Ormiston House, Accommodation, Strahan. Tasmania
continued
A More Commodious Premises
F.O. examined the treacherous anchorage at Trial Harbour near Zeehan and was not impressed with it's exposed and dangerous nature. He thought that the sheltered waters of Macquarie Harbour would serve the purpose much more effectively and set about establishing his trading store at an area now known as Smith's Cove. This was to be the start of the town of Strahan and is referred to nowadays as 'Old Strahan'. His first premise was a tent, which was quickly replaced by a timber shack. The fledgling township grew up around his store and he began trading with the miners, prospectors and new townsfolk.
In 1882 Strahan was officially gazetted and named after the Governor of Tasmania, Sir George Strahan. In 1883 F.O. wrote to the Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands requesting an allocation of land for the township at Long Bay, which is the current site of the town. The request was granted.
F.O. built a 'more commodious premises' at Long Bay and the townsfolk followed.
During this formative period F.O. was involved in many dealings with prospectors and miners. Being a storekeeper in these times was indeed a hazardous business and a tactic known as 'grubstaking' was prevalent. This would involve the supplier of goods taking a charge or share
of a miner's claim in exchange for goods, equipment or provisions. In today's terms this makes good business sense. There was little chance of acquiring payment if no security was taken as some of these prospectors would head off into the wilderness and never return to pay their debts when their claim did not yield any returns.
It was in 1883 that three prospectors found traces of gold in a claim that became known as the Iron Blow, and later the Mt. Lyell Mine. The McDonough brothers and Steve Karlson, a Scandinavian, had acquired provisions from F.O. Henry's store at Strahan. Bill McDonough had to
trek nearly 100 miles back to the nearest Mines Office in Waratah to register the claim. But the mine did not yield the elusive vein of gold that was thought to be just under the surface and the prospectors became disillusioned. The McDonough brothers made tracks for other parts after selling their shares in the claim for just a few pounds.
The prospectors were unable to discharge their debts to F.O. so after a James Crotty paid out one debt from Mick McDonough, F.O. was granted a one tenth share of the mine which grew to a more substantial shareholding by 1891.
By the time that Bowes Kelly, a wealthy investor from Broken Hill, arrived in 1891, F.O. was the largest shareholder. In January 1892 the Mt Lyell Mining Company was formed and F.O. received in the order of 2087 £1 shares. F.O. kept these shares until 1897 when the Mt Lyell
shares had reached an astounding value of £16/10s. This astute and canny Scot decided to sell and by doing so became the most affluent man on the West Coast of Tasmania.
By this stage F.O. had stores scattered around the mining areas of the West Coast at Strahan, Queenstown, Gormanston, Linda and Pillinger at Kelly's Basin. Times may have been tough in the early days but F.O. had established himself as the most successful businessman in the area. By
now Strahan was a busy port and terminal for the mining towns. The ABT Railway from Queenstown brought the valuable ore from the mines to be shipped out through Hell's Gates to ports beyond. The township had grown to a population of around 2000 and the townsfolk were about to witness the construction of the finest building on the
West Coast.
A Mansion Most Fine
Following the sale of his Mt Lyell shares in 1897, Frederick Ormiston Henry set about building a fine mansion. A mansion that today is regarded as one of Australia's finest examples of Federation architecture.
Land was selected on the Esplanade at West Strahan that by the turn of the century had established itself as the beach and picnic area for the community. On the 5th of June 1899 F.O. signed a contract with William McDonald, a builder, to build a fine home to the design of architects A & S Luttrell. The contract stated that the completion date was to be the 16th of November 1899 and that the builder was under a penalty of £5.0.0 for every week delay after that date. We believe that no penalty was paid and the house was ready for occupancy by the allocated time.
This fine stately home is virtually the same as when it was built. A sturdy structure of brick which cost the princely sum of £1310.00. In those days a sizeable amount of money and one would think that F.O. had some change left over from the sale of his shares to furnish the
house in grand style.
One visitor remarked that they thought the roofline resembled the Royal Palace of Tonga. Had F.O. been influenced during his time in Fiji by the palace and modelled the tower on the palace in Tonga?
There is no doubt that the Tower and Widows Walk had a practical purpose, that being for F.O. to observe his vessels plying the harbour. The children were only to be accompanied by adults in the early days and it could have been that F.O.'s office was under the tower in the Baltic pine room in the attic. The perfect spot for writing with easy access to the tower, and perchance, a smoke and a pinch of snuff.
The exterior of the house is unique in that there are incorporations of both Victorian and Federation themes. The wrought iron lacework with squared huon pine posts. The straight roofed verandah instead of the colonial bullnose. The
large bay windows, and above, the gables of durable Tasmanian timbers in the design of the rising sun.
The roof was originally galvanized sheet iron, today it is colorbond for practical purposes, but the original appearance of the house has not been changed. Even the colour schemes are as close to the original as we are able to ascertain. Strahan is protected by a Heritage Town
Plan and as such all buildings of an historic nature must represent true heritage colours and themes.