Gold Creek and by extension the site, have retained
441-822: A set of stop valves located in the machinery shed. The Bruces also oversaw the planting of more than 1,000 trees across the rural property. Australian natives, especially the Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) found favour with the Bruces, though the vast majority of the species planted were European ornamentals. The list of species included poplars (Populus canadensis), [[Monterey Pine pines]] (Pinus radiata), pencil pines (Athrotaxis cupressoides), pussy willows (Salix discolor), silver spruces (Picea engelmannii), black walnuts (Juglans nigra), golden elms (Sassafras albidum), silver birchs (Betula pendula), quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis) and white oaks (Quercus arizonica). During
490-545: A special association with individuals and events, namely Edmund Rolfe (and the Rolfe family which still resides in the Canberra region) that helped shape local history including the transition to Australia's Federal Capital Territory. The nomination was rejected in June 2009. At the beginning of 2014 construction began on an over 55's community on a 6.23-hectare (15.4-acre) parcel of land at
539-438: A strong resonance within the local Gungahlin community. The name has subsequently been appropriated by a local golf course, tourist precinct, high school and commercial businesses, which trade on the strong associations engendered in the name Gold Creek. Criterion (h) the site has strong or special associations with a person, group, event, development or cultural phase in local or national history . The Gold Creek Homestead site has
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#1732852566516588-608: A suspension of live music at Gold Creek. The ACT Government commissioned a consultants report which estimated the cost of noise abatement measures at $ 300,000. The government quickly cooled on the idea. With no willing buyers, John Warren reluctantly sold the 41-hectare property to the ACT Government for $ 1.25M in 1998. The delivery of the Gold Creek Homestead site into public hands left the ACT Government with 41 hectares of land with excellent development potential. In July 2000
637-523: A swag of blue ribbons at Agricultural Shows in Canberra, Sydney and regional NSW. Its success led to a series of cattle breeders' field days at Gold Creek held in conjunction with the Australian Hereford Society that attracted society members from around Australia. During 1987/8, Gold Creek Pty Ltd began discussions with Japanese developer Kumagai Gumi Co. Ltd to partner up for an 8-hole golf course development. Detailed plans were prepared for
686-465: Is a suburb in the district of Gungahlin in Canberra , Australia . The suburb is named in tribute to the Ngunnawal people , the original inhabitants of the area. The suburb was gazetted on 24 April 1992. Ngunnawal is adjacent to the suburbs of Nicholls , Casey , Moncrieff , Amaroo and Gungahlin . It is bounded by Gungahlin Drive, Horse Park Drive, Gundaroo Drive and Mirrabei Drive. Ginninderra Creek
735-448: Is found in the east corner. A crook-shaped outcrop of ashstone is exposed just to the east of the Vee. The structure of the rock has been determined by folding . The folds are aligned north-north east and plunge to the south south west. An anticline determines the point of the Vee pointing south south west. Another anticline determines the end of the crook shape. A syncline determines the top of
784-535: Is located in the northwestern edge of Ngunnawal. There is a retirement village called "The Grove" in Ngunnawal. The Gold Creek Homestead is located in Ngunnawal. New Life Presbyterian Church is located on 107 Wanganeen Avenue. Ngunnawal Primary School is located on Unaipon Avenue (named after David Unaipon in 1992). The Ngunnawal suburb is sited on the Canberra Formation and bedrock laided down during
833-979: Is now part of the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Course. Anthony's second eldest son Edmund Rolfe spent his early working life as a teamster , transporting building materials e.g. sandstone, wool, wheat and even drinking water from and to as far afield as Camden and Braidwood . He was the principal transport contractor for the tower reconstruction work on St John the Baptist Church (in present-day Reid ). Edmund Rolfe's first wife Margaret (née Logue) died during childbirth in 1867 and he later married Margaret O'Keefe. Edmund Rolfe fathered 14 children – Bryan (b. 1862), Maria (b. 1864), Mary (b. 1865), Catherine (b. 1867), Anthony (b. 1868), William (b. 1869), Alice (b. 1871), Bridget (b. 1873), Margaret (b. 1874), James (b. 1876), Patrick (b. 1878), Gertrude (b. 1880), John (b. 1882) and Edmund George(b. 1884). Anthony Rolfe financed
882-532: Is situated near Ngunnawal's eastern boundary. The suburb is located approximately 4 km from the Gungahlin Town Centre and about 13 km from the centre of Canberra . Ngunnawal's place names relate to indigenous Australian culture. For example: The following educational facilities are in Ngunnawal: There are two small shopping centres in Ngunnawal. Ngunnawal Shopping Centre is located at
931-632: The 1906 federal election , held in December, it changed its name to the Anti-Socialist Party . At the election, the Protectionists, whose protectionist policies were by then redundant, won only 16 seats to Labour's 26, but Labour still led by Watson continued to support Deakin who formed the well known third Deakin Protectionist government . Labour now under Andrew Fisher withdrew its support of
980-519: The Free Trade Party . On 25 August 1903, legislation to set up the High Court of Australia consisting of three judges was finally passed. Barton resigned his party leadership position on 24 September 1903 to be replaced by Deakin who then formed the first Deakin government . Then, on 5 October 1903, Deakin appointed Barton, as well as the party's Senate leader, Richard O'Connor , to be justices of
1029-572: The Government began a first round of community consultations about future options for the site. Three months later indicative plans were unveiled for an aged care facility, medium-density housing , motel and plant nursery. Ngunnawal residents lobbied the government for retention of the entire site for community use. They presented a petition to the Heritage Minister with more than 4,000 signatures in support of their cause but to no avail. Unperturbed
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#17328525665161078-594: The 1960s. A substantial program improved efficiencies and drought-proofed the property. As a result of measures such as these Gold Creek produced first-cross ewes (merinos mated with border Leicester), then much sought after by prime lamb producers in the Cowra region. The progeny of these ewes were excellent 'prime lambs', which yielded higher than average percentages of meat and accordingly achieved better sale prices. Ten earthen dams were constructed to capture water runoff and arrest soil erosion, and provide water for stock. Today,
1127-595: The 75 seats in the House of Representatives to the Liberal's 31. Deakin retired from Parliament in April 1913 and Cook took over the Liberal leadership before the calling of the 1913 election . The Liberals under Cook won government in 1913 by a single seat, however, Labor retained a Senate majority. Cook called a double dissolution , the first time one would be called. When the Senate rejected
1176-452: The Deakin government on 13 November 1908 and formed a minority government. The Fisher government passed a large number of its legislation. A scandalised establishment, believing an anti- socialist alliance was necessary to counter Labor's growing electoral dominance, pressured Deakin and Anti-Socialist Party's new leader, Joseph Cook , to begin merger talks. The more liberal Protectionists opposed
1225-526: The High Court to get them out of politics, but they were qualified for the judicial position, as they had been lawyers. Higgins was Attorney-General in the Labour government of 1904 (Labour did not have a lawyer to appoint), and Isaacs was Attorney-General in 1905 in the Deakin government. The Free Trade Party recognised that the issue of tariffs had been settled and that the main issue was the Labour resurgence. Before
1274-582: The High Court, before calling the 1903 federal election for December and going into caretaker government mode. At the election, the number of seats won by the Protectionists declined to 26 while Labour's increased to 22, but Labour continued its policy of supporting a minority Deakin Protectionist government. After a falling-out in April 1904 between Labour's Watson and Deakin, Deakin resigned office. Free Trade leader George Reid declined to take office, leaving Watson and Labour to form its first minority government, which lasted for four months. In August 1904, Reid
1323-565: The House of Representatives and the Fisher government fell in a vote on 27 May 1909. Fisher failed to persuade the Governor-General Lord Dudley to dissolve Parliament. The Deakin CLP government was in power for less than a year until the 1910 election , where Labour under Fisher formed Australia's first elected federal majority government, and the first elected Senate majority, winning 42 of
1372-699: The Rolfes presided over a rural property 3,940 acres (1,590 ha) in size, the largest in the Ginninderra district. Edmund Rolfe was very active in local politics in the two decades prior to the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. He served for a number of years as the treasurer and later the vice-president of the Ginninderra Protection Union, the forerunner to the Protectionist party . He
1421-613: The Rolfes' long-time neighbours forfeited on their mortgage payments in 1897, they snapped up the land. The superior quality of the Gold Creek livestock was underlined by a purchase concluded in December 1903. Mr E. Hudson, the manager of the Duntroon estate, paid £2100 for 2100 merinos and 900 lambs. They used the cash to secure mortgages on further land purchases. Over a period of several years, he snapped up at foreclosure sales various parcels of land, extending his family's land holdings. By 1907
1470-558: The business in 1979. Gold Creek hosted the national rodeo and country music events in 1981 and 1982. In late 1977, David Templeton and two other former partners of Gold Creek Pty Ltd bought the Red Hill Hereford Stud, a cattle breeding business located near Finley in southern NSW. Established in 1966, Red Hill Stud's breeding stock was top notch. Initially the partners transported their prize bulls to Gold Creek to prepare them for show and eventual sale. The Red Hill Hereford Stud won
1519-636: The commencement of the Commonwealth of Australia , Governor-General-designate , The 7th Earl of Hopetoun , appointed Edmund Barton (after the Hopetoun Blunder ), leader of the Protectionist Party, to head a caretaker government from 1 January 1901 until the election of a Parliament. At the first federal election in 1901 , the Protectionists won 31 of the 75 seats in the House of Representatives . Barton
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1568-422: The corner of Wanganeen Avenue and Jabanungga Avenue and provides a Spar supermarket, a bakery, a takeaway shop, a pharmacy, a gym, and a medical clinic with allied health facilities. An IGA store is located in the eastern area of Ngunnawal on Mirrabei Drive. The Arabanoo Street Library is located in Ngunnawal. Ngunnawal primarily consists of residential property. A housing estate called "Broadview Estate"
1617-709: The crook. The Deakin Fault runs roughly parallel to the fold axes on the south east side along Ginninderra Creek. Protectionist Party The Protectionist Party , also known as the Protectionist Liberal Party or Liberal Protectionist Party , was an Australian political party , formally organised from 1887 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism . The party advocated protective tariffs , arguing it would allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in
1666-407: The depression of the 1890s. Rising mortgage rates left many farmers servicing bank loans at rates of seven, eight and even ten per cent. With their previous mortgages paid out, the Rolfes were better placed than most. With five fit young men carrying out a program of cropping, animal husbandry and sheep grazing activities, the property remained profitable while neighbouring farms floundered. When one of
1715-528: The early 1990s the ACT Government progressively withdrew rural leases in the Gungahlin district ahead of construction work on the suburbs of Ngunnawal , Nicholls and Harcourt Hill. The Gold Creek Homestead business fully expected that land planners would retain a respectable buffer zone between the Homestead Site and surrounding houses to cater for extra noise. By 1994, a long timber paling fence stretched along
1764-518: The early to mid-1970s the Federal Government terminated the leases on a number of rural homesteads including Lanyon , Cuppacumbalong and Gold Creek. The government intended to issue a commercial lease for the use of the 16 hectares encompassing the Gold Creek Homestead Site (3). In 1977 a group of Canberra business people pooled their finances to redevelop Gold Creek Homestead as a reception and function centre. The rural-style venue, which
1813-473: The group organised two open days at the site. The larger of the two events, held in April 2002, attracted about 1,500 people. Later still the community group received a heritage grant to record Gold Creek's history. In March 2005 the ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, launched the book Gold Creek: Reflections of Canberra's Rural Heritage by local author Chris Newman at Gold Creek Homestead. In late 2005
1862-424: The initial purchase of 60 acres (24 ha) of land which abuts the present-day Gold Creek Homestead Site and transferred the land title as part of a much larger 320-acre (130 ha) parcel to his son Edmund in 1872. During its first few decades Gold Creek was devoted to cropping predominantly wheat and later the Rolfes diversified into merino sheep and later still beef cattle The Rolfes were major beneficiaries of
1911-500: The late middle Silurian age. The area was studied in more detail than many other parts of Canberra by J P Ceplecha from the ANU in 1971. Most of Ngunnawal is based on slaty shale and mudstone . In the North West corner is found dacite and quartz andesite . A layer of tuff is formed into a V-shaped surface exposure in the western half of the suburb. A smaller N-shaped outcrop of tuff
1960-556: The new colonies under one of the Bounty schemes subsidised to the British Government and was part of the wave of free settlers to follow the convict era. After working for 10 years as a tenant farmer at Joseph Kaye's Springbank rural property, Anthony established his own property Tea Gardens , on 130-hectare (320 acre) of land in 1857. The remnants of that homestead is located in present-day Ngunnawal near Ginninderra Creek which
2009-414: The northern, eastern and western boundaries of the now 41 hectare Gold Creek Homestead site, while to the south, a two-metre high earth noise barrier was erected alongside Gungahlin Drive. With the majority of the construction work finished, bookings for the Gold Creek hayshed began to recover by mid 1995. Soon after noise complaints from nearby houses during a night-time function in the entertainment led to
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2058-415: The rural areas of New South Wales . Its most prominent leaders were Sir Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin , who were the first and second prime ministers of Australia . The party was initially centred on New South Wales , where its leaders were George Dibbs and William Lyne . It dominated New South Wales colonial politics before federation . It first contested the 1887 New South Wales election . On
2107-613: The suburbs of Ngunnawal , Nicholls , Harcourt Hill, Moncrieff , Casey , Kinlyside and Taylor as well as large parcels of land in NSW adjacent to the village of Hall . the site then became abandoned for a little while, leaving teenagers to explore it during the night. it was then put up for sale after it was declined to be heritage listed. In 1849 Anthony Rolfe, an English farm labourer, arrived in Australia from Oxborough , Norfolk , England with his wife and five children. The family migrated to
2156-400: The traffic roundabout at the corner of Gungahlin Drive and Wanganeen Avenue marks the location of a subterran bore a key component of this strategy. In 1967, the Bruces sunk an artesian bore, the centrepiece of an elaborate water reticulation system. From the small pump house directly above the bore head, a 9 horsepower (6.7 kW) diesel engine pushed a column of bore water 1,000 yards west to
2205-411: Was able to form a Free Trade government with Protectionist support. Reid's government lasted until 5 July 1905, when the Protectionists and Labour reconciled, and the previous arrangement was restored, with the formation of the second Deakin government . On 12 October 1906, the size of the High Court was increased to five justices, and Deakin appointed prominent Protectionists Higgins and Isaac Isaacs to
2254-605: Was able to form the Barton minority government with the support of the Labour Party led by Chris Watson , which held the balance of power with 14 seats, on the understanding that the Protectionists would implement a number of social reforms desired by Labour. Labour's program, however, was frequently too radical for many Protectionists, creating internal conflict between those who, like H. B. Higgins , were sympathetic to Labour, while conservatives like Allan McLean preferred to support
2303-544: Was also a committee member of the Ginninderra Agricultural Show, the forerunner to Canberra's Royal National Capital Agricultural Show. The Rolfes also hosted a number of balls and dances at Gold Creek in support of St Benedicts, a Catholic Girls School in Queanbeyan. Edmund Rolfe was a fundraiser for Ginninderra St Francis Church and its replacement, Hall's St Xaviers Church. The Gold Creek Rolfes were amongst
2352-446: Was previously the western end of the Gold Creek Homestead site. This site is being developed by Lend Lease Retirement Living . The village will comprise 161 villas and community facilities and is expected to be completed by 2019. 35°10′32″S 149°06′14″E / 35.17556°S 149.10389°E / -35.17556; 149.10389 Ngunnawal, Australian Capital Territory Ngunnawal ( / ŋ ʌ n ə w ə l / )
2401-424: Was to become amongst the first of its type in the Canberra region, hosted more than 7,000 wedding parties during its heyday through the 1970s, 1980s and into the early 1990s. The hayshed complex was also converted for use as a function centre. Many public service and social clubs celebrations were held in the hayshed over a twenty-year period. A partnership led by Australian national soccer player John Warren acquired
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