Westerman’s Hut
Known as Westermans Homestead, Lons Vale Hut
GPS:
Location
Westermans is located 3 kilometres over a rise, on the path immediately adjacent to the ACT border with NSW. The start is marked by a metal stile over the fence. The grid reference is 778 266 on the Tantangara 1:100,000 map.
Construction
Westermans is a substantial dwelling of five rooms, now beautifully restored by Maurie Sexton and many friends. It is renowned for its scalloped bargeboards, and solid stone chimneys.
Brief History
This is a homestead, built in 1916 by Bruce Jeffery for grazing. It was originally occupied by Selena Westerman and Bruce Jeffrey, and later by Selena's parents, Thomas and Mary Westerman. It replaced a small mud brick house with a shingle roof, which was placed about 50 m to the south and a second house immediately behind this one. The ruins remain visible.
A Westerman baby and adult daughter are buried nearby in a visible grave, up the hill from the house.
In the late 1990s, a team of KHA volunteers, led by Maurie Sexton, spent many hundreds of hours restoring the homestead to its original form. Mr Sexton received a well earnt award from the ACT Heritage Commission, for this restoration and that of Brayshaws.
The picture above was taken before the renovation in 1991.
Caretakers - KHA
References
M Sexton - pers comm.
Matthew Higgins - pers comm.