Category: Booth Camp

Moray Fields was once home to a rum distillery! Oh and Merry Christmas!

It’s Chriiiiiiiiiistmaaaaas!!! And, if you can spare five minutes from hanging up your stocking on the wall, I’ll tell you the story of when Moray Fields was home to a rum distillery.

Moray Fields

In a previous Blog we introduced George Raff, original owner of the “Moray Fields” site which is now home to North Harbour. Mr Raff was an important person of note in the 1860s European settlement of the Brisbane area (he even served in the first Queensland Parliament) and his Moray Fields estate began life as a cotton plantation before it was converted into a sugar plantation. The sugar plantation was a one stop shop and grew, milled and distilled everything on site, even building their own mill to process cane cut from the plantation’s fields. In 1867 the Moray Fields Mill was described as being:

…situated 200 yards from the river, and close to a large reservoir…a large imposing structure, 120 feet square, 20 feet to the eaves, with a pyramidal roof rather steep, and surmounted on the top with a large and spacious piazza from which a commanding view of the whole plantation is easily obtained.  The distillery is on one side of the building…A railway loads into the mill, to bring cane from the field or take…out of the mill.  A branch line also leads to the wharf upon the banks of the river.

(‘Mr. Raffs’, 1867, The Queenslander 28 September, p. 10)

The Mill was a substantial undertaking. Tonnes of sugar was crushed and processed for shipping and the remainder was used in the onsite distillery. As well as sugar, rum and molasses were also produced at Morayfields. George Raff and his son invested in the latest Shears patented copper equipment for this part of the operation.

The Chief Inspector of Distilleries noted in 1872 that the Morayfields distillery was one of only two in constant operation south of Maryborough. In that 12-month period, 18,644 proof gallons of rum were produced at Morayfields (Brisbane Courier, 1872, Parliamentary Paper. Inspector of Distilleries’ Report, 2 July, p.3). Enough to keep many families in rum for Christmas and New Year celebrations!

Moray Fields

Unfortunately, the plantation didn’t last that long and following the closure of the plantation, in 1891 mill equipment was placed up for sale and removal. The fate of the machinery is unknown, though a small boiler, possibly one used in the mill or distillery, survives on-site today.

So, when you’re enjoying a rum and coke this season – raise a glass to George Raff – founder of Moray Fields. If you’re keen to learn more about the heritage of our Moray Fields district visit our dedicated interactive heritage site, http://morayfield.org/. The site contains historical information including images, stories and accounts from local oral historians.

Moray Fields

Back to the 21st Century and I’d like to introduce our final Display Village builder profile for 2016, Metricon Homes. Metricon has a proud 40 year history of creating innovative, world class homes in Australia and the team is committed to designing homes which offer sophisticated features, open plan spaces and the ultimate in indoor/outdoor living for the Australian family. With Metricon you can truly love where you live. Metricon has four designs available to view at the Display Village North Harbour, The Fortitude 32, The Phoenix 38, The Vantage 45 and The Chelsea 33. To find out more about Metricon at North Harbour click here.

Before I finish off, a reminder that the North Harbour Sales Office will be closed for Christmas from 5pm Wednesday December 21st to 10am, Tuesday January 3rd.

This Blog will return on January 8th 2017 with some tips and tricks for keeping those New Year Resolutions. Please also make a note to “save the date” for Saturday January 14th – we’ll be giving out free ice-cream in the Display Village from 10am-3pm. Next year will be packed with special events so keep an eye on our facebook page.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you in 2017!

North Harbour Sales Office & Display Village (with 35 show homes) will be open seven days a week, 10am-5pm (excluding public holidays) from January 3rd, 2017. For more information regarding available Home and Land packages for sale at North Harbour or to make an appointment to see the beautiful Metricon Display Homes call Aidan on 5433 1111, email .

To keep up to date with the latest news and info, sign up for our email and SMS updates and find us on Facebook.

 

McLachlan Homes and our 12th round of house and land packages!

It’s the final countdown… to 2017! And as 2016 draws to a close and 2017 beckons, we’ll be rounding up our community’s awesome milestones for this year.

McLachlan Homes

 

We began 2016 as a brand-new development, poised to open our first Display Village and welcome our first residents. Twelve months later we’re home to over 100 families with more joining our community every week. We’ve opened our sales office and opened the largest Display Village on the northside with 35 Display Homes (two of which have won major awards). Our local area of Burpengary was even number 7 in the Realestate.com.au Top 10 growth suburbs in Queensland.

Now, not only are we known for offering excellent value home and land packages,we’re also growing a tight-knit, friendly community offering a great place to live for families. We have regular events offering new residents the chance to meet, we’re sponsoring local community events and sports teams, we have running clubs and are soon to host a regular boot camp.

(And moving into a brand-new home just got even easier with the brand-new IKEA opening 10 minutes down the road at North Lakes.)

North Harbour is introducing a new destination into the Moreton Bay Region, one which will take shape over the next 15 years as part of the significant growth projected for the local area. The plan includes heaps of open space, parks, excellent amenities and a strong community focus – we’re building a new suburb for families to enjoy in a great location, halfway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Also in the plan is a marina (subject to government approvals), shops, cafes, restaurants and sports fields. North Harbour will create access to 9km of Caboolture River frontage and 1000 acres of adjoining parkland.

North Harbour boasts the largest area devoted to open space and parks within the northern corridor (the stretch between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast). Extensive bike and walking tracks will give residents options for exercise and fun activities. Proposed playing fields, a sporting complex and a heritage park will complement the water based activities provided by the Caboolture River and Moreton Bay.

The heart of our new community is The Village Park at the end of Moreton Bay Boulevard. The first of the parks to be built in North Harbour, it incorporates two areas of play equipment to suit older children and preschoolers. It is beautifully landscaped with undulating grass mounds which kids love to run up and roll down and sand around the play equipment which keeps them safe from bumps and also provides fun in itself. Handy shelters, drinking fountains (for people and pets) and barbecues complete the Village Park for a morning or afternoon play session or a relaxed family barbecue. It’s large, with 6000sqm of space to have fun, relax and have a chat or coffee catch up with friends.

We’ve shared many excellent community events in the Park from the extravaganza of the Display Village official grand opening to free picnics and movie nights. North Harbour is Home and land Burpengary living at its best and we can’t wait to share more with you next year.

McLachlan Homes

 

We’ve released our 12th round of home and land packages and have sold approximately 350 blocks of land with 100+ families now moved into their new home. 2017 will see our community continue to grow with new houses being completed every week – we will be offering residents increasing local events such as movie nights in the park, more radio live broadcasts, food truck visits and more.

Our Builder focus for this week is the award-winning McLachlan Homes. Their Rosewood Display Home at North Harbour won Best Display over $501,000 at the Master Builders State Awards.

They also won two awards for their display homes at North Harbour in the Brisbane Master Builders Awards. The Rosewood won Best Display Home over $501,000 and The Cashmere won Best Display Home in the $351,000 – $400,000 range. These awards recognise those at the forefront of building innovation and quality craftsmanship, promoting and showcasing excellence in Brisbane’s housing and construction industry. The homes are open to view daily from 10am-5pm.

To view pricing on McLachlan Homes’ Home and Land Packages head to the House and Land Packages page on the North Harbour website. If you’re a First Home Buyer check this page for special offers.

Before I finish off, just a quick heads up, if you’re planning a visit to the Sales Office in the next month, we will be closed for Christmas from Thursday, December 22nd to Tuesday January 3rd.

Christmas gifts

Have a great week, and tune in next week to find out more about the history of North Harbour.

North Harbour Sales Office & Display Village (with 35 show homes) is open seven days a week, 10am-5pm (excluding public holidays). For more information regarding available Home and Land packages for sale at North Harbour or to make an appointment to see the beautiful McLachlan Display Homes call Aidan on 5433 1111 or email .

To keep up to date with the latest news and info, sign up for our email and SMS updates and find us on Facebook.

*Any product pricing and availability referenced in this or other North Harbour articles are accurate at the date of initial publication and are subject to change at any time without notice.  Please contact the North Harbour sales team for further information.