Maintain Taabinga Homestead rather than restore the South Burnett gem

It was placed on the National Estate register in the mid 1960's and it was noted as 'a property important in development of the pastoral industry', and Queensland Heritage Register on October 21 1992.

Present custodians are Colin Marshall and Libby Leu who operate the historical homestead sitting on 40 hectares, as hosted accommodation and group visits by coach companies.

Taabinga Homestead is also a working cattle property running Murray Grey cross cattle turning the progeny off as feeder cattle.

In fact, Libby's mother founded the Taabinga Murray Grey stud, and the cattle are descendants of her original bloodlines.

The couple have infused their Murray Grey breeders with Limousin, Red and black Angus bulls and will now look to crossing back to a Murray Grey bull.

Colin and Libby became the custodians on the death of Libby's mother Gwenyth, and her only daughter, now represents the third generation to live in the homestead.

Accommodation at the Taabinga Homestead are two self-contained cottages set amongst its gardens.

Visitors have a choice of staying in what the hosts call the Singlemen's Quarters or the store which are well appointed cottages with reverse cycle air conditioning, fully equipped kitchens and pleasant living areas.

Other outbuildings include a dairy, blacksmiths and the butcher's shops.

"We really try to maintain the homestead rather than restore it," Libby said.

Libby said her mother strongly believed that Taabinga Homestead is part of the history of the district and that they had some responsibility to allow people to enjoy it.

Both Colin and Libby are making sure that Tabinga remains parts of the district's heritage.

The Haly brothers were the first to explore the country and at the time Taabinga Station was 305 square miles stretching from the Bunya Mountains to near Tingoora.

The brothers ran sheep at the start before the spear grass seed and dingoes forced a change to cattle.

Charles Haly, who was born in Ambois in France, became the sole owner of Taabinga Station in 1859.

He was the first member of the Queensland Parliament for the Burnett district in 1860.

In 1875, the Halys sold Taabinga to the Bell family of Coochin Coochin, Boonah in partnership with Thomas Alford and for the next 12 years ran 7000 cattle and 120 horses.

Libby's grandfather, Arthur Youngman came from South Yarra in Victoria and bought Taabinga in 1887.

By then it was half the size covering 155 square miles, and Mr Youngman set about establishing water supplies, improved pasture, and cleared the timber.

Athur Youngman died in 1935 and his wife Daphne (nee Buchanan) died in 1975.

Their ashes are buried in a small private cemetery near the homestead and along with others share the plot with two small Haly children who died in 1860s.

Libby's mother Gwenyth was the third of Arthur and Daphne Youngman's five daughters and she lived at Taabinga until her death in January 1998.

Gwenyth's first husband died within a year of her marriage in a plane accident while training for the Second World War.

It was during the years that followed that Gwenyth came into her own as manager of Taabinga

She took the reins of the property and managed it through the war years while manpower was scarce, and with regular drovers away she and her sister would spend up to a week at a time droving cattle.

For a while, Gwenyth moved into fat lambs, but again the dingoes proved too much.

So it was back to cattle and crops.

After the war she married Rudolph Leu, and together they bought Taabinga from her mother Daphne.

The couple farmed a highly successful first crop of peanuts.

Before you enter the homestead, a metal plaque detailing the property's ownership takes pride of place.

The homestead has sandstone chimneys and walls and is a single-storey house with two gable-roofed sections, with broken-back extensions.

Together they form a long, rectangular plan shape, the long sides of which are oriented toward the east and west.

This roof bends to meet the wall of the first storey lookout, which nestles under the high ridge of the gable roof.

A narrow corridor and staircase makes where the two building join and leads to another corridor running under the main ridge to the upper storey lookout loft.

The lookout loft was built in a time when aboriginals were feared, although there was never a problem recorded in the district.

Inside, the rooms are on a grand scale with high ceiling, large fireplaces and much of the original furniture.

The formal lounge and dining rooms are divided by folding back cedar dividers.

It can accommodate up to 50 seated when used for a piano concert.

Taabinga Homestead regularly presents music in the music barn or the homestead.

"It is very gracious and practical for entertaining," Libby said.

The summer lounge is furnished with pastel fabrics and has a Crows Ash timber floor.

Libby said the timber was used due to being termite resistant, and had some spring in it which was ideal for dancing.

The kitchen and a second dining room is detached from the main building and is the original slab building complete with shingle roof.

Originally it had two maids rooms and these have since been converted into a station pantry and store room.

The kitchen opens onto a verandah and breezeway with grapevines leading to the main house.

Today, the garden retains the glory of the past era and sits on over two hectares.

Initially it was established by Libby's grandfather who carted 2000 wagon loads of rich soil to establish it.

A Celtis tree takes pride of place and the agapanthus garden beds are in full bloom.

"At the moment the garden is as good as it gets due to the good season after recovering from five years of drought," Libby said.

Adjoining Taabinga Homestead is Taabinga Station which is owned by Libby's younger brother Michael and his partner Melissa Barnett.

They operate the heritage listed Taabinga Station as a working cattle property, vineyard and farm stay.

Nearby Boondooma and Bjelke-Petersen dams provide great fishing and recreation and the Bunya Mountains National Park is another major attraction close to Taabinga Homestead.

Not only do the couple open up their cottages as guest accommodation but they also host morning and afternoon tea coach tours.

Many visitors comment on the traditional and cosy atmosphere, which boasts "relaxing country charm".

Wildlife is also abundant around the grounds.

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