Yambacoona House is a significant historical homestead in the Federation style and dates back to the early settlement days of King Island.
It has been undergoing significant renovations to restore this grand house to its former self.
Last weekend islanders were invited to visit the property and be part of “the reveal”.
The property will feature in the Restoration Australia television and streaming program to be broadcast mid-2024.
Yambacoona is a small settlement on King Island about 30 kilometres north of Currie. Yambacoona House, built in 1902 sits on 6.8ha of picturesque countryside.
Visitors to King Island will be able to stay at the house and experience its history and the grandeur of a time gone by and immerse themselves in the King Island historical setting.
Yambacoona House is the legacy of cattle kings. It was built by the original cattle baron of the north, Francis Stephenson who commissioned Yambacoona House and who was in partnership with Gunn of Launceston.
Between 1916 and 1919 Yambacoona Estate was owned in partnership by the ultimate Australian cattle lord Sydney Kidman, who was seeking southern, high-rainfall cattle country. It was partitioned by the government to settle returned soldiers after World War I.
The settlement’s name is most likely taken from a ship, the Yambacoona, which was owned by the firm of Stephenson and Gunn.
The owner and the restoration driver is Gordon McKenzie and his family.
“I’m a born and bred King Island person, we lived just up the road at Egg Lagoon,” he said.
“My family first came to King Island around 1910, making me fourth generation KI.
“I dreamt that one day I could do something with the property. And then it was available.”
The restoration has taken more than two years and has involved local trades, spare hands, tradespeople from New Zealand (where Gordon and family currently live), Tasmanian and mainlanders.
It has involved camping, hiring, borrowing and ingenuity when supplies have required importation to the island.
Some interesting items have been found as works have gone on and give a glimpse of times gone by.
A postcard from 1898, tarot cards and instructions dated around 1900, and stamps were found behind a fireplace mantle. An interesting find was a handwritten potato yeast recipe written on a wall.
Restoration Australia followed and filmed the restoration progress and Corey and Sarah Brazendale, owners of the King Island Brewhouse, created a beer using the yeast recipe to create a Yambacoona beer which was enjoyed by Mr McKenzie and the TV program’s presenter to celebrate the reveal.
There are plans around the gardens and more.
“I’ve bought the Yambacoona church with partners and this will be the next restoration project while Yambacoona House beds down,” Mr McKenzie said.
“We hope to establish a small accommodation village on the church site while ensuring we keep the authenticity of the church, which my grandmother Winsome was a founding and lifelong member.
“So, a special building as well. I’m really looking forward to what we can do to bring the north/ Yambacoona back to life with people.
“I’m also hoping to one day buy the hall and have that as a reception venue/bar-cafe.
“I think the three buildings working together would make a great place for visitors and King Islanders alike,” Mr McKenzie said.