Burnie Brae
This area was home to the Turrbal aboriginal people for thousands of years. They would have wandered the bush (that is now houses, apartments, and shopping centres) in search of food, medicines, and other provisions essential for living. They had a deep respect for the land, and the plants and animals that inhabited it, and only took what they needed. We could learn much from them today.
In 1870, this site was then established as the homestead named 'Burnie Brae' by Scottish immigrant, Andrew Hamilton, who was a member of one of the first European families to settle in the area in the 1860's.
Andrew, who ran a successful coach-building and blacksmithing business on Gympie Road, may have named the homestead after a town in central Scotland called ‘Burnie Brae'. It is located near the community of Airdrie, where the Hamilton family were leaders in the local community.
He may have wanting a lasting reminder of his Scottish homeland so far away; or perhaps he just liked the phrase: it's certainly one used in many traditional Scottish songs and poems dating back as far as the 16th century.
(Adapted from a speech by the Governor of Queensland, Penelope Wensley, at the 25th anniversary of the Bernie Brae Centre: 18 March 2009.)
The Original Homestead:
Burnie Brae was built from local timber pit-sawn on site and logs of cedar bought from passing bullock wagons. The roof was shingles, the outside walls were drop slab with wide slabs dressed as chamfer boards dropped between 100mm X 100mm studs. The photo was taken in 1903 and shows son Hugh on the pony, Thomas, grandmother Margaret and daughter Margaret with the cow.
Cache Details:
You are looking for a medium sized, screw top container with a log, pen, pencil, sharpener, and some knick-knacks. Please do not remove the cache, just unscrew the top. Lots of muggles here sometimes, so you might need to keep an eye out for curious onlookers.