Changes afoot for Bankfoot House

The state-heritage listed Bankfoot House in the Glass House Mountains, once a Cobb & Co lunch stop on the journey to the Gympie goldfields, is set to relaunch itself as the pre-eminent heritage precinct on the Sunshine Coast.

From Friday, October 5, visitors will enjoy free entry to Bankfoot House as well as extended opening hours from 10am to 3pm each Friday to Sunday, excluding public holidays.

The dedicated volunteers from the Friends of Bankfoot House, who have been instrumental in maintaining and interpreting the property since 2006, will continue to play an important role in helping to provide guided tours.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct offered a unique insight into the history of our region.

“As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Bankfoot House in 2018, council will be increasing its hands-on role in managing and promoting this significant historical asset for our community,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Council took ownership of the Bankfoot House property in 2004, when it was sold and entrusted to Caloundra City Council by the Ferris family on the condition that it would be preserved as a historic home.

“The Friends of Bankfoot House have played an important role in the evolution of the heritage precinct.

“In fact, it has been because of the Friends’ dedication to the researching and cataloguing of the collection during the past 12 years, that we are now able to interpret this incredible story.

“Bankfoot House is like a time capsule of the region, capturing the lives of three generations of the same family who lived in the house.

“It is a significant part of our history and, thanks to the Cultural Heritage Levy, we are able to continue the important preservation work and share the story of the property with locals and the many visitors to our region.”

Council’s Coordinator Cultural Heritage Services, Peter Connell, said a range of new programs and events were in development.

“In early 2018, a new interpretive plan for the precinct was developed and we have been working hard to bring it to fruition,” Mr Connell said.

“The new plan includes a range of signage and interactive elements that will tell the story of the region’s First Nations People and of the three generations of one family who called Bankfoot House home.

“There will be a new display in the Mary Grigor Centre, as well as new interpretation through Bankfoot House itself, the laundry and dairy and, for the first time, the public will have access into the historic shed, that has now been restored following years of deterioration.”

The shed is an important part of the overall Bankfoot House story.

Its changing uses over the years represent resilience, adaptation, evolution and the frugal nature required of those who lived and worked in this region.

The self-guided tour of the shed, will enable visitors will be able to explore the story of the early pioneers in the Glass House Mountains.

They will encounter the tools used across the generations and hear how the property evolved from a fully productive farm to a domestic use.

The shed doors themselves capture a unique piece of history having been made from recycled printing press plates from the Sunday Sun and Telegraph newspaper where Bill Ferris, the son of the last family to live in Bankfoot House, worked as an engineer.

The major Bankfoot House 150th celebratory event will be held on Sunday, October 14 from 10am -3pm.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Bankfoot House to assist in showcasing this historic property to locals and visitors, or if you are interested in booking a tour for your school group or organisation contact council on 5420 8600 or email [email protected]

For more details visit council’s heritage website - heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Bankfoot House is located at 1998 Old Gympie Road, Glass House Mountains.