An article from The Dalby Herald, Tuesday September 29, 1981
HISTORY OF OLD ‘CEDARVALE’ IS HISTORY OF THE McCLELLAND
FAMILY
OLD SLAB HUT NOW PRESERVED FOR SECOND TIME
The erection of a pioneer slab cottage at Dandabah Picnic Ground on the Bunya Mountains, preserves
for public inspection, one of the best examples of this type of structure to be found in the Dalby
District.
The building, being 100 years old, has been carefully dismantled and rebuilt as it was originally on
‘Cedarvale,” near Bell. The work was carried out by the members of the Bunya Mountains Natural
History Association and the charming old cottage now stands at the edge of the National Park.
‘The history of “Cedarvale Cottage” is very much the history of the well-known McClelland family of
the Bell district. The McClellands came to Australia from County Down in Northern Ireland in 1866
and like so many of that time went to work on Jimbour Station.
Arriving here aboard the sailing ship ‘Flying Cloud,” John and Elizabeth brought with them their four
children, John, William, Henry and Anna.. John was the eldest at 16 and William was 14 years old.
Selection
Later, when land was thrown
open for selection, the family
moved to Spring Flat about 10
km north-west of Bell and took
up the property “Belmont.”
William selected Por. 304 in
1874 and this block of 840
acres became the
original,
“Cedarvale.”
In December, 1879, a land
ranger’s report stated William
had on his property a hut
valued at £6, 1 ¾, miles of
three wire fence, one mile of
two rail fence, sheep yards and
a well 50 feet deep.
The pioneers of Cedarvale Homestead Mr W.A. McClelland and
Mrs M.J. McClelland
His residence was two miles from the selection.
In the meantime, William had married Miss Margaret Lynagh in about 1876. At this time he was 24
years old and she was 21.
But joy and sadness was the lot of the young selector as in the next year his son William was born but
the event took the life of his young wife.
Of the original family of John and Elizabeth, Henry married and lived much of his life in the Chinchilla
district and Anna who remained single spent her latter years in that district also.
John remained at ‘Belmont’ which adjoins “Cedarvale” and his grandson John (Jack) still resides on
the property. As he also has a son John, this completes a line of five generations, each named John and
all having lived on “Belmont.”
William Alexander McClelland remarried in 1879 and his wife, the former Maria Jane King who was
only 19 years old, rode out with her husband to “Cedarvale” to live with him and his step-son.
Eight more children were born to William and Maria and the only one still living is Mrs. Christina
Philp of Mylo Home, Toowoomba. Until three years ago she spent most of her life at Dalby.
Early in the 1880’s, William commissioned the brothers of his former wife to build a homestead on
“Cedarvale.’ Many members of the Lynagh family were carpenters and Mr. “Possie” Lynagh of Bell
still follows the trade. Their skill with bush timbers can be readily noticed in the old cottage.
Pine used
Cypress pine from the foothills of the Bunya Mountains was used. Boards were milled for lining and
ceiling but he exterior walls were slabs with one side sawn and hand planned and the other side was left
in the round original state.
Imported corrugated iron bearing the trade- mark “Gospel Oak” was used on the roof and after a
century shows little deterioration.
PROGRAM OF REBUILDING
A rebuilding programme of additions marked the life of the old cottage.
A kitchen, with walk- way, was added to the back. In 1980 it was described as, "a four roomed
verandah cottage, sawn timber, iron roof. Also detached kitchen. Value £150. Fruit and flower gardens
. . ." Later the four roomed cottage was lengthened and another kitchen built to replace the one burnt
down.
The McClellands remained firm friends with the Bells of "Jimbour" and Alex Philp, a grand- son of
William, is the owner of an inscribed silver tray awarded to the family.
Joshua Thomas Bell also gave the McClellands a large photograph of himself which for many years
hung above the door at 'Cedarvale.' On either side was one of, William and Maria.
Twins born
Meanwhile their family were born and raised on “Cedarvale.” They were: Alexander (1880), Elizabeth
(1882), Andrew (1884), Violet (1886), Thomas (1888), Jim (1891) and the twins Harry and
Christina (1893) who were actually born in “Cedarvale” homestead.
William’s parents were both buried in the Jimbour cemetery as was his first wife. Elizabeth died in
1876 and John in 1899.
The running of the property fully passed to Harry at the death of his father in 1928 and nine years later
on the death of his mother, he inherited it.
William and Maria were both buried in the Bell cemetery. Harry and his wife Catherine (Cassie)
continued to work the property until 1950 when it was sold to Gordon Sorley who today, at the age of
92, is living at Sandgate.
‘Cassie” McClelland (nee Helion) was a descendant of the famous Durack family. Her grandfather was
Michael (Stumpy) Durack, younger brother of well known Patsy of “Kings in Grass Castles” fame.
Gordon and Ann Sorley and their family lived in the old “Cedarvale” homestead for three years until a
new home was built on the property. It’s interesting to note that again the Lynagh brothers built the
new home. However these were nephews of the original builders. From that time on the old building
was used mainly for storage.
Cottage offered
In 1958, Gordon Sorley’s son Jim acquired the property. Four years ago Jim and Jean Sorley offered
the old homestead to the Bunya Mountains N. H. A.
The offer was accepted and the structure was carefully dismantled by members in 1980. A site against
the Dandabah Picnic Ground was provided to the association by Mrs. Helen Stirling and “Cedarvale”
was carefully erected almost exactly as it had been.
All the building was painted windows restored and a fence erected around it. With a complete facelift
but still retaining its character “Cedarvale Cottage” is set to continue through its second century.
A picture of the old cottage taken before it was moved to its new site on the Bunya Mountains. Rich
in history of the area, the cottage will have a permanent place. This will provide a great deal of
interest and enjoyment to visitors and residents.