Architectural Characters – Reward – Central Queensland Highlands

Mike Monteagle’s castle, near Reward

Buckingham Palace, near Rubyvale

Billy boulder cookhouse, Sapphire Caravan and Cabin Park

Gloria Saunders’ Black Star House, Rubyvale

Leahy’s homestead, Mt Leura

A miner’s hut, Retreat Creek

Monique Cottage, Rubyvale

In the 1970s, a local character, Jimmy Dunn, used billy boulders to hold down the tin roof of his humble abode. For decades, when used in this manner, billy boulders were referred to as Jimmy Dunn nails.

For the past century, the innovation and creativity of the
Sapphire Gemfields folk have been particularly evident
in their unique architecture. Over time, sapphire miners
have lived in tents, caravans, huts built of tin, recycled
materials, boulders, or an ingenious combination of all
of these items.

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A building material found in abundance is the billy boulder, a quartzite rock which litters the sapphire-bearing wash. You don’t have to travel far to see a billy boulder structure – a house, fence or rainwater
tank. Some more modern examples of billy boulder
constructions can be seen in the Rubyvale town centre.

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Beer and wine bottles are another characteristic of the
region’s architecture; even beer cans have been used
as insulation. Just across from here is the famous
Beer Bottle House built by local character, Ron Pattle.

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Anakie, Sapphire, Rubyvale, Willows Gemfields and their outlying areas such as Reward, Divide and Graves Hill each contain their share of distinctive architecture. Several outstanding examples, which have been heritage listed, can be seen at Tomahawk Creek.

Location

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Welcome to Rubyvale – ///autopilot.assumes.meadow

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Autumn Glory – Reward – ///monitors.tailoring.alternative