Some history
Dave and
Dorothy Gordon named this cottage after Harry Gordon, Laird of Avochie.
According to Dave, this forebear commanded a regiment of Gordons at the
Battle of Culloden in 1746. After the overthrow of Bonnie Prince Charlie,
the Laird and his men defended the rearguard and were responsible for
holding up the British cavalry to allow Bonnie Prince Charlie’s supporters
to escape into the hills.
Avochie
Cottage was one of six cottages originally built for workers’ accommodation
at Myall Park. It was constructed in the early 1950’s for the station
overseer and family. When economic circumstances could no longer sustain the
large work force, Avochie was sometimes used to accommodate Dave and Dorothy
Gordon’s visitors to the garden.
In 1988
Avochie was used by the Glenmorgan Art Group who, carefully coached by Dave
in the names of spectacular flora used as their subject matter, were among
the first “official” Open Day guides a few weeks after this visit.
Until the
gallery opened in 1995, Avochie was used both for visitor accommodation and
as the Visitor Centre. Renovations were begun as part of a work programme
for a team of workers from the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers
in 1991 who sanded and painted much of the exterior of the cottage. The
lion’s share of renovations was carried out by Directors, Friends and
community volunteers who have lavished much TLC on the cottage to restore it
to its present condition.
The handsome
rock-walled garden in front of the cottage was built by members of the
Chinchilla Field Naturalists’ Club on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in 1992.
Help has been
received from many other sources along the way, including the Gaming
Machines Community Benefit Fund. Improvements are ongoing, with a list of
priorities progressively addressed as funds permit.
The large
poster in the living room was created by members of the then Myall Park
Botanic Garden Committee for Dave Gordon to take to the Botanic Garden
Conservation Secretariat on Reunion Island (near Madagascar) in 1989.
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