FORMER GILBERT HOUSE

The site was first sold in the 1850s Bulla land sales and was purchased by W.J. Gilbert in 1853. As Gilbert was a resident of Bulla and the local pound-keeper in the 1850s, it appears that he built a house on this property and lived in it from c.1853. A 1901 historical photograph of the Bulla township shows what is most likely the house built at 176 Bulla Road as a weatherboard house with a single gabled roof.  

 

An early 20th century timber weatherboard house presently occupies the property with several timber outbuildings and some lawn and garden beds and a gravel driveway at the west side. In the grassed front yard is a domed brick cistern in an excellent state of preservation. Below the existing timber house, the remains of basalt rubble wall footings or a bluestone base are visible and there are dressed and cut bluestone blocks used as garden edgings around the property. The presence of the domed cistern and the basalt fieldstone footings /base underneath the existing timber house, suggest that the current house is a later replacement of the original house. The intact and well-preserved cistern may have artefact-bearing deposits from the early occupants.  

The site is of local historical and archaeological significance. 

The site is of historical significance as an early residence of Bulla township that is not a farmhouse or homestead and was the residence of one of the early settlers who 

was also the pound-keeper.