Limestone Homestead, Yarrie Sation

Statement of Significance

The building on Limestone Station is historically interesting in that it is originally the airbase hospital from Corunna Downs. However, the heritage significance lies essentially in the homestead site. This site was chosen by pioneer Pilbara teamster and pastoralist, Thomas Mallett, to build his home and consolidate his scattered lease holdings into a 250,000 acre sheep station. The Limestone Station is still operating but runs cattle instead of sheep.

Physical Description

There is little or no trace of the original house on Limestone Station, built in 1902. The present homestead on Limestone Station is timber framed and flat asbestos clad. The homestead was the hospital building from the Corrunna Downs Airbase which was transported to its present site alongside the original homestead building.
Limestone Homestead today (1998) still reflects the long, low, military barracks type of structure from which it was adapted.
On the property there are still the remnants of former structures, for example the shearing shed and the killing yard.

History

The original Limestone Homestead was erected in 1902 - mainly constructed of wood, iron and steel, and had various additions over the years. By 1946 the pine floors and structural frame were in a poor state from dry rot and white ant infestation. At the Corunna Downs Airbase clearance sale in 1946, the hospital building was bought in its entirety, and then dismantled and re-erected adjacent to the old homestead. Much of the internal stamped-metal wall cladding was transferred from the old to the new building. Eventually the old homestead (now gutted) folded like a card house. The 'new' homestead survives, although it has suffered many years of neglect and features like the stamped-metal lining have disappeared.
There are some remnants of former structures on the station. The six-stand shearing shed was formerly fitted with sheep-shearing machinery manufactured by "Wolsely" of London in the 1920s. Limestone had previously used the time-honoured hand blades, with its fleeces of fine pilbara wool controlling good prices on the London market.
Near the homestead are the ruins of the former killing yard. The property supplied meat to the nearby township of Marble Bar for over sixty years.

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Historic Themes

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Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.