The Steppes Historic Site

As part of the Partnership Programme with PWS, the MHPS is undertaking restoration and repair work at The Steppes Historic Site on the Central Highlands.

The Steppes Site has a long and fascinating history and dates from 1863. It was the home of the Wilson family for over 100 years and during much of that time was the hub of local community life, incorporating not only the Homestead, but also a police station, post office, bakery and school.  The last surviving member of the Wilson family, Miss Marjorie Wilson, better known as 'Madge', was a gifted artist and keen wood carver. She passed away in 1975, aged 92 years, but her small art studio still stands and is part of the restoration and preservation work being undertaken by MHPS. Paintings of flowers by Miss Madge Wilson can still be found decorating  the original doors and fireplace in the Homestead.

The Wilson family had a strong connection with the bush and the environment in which they lived. So much so that they pushed for an area at the Steppes to become a bird sanctuary and, in 1930, a reserve was gazetted. During the late 1950s, the two surviving Wilson sisters offered their private land to also be included in the reserve. Today, this reserve now honours the Wilson family, who were remarkable pioneers and whose name is synonymous with this part of the Central Highlands.

Since September 2010, five working bees have been held and over 500 voluntary hours have been committed to the Steppes project. Work on site so far has seen the removal of the decaying shingle roofs on the outbuildings and temporary replacement with iron sheets to protect and preserve the underlying structures. Assorted work has also been carried out on a number of the outbuildings and includes repairs to doors, windows and window sills, and the replacement of a glass window pane and a new planter box. Sheds have been stabilised and verandah repairs carried out on the main Homestead. There have also been two off-site working bees, to gather suitable timber and to cut shingles for this project.

MHPS has been fortunate to have wonderful assistance and advice from three gentlemen, John Graham from New Norfolk, and father and son team Daryl & Todd Blair from Mole Creek, all highly skilled and extremely proficient in the art of shingle splitting. 

In December 2010, a convoy of eight utes and a trailer or two undertook a lengthy road trip to Ellendale in the south of the State, where John Graham, a veteran of the bush, had found a suitable tree from which to cut shingles. It was an interesting and enjoyable exercise, with approx 14 members and two PWS rangers spending the full day, high on a windswept logging coupe, cutting the tree into billets to be transported back to Liawenee. A lunch time barbecue provided an opportunity for convivial conversation amongst members and a welcome break from the day’s toil.

In February 2011, members assembled for a weekend working bee at Liawenee to cut the billets into shingles, under the guidance once again of John Graham, and also joined by Daryl 'Darby' Blair and his son Todd, who gave generously of their time and expert knowledge in the skilful art of shingle splitting. Most members had no knowledge or practical experience of turning billets (short thick pieces of timber) into thin pieces of wood (shingles) suitable for building and roofing material. For one member, Rodney Linger, it was a particularly gratifying experience, as he was able to use his father’s original paling knife which had not seen the light of day for quite a few decades. A lunch break of barbecued lamb roast and sausages was enjoyed by all, while Rose Grant from ABC Radio conducted interviews for the Country Hour programme. The working bee was a hugely interesting and satisfying exercise, with well in excess of 2250 shingles being split. More shingles will be required and future working bees will be announced.

MHPS wishes to acknowledge and express appreciation for the work and assistance from John Graham, Daryl Blair and Todd Blair, along with PWS Rangers Mike Cousins and Rob Buck, without whose support this project would not be possible.