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Conserving our cultural heritage

The farms at Tocal show evidence of human occupation over the last 40,000 years. The strongest imprint was made in the lst 200 years, but there still signs of ealier land use. The College values these and will seek to preserve this heritage.

There are a number of significant buildings on the property, including two homestead complexes at Tocal and Bona Vista. The Burra Charter sets out principles and practices in the presevation of these areas. The College must abide by the Charter in the homestad areas. Its philosophy shoud be applied to the whole proerty whereever possible in order to preserve the heritage setting that gives the homesteads the 'place'.

Significant sites of Aboriginal and European history will be recorded and conserved.
Significant sites of agricultural history will be conserved and interpreted.

Check the current status of work towards this policy.

Map of the cultural heritage sites on Tocal

The following cultural and agricultural heritage sites will be conserved:

Vineyard contours in Line paddock. These face the treat of being ploughed or cultivated out. View image
Convict quarry. This area in Quarry paddock and also on the Dairy must only be investigated or disturbed by qualified archaeologists. View image
Opits. This is an observation bunker from a World War II practice firing range and is located in Heifer paddock. The structure and the associated piles of stone rubble and remnants of fencing should be left intact. Strewn rocks, shrapnel scarring on trees and logs associated with the firing range should be left as reminders of this era. View image
Gateway remnants at the back of Bona Vista. It appears that there was once a track or road through Bowkers paddock at Bona Vista. The remains of a gateway still exist.
Railway fill dam in Bowkers paddock. When the railway was built in 1911, a dam was constructed with fill from the railway at the back of Bona Vita. As the fill contained a quanitity of shattered rock, the dam has never held water. It is an interesting educational example and a remnant of the impact of European transport on the landscape.
Kidd's house site. The Kidd family house in Dam paddock is marked by some bricks and the remnants of a fireplace. This area is now signposted. View image
Bungalow ruins. These are on the College dairy. The house was destoyed by fire in 1944. The ruins are a stark reminder of the enormous impact of bushfire on the past owners of Tocal. View image
Bridge remnants in Webbers Flat. This timber bridge was probably built in the 1820s and led to the main former sandstone-abutted bridge behind the Homestead. View image
Convict built bridge remnants. The sandstone abutments of a bridge built by convicts on the 1820s. The abutments remain on the banks of Webbers Creek and are signposted and interpreted. View image
Sheep wash. The sheep washing site built for Tocal in the 1820s is located on the northern bank of Webbers Creek in Webbers Flat paddock. View image
Aboriginal grooves. Exposed rocks on the southern side of the Homestad lagoon, on the Homestead knoll, on Webbers Creek near the pump sites, and on the dairy all contain Aboriginal grinding grooves and must be preserved. View image
The pump site at the Homestead. This site contains examples of several eras of lifting water mechanically to the Homestead from Webbers Creek. Interpretive signs tell the story. View image
Former farm building sites. These sites should be left intact. Examples include Dunnings Hill piggery, Godwin's dairy in Gardiners paddock, Glendarra outbuildings and Clements farm.
Rainforest remnants. Small remnants of dry and riparian rainforest persist at Tocal. These will be preserved, protected and where feasible, regenerated and extended. View image
Webbers Creek crossing. This pre-1840s crossing is in Hedges paddock and is marked by remnants of a former building and an old pepper-corn tree. It has been signposted.
Fishponds. In 1874 a headless body was found in the fishponds on Webbers Creek. The 'Tocal murder' as it became known was never solved and is recounted in the book Crimes of Passion on the Tocal Run by David Brouwer (available on the CB Alexander Foundation website (www.tocal.com)). View image
Racecourse lagoon. Racecourse lagoon is behind the Homestead. The wetlands surrounding the lagoon are part of an ongong revegetation program and are interpreted as part of the wetlands drive. View image