Relics of an 1850s orchard are being uncovered as a long-awaited orchard re-creation project comes to fruition at Glengallan Homestead, north of Warwick.
Vegetation clearing has already revealed steps from a stone terrace to the remains of the massive greenhouse seen in late 19th century photographs and where orange trumpet vine still heralds the arrival of spring.
Glengallan Homestead Trust chair Donna Fraser said site manager Terry Weier and volunteers have started clearing the orchard site of rounded stones, believed to have been cobbling removed from the original avenue and used as fill in eroded gullies.
An overgrown platform on the creek bank now identifies the site of a huge boiler that once supplied the homestead and adjacent buildings.
Donna Fraser said the team hoped to locate a well, described by former Glengallan Station owner Roy Smith as south-east of the homestead building, suggesting it may have supplied water to the orchard and gardens.
Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) funding for the project is being matched by private donations which will enable planting of early varieties of grapes, citrus and stonefruit as weather conditions improve in the wake of prolonged drought across the region.
Donna said the orchard re-creation, together with views over the remains of the greenhouse and pump house site, would add to visitor interest at Glengallan – the major heritage-tourism attraction of the Southern Downs.
Learn more at www.glengallan.com.au
