The original property had extensive, quality outbuildings, and a good
description of these is gained from the 1868 and 1874 Auction notices (click
here to view), and the 1860 Mortgage document and drawings. The Bank of
Queensland valued the property at 1500 Pounds, including the land cost of
500-600 Pounds.
Originally grain crops and citrus fruit were grown, plus cattle. Later, Booval
was prominent in the Cotton industry which developed during the American War of
Independence. There were other cotton farms nearby, and the first cotton was
exported to England from Booval in 1862. (Our current entry is off Cothill
Road,and Cothill Rd surely is an abbreviation of Cotton Hill Road).
Faircloth, in common with other business people soon after Queensland's
formation, suffered 'financial reverses'. In 1860 h mortgaged the property to
the then Bank of Queensland. Queensland was in depression by 1866. The bank
foreclosed in 1867, and in 1868 sold the remaining 44 acres to William Welsby,
a local builder. (One of his sons was the author Thomas Welsby.)
On Mr Welsby Senior's death in 1873, the property was sold to John Ferrett, a
grazier and MP - it is reported he "lived at Booval in the style of an English
squire". On his death, the property remained passed to his nephew, Harry
Ferrett. We have been able to establish contact with the Faircloth, Wellesby
and Ferrett families.
Gradually the farm was subdivided, and in 1921 Archbishop Duhig bought Booval
House and the remaining 2.5 acres for 900 pounds. The local Catholic church
established a school on the southern half - where the kitchen, laundry, stables
and servant quarters once stood, and the Sisters of Mercy opened St Gabriel's
convent in Booval House on 25th January 1931. In 1969 the local Catholic parish
built a chapel for the Sister's of Mercy. This building is important to the
local community and has been adapted to make it more sympathetic to the
original home. The property returned to private ownership in 1997, and it is
primarily a family home, not a museum.
Back
