Macpherson Homestead

The heritage listed Macpherson Homestead was one of the first buildings in the Carnamah district. Following restoration the homestead is standing strong over 135 years after its construction.

The homestead is situated one kilometre east of the Carnamah townsite and is accessible via a sign-posted driveway on the north side of the Carnamah-Bunjil Road. The homestead and its grounds can be visited at anytime. If you would like to look inside the homestead please make prior arrangements by telephone with George on 08 9951 1690, or Jill on 08 9951 1575 or 0458 576 758.

See our Virtual Museum for more on the Macpherson Family.





History of the Macpherson Homestead

The homestead was built as the home of Duncan and Mary Macpherson who settled in Carnamah in 1868. The Macpherson's established a pastoral station named Carnamah, and during their 70-year residence the dwelling  was known as Carnamah House.

The northern telegraph line to Champion Bay (Geraldton) was deliberately built past the homestead as it was the only permanent residence in the district. The last link that joined up the completed telegraph line was connected at or near the homestead on 5 June 1874. A telegraph office was run from an outbuilding by Duncan’s daughter Bessie for the first two months after which it was operated by his younger daughter Maggie for almost 40 years.

Following the deaths of Mary and Duncan Macpherson their unmarried children George, Maggie, Donald and Bessie lived out the rest of their lives at the homestead. Following Bessie's death in 1939 their grandnephew Malcolm J. C. Macpherson inherited the homestead, which he leased and later sold to local farmer George S. Ferguson.

Over the years the homestead changed hands, became unoccupied and began to rapidly deteriorate. Between 1979 and 2004 the Carnamah Apex Club, Carnamah Restoration Society and the Carnamah Historical Society restored the homestead with locally raised funds and grants from Lotterywest. In 1981 local farmers Glendon H. and Jennifer M. A. Lane donated the homestead and a parcel of surrounding land to the Shire of Carnamah.

For a number of years the partially restored homestead was used by the Carnamah Brownies who met there each week. Following the conclusion of restoration works in 2004 the homestead was furnished with donated items. Ian M. Macpherson, eldest son of Malcolm J. C. Macpherson, officially opened the homestead on 23 October 2004.

The Heritage Council of Western Australia assessed the homestead as having “particular structural interest, with its high walls and steeply pitched roof and bush rafters.” The homestead is a permanent entry on the Heritage Council’s State Register of Heritage Places.


See our Virtual Museum for more on the Macpherson Family or read their entries in the Carnamah-Winchester Database.

The stonework lining the sides of our website comes from the kitchen wall of the Macpherson Homstead.