Thornlie Homestead

After intending to visit for many weeks now, I finally made it down to the Thornlie Homestead site :)

Located in Homestead Park to the left of the community centre on Glenbrook Rd, it is quite literally a line or two of foundation brick poking out of the grass like a row of teeth.

Its so inconspicuous and understated that I suspect many walk straight past it without any realisation as to it's significance. 

I met a man and his son at the park who were collecting rubbish. I asked him if he worked with the community centre, and he explained that he was simply a local resident who spent some time cleaning up the park on the weekend. How remarkable! I was so impressed by this- how generous a local resident was with his time.

He kindly pointed me in the direction of the Thornlie Homestead remnants, of which I have taken photographs to illustrate.

As you can see- there really isn't much left at all! Interestingly, it is suspected that the site may have archaeological value as much of the original building and farming equipment was pushed into the cellars and the flooring when the building was destroyed by fire in the 1970s. If this is true- then much of the history remains buried in this very location! How magical to think about what may lay below.

 When researching online, I found a listing with the State Heritage Office, however there is also a book published in 1975 called 'Thornlie Homestead' by Madge and Ernie Lankester which will make for some interesting reading.

What I have been able to find out, is that the area by the Canning River (now known as Homestead Park) was owned by Walter Padbury, one of the founding members of Thornlie. The homestead was built in the 1880s and originally inhabited by Frank and Amy James. The name "Thornlie" originated from a business house in India Madras which was run by the grandfather of the original inhabitant Frank James.

My favourite photograph of the day however is the next one, which shows the view of the river from the vantage point that would once have been the homestead frontage.

With a little imagination, you can envision standing beside the homestead with the glorious views of the river and the gum trees over 130 years ago.

Forever 6108!

State Heritage Office ; Retrieved from http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/5c1eb1c6-cc93-41aa-b81b-336efa12f3d2

Thornlie Homestead;Retrieved from http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/157835690?versionId=172057523