Winner

Kilburnie Homestead, Jambin
Open Days

Kilburnie Homestead is located at Jambin in central Queensland. Completed in 1903, the Homestead and outbuildings were entered on the State Heritage Register in 1992. The Homestead is now occupied by the fifth generation of the family who decided to open to the public on a regular basis in 2017. The success of their first open day, which attracted over 250 visitors and raised $1,300 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, encouraged Fiona Hayward, her family and volunteers to open the homestead on a monthly basis. 

To her credit, Fiona Hayward recognised that it was necessary to gain further understanding of documenting and caring for the family collection and was successful in receiving funding for workshops delivered by the Queensland Museum Network’s Museum Development Officer program on cataloguing, object handling, basic conservation practices, and digitisation.

As a result, Fiona has not only achieved significantly improved collections care but also a professional and well-presented experience for visitors.

The land on which Kilburnie Homestead stands was first selected by John Campbell in 1883. As Kilburnie is still a working cattle property, the open days allow visitors to engage more extensively with over 130 years of uninterrupted grazing heritage. The family’s collection contains photographs, books, artworks, textiles, clothing, domestic items, farm equipment, as well as significant collections from the family’s participation in the First and Second World Wars.

In recent times the open days have been expanded to include opportunities for bush camping at the property’s dam, and there are future plans to include displays of heritage trades, making use of the property’s blacksmith workshop.