European Cultural Heritage
Chapter 16
European Cultural Heritage
DRAFT
16.0
European Cultural Heritage
16.1
Introduction and Approach
The Corridor of Interest includes part of the Ipswich City and Scenic Rim Regional Councils (formerly
including Boonah and Beaudesert Shires) and stretches from the towns of Rosewood and Lanefield in
the north-west to the town of Woodhill in the south-east. Since European settlement the study area
has been primarily used for agricultural purposes with sporadic, small urban settlements that have
historically provided community services, supply points, and access to transport links for the
surrounding rural hinterland.
As part of investigation into the European cultural heritage values in and around the Corridor of
Interest, this report investigated any impacts that may arise as either a direct or indirect result of the
construction of the SFRC. The assessment analyses the existing environment within the Corridor of
Interest and then considers the potential impacts of the preferred alignment. The methodology for all
of these reports consisted of archival, library, and field research accompanied by a consideration of
the environmental setting and heritage character of the study area.
Searches were conducted of Federal and State Heritage Registers and the relevant planning
schemes. Twenty-eight places of heritage significance were identified.
Technical Paper 10 – European Cultural Heritage and its accompanying appendices provides a
contextual history, documentation of the heritage places, an assessment of the potential impact of the
SFRC on these places and the surrounding environment, and advice on mitigation measures and
protocols.
16.1.1
Applicable Legislation
To comply with the ToR for this project reference was made to the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), the Heritage Act 1992 (Qld), the 2006 Consolidated
Ipswich Planning Scheme, the Planning Scheme for Beaudesert Shire, and the Boonah Shire
Planning Scheme.
16.2
Description of Environmental Values
16.2.1
Summary of Contextual History
To provide a context for the European Historical Heritage places located in the study area the
European Contextual History report was completed as part of the investigative technique.
The majority of the proposed Corridor of Interest falls within the bounds of the current Ipswich City
Council and the rest of the alignment traverses the Scenic Rim Regional Council (formerly including
parts of the Boonah and Beaudesert Shires). The first Europeans to enter this area were explorers
Patrick Logan and Alan Cunningham during the 1820s and although the area promised rich
agricultural returns, initial settlement was retarded by its geographic isolation and restrictions on free
settlement.
After the separation of the colony of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859, steps were taken to
encourage closer settlement and population growth and portions of the large pastoral runs in the study
area were resumed and leased as smaller properties.
In the early years of the twentieth century coal mining developed into an important industry in and
around Rosewood and helped boost the town’s urbanisation and growth while the town of Woodhill
surpassed Veresdale to become the largest and most important town in northern Beaudesert Region.
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During the second half of the twentieth century the locales and communities in the study area faced a
number of challenges. Coal mining in the area reduced significantly as demand fell and reserves in
other parts of the state were more effectively utilised while small scale dairy farming’s economic
viability affected settlement patters. Today much of the region remains epitomised by rural settlement
patterns with a number of small towns continuing to act as centres of business and community activity
for the surrounding hinterland.
16.2.2
European Cultural Heritage
The evidence gathered for the European Cultural History report showed the resulting cultural
landscape owes much to the historical experiences of the area as a whole and to the specific histories
of the localities and regions within the study area. Subtle differences in the history of the various
places in the study area see the identification of following five discernible districts (see Map 10.2):
•
The Rosewood district;
•
Ebenezer, Mount Forbes, and Mutdapilly;
•
The former Deebing Creek and Purga Aboriginal Mission;
•
The Peak Crossing district; and
•
The Woodhill district.
16.2.3
Register Searches
A search of Federal, State, and Local Heritage registers was completed to identify places of Historic
Heritage in the study area. A total of twenty-eight places were identified (see Map 10.2). It is important
to note that the former Boonah Shire council did not list Historical Heritage places under its local plan
relying instead on the State Register.
Following this register search five places were identified to be within the Corridor of Interest (see Map
10.4):
•
326 Mount Forbes Road, Ebenezer;
•
Lot 1 Middle Road, Purga;
•
1137 Ipswich-Boonah Road, Peak Crossing;
•
‘Rockton’, 1166 Ipswich-Boonah Road, Peak Crossing; and
•
Undullah Station Homestead, Undullah Road, Undullah (see Figure 41).
Figure 41 Undullah Station Homestead
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16.3
Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures
This section identifies the potential adverse impacts of the preferred alignment, both directly and
indirectly, on heritage items located with the Corridor of Interest
16.3.1
Heritage Places Directly Impacted Upon by the Corridor
No places listed as culturally significant on the Federal or Queensland registers will be indirectly
impacted by the construction of the SFRC due to their relative remoteness from the preferred
alignment.
Of the five identified places of heritage significance within the Corridor of Interest, only one will be
adversely impacted by the preferred alignment. Undullah Station Homestead, Undullah Road,
Undullah is located 80 metres from the preferred alignment and specialist studies into potential noise
impacts (see Technical Paper 8 – Noise and Vibration) indicate the operation of the SFRC will result in
unacceptable noise levels.
The recommended mitigation measures for this place are:
•
Consultation with Scenic Rim Regional Council;
•
Consultation with owners; and
•
Re-location of the house.
16.3.2
Heritage Places of Possible Indirect Impact by the Corridor
While there are a number of other Historical Heritage places in proximity to the SFRC but not within
the Corridor of Interest, none of these will require relocation or significant alterations as a result of the
construction of the SFRC.
16.3.3
Potential Impacts on Identified Districts
The SFRC has the potential to impact on the character and significance of the distinct districts
identified as a part of this. Each of these districts has acquired a unique cultural significance as a
result of its unique historical development. It is recommended that records of all heritage places be
made, the area’s history be recorded and where possible be made publically available.
16.3.4
Recommendations
A detailed Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the proposed construction phase of the project
should be developed. The CMP will aim to provide instructions to contractors and proponents of the
project on obligations and duty of care in relation to protecting matters of European Cultural Heritage
along the SFRC. Additionally it should include a place specific CMP for Undullah Homestead,
Undullah as it will be directly impacted by the preferred alignment.
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16.4
Conclusion
This assessment identified a number of potential impacts on cultural heritage caused by the
construction and operation of the SFRC. Of these, Undullah Homestead will be directly impacted by
noise and vibration caused by the construction of the SFRC making it uninhabitable and necessitating
its relocation. It is recommended a CMP be devised for this place that will limit the diminution of its
cultural significance.
Although no other places of cultural heritage will be directly impacted there are a number of potential
indirect impacts on heritage places, character precincts, and the environmental setting. These
potential impacts include the introduction of new environmental elements such as noise, altered visual
aspects, changes in air quality, and alterations to land use patterns in the area as a result of the
SFRC.
After the implementation of these mitigation measures there remain potential impacts on the cultural
significance of the heritage places and precincts in the study area. The impact of these changes is
manageable.
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