I’ve become a bit of a high tea ‘junkie’ lately. There’s something about a substantial morning tea that carries you into lunch and I always feel a little bit special when enjoying high tea. A recent high tea at the Wolston Farmhouse with my girlfriend was just what I needed for a special day out.
The Tea Terrace Cafe is the recently appointed cafe situated at the rear of the Wolston Farmhouse property, with the National Trust of Australia since 1963. The 19th century farmhouse is the only remaining farmhouse in the area and has lovingly been restored to it’s former glory for an insight into how families lived back in those olden days.
Included in the price of our high tea was a National Trust magazine plus a self guided tour through the farmhouse which felt like I was walking back in time into my Nanna’s house. Constructed in 1852 by Dr Stephen Simpson, it was taken over by Matthew Goggs in 1860 who raised his family of 9 children there. The house doesn’t have all of those bedrooms still standing but it gives an accurate picture of what life was like at the time.
High tea isn’t as traditional as it’s meant to be anymore. It can be had in the morning or afternoon and usually consists of a scone with jam and cream, mini cakes and sweet treats, sandwiches with various fillings and/or savoury pastries of some description. We weren’t disappointed with the offering at Wolston Farmhouse. There was a real old fashioned feel about the presentation and ambience with embroidered tablecloths, mismatched china crockery and the traditional high tea tower with everything presented so beautifully.
Everything is made in-house by the resident chef and you could tell is was homemade by the taste and not mass produced. Included in our high tea were finger sandwiches of various cold meats, salad greens and spread with homemade bush tomato and beetroot relishes. The sweet treats on offer were the “Grindle” Orange Cake (a miniature homemade orange cupcake), a vanilla slice, chocolate mudcake and custard filled profiterole. A homemade country style sausage roll was also served as well as a traditional plain scone with homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream.
You have a wide range of potted teas to choose from plus bottomless filtered coffee as well as a cold option of old fashioned Crows Nest Cola which is served in a jug with ice and glasses with paper straws. A real treat. There are other menu options which, from what we saw, looked just as delicious as the high tea.
While sitting on the wide veranda on what turned out to be the most glorious Spring day, you can’t help but think of the great memories the children would’ve had climbing the large trees on the property, running through the property but probably working hard on the farm and doing their chores.
The formal living room.
Piano for family entertainment in the main living room.
When the sewing machine in the living room was an attractive piece of furniture.
Homemade crafts adorned the home not cheap imports cluttering every space.
The less formal sitting room.
The main bedroom.
Family photos and functional pieces feature on top of the chest of drawers.
Baby’s cot in the main bedroom.
Wash stand in the main bedroom. No ensuites back in those days.
Glorious sideboard in the formal dining room.
Table set for a formal Sunday lunch.
Fireplace in the formal dining room.
Baby’s high chair in the kitchen.
Not sure if that gun on the wall in the kitchen was for cattle rustlers or kids with hungry bellies.
My girlfriend and I were swooning at the amazing old vintage finds in the working kitchen. We’re not sure if the ‘lady’ of the house would’ve been cooking for her large family or if they would’ve had ‘help’ but when you compare it to the mod cons we have in our homes now, you can only imagine that everything prepared would’ve been simple, delicious and plenty of it. Just like the memories I have my grandmother and her extended family.
The laundry looks like it would’ve got a good work out too. The old boiler, washboards, wringer and heavy irons gave us an insight into how hard washing days must’ve been but I’m sure the whites would’ve been whiter than white. (I can remember Mum having an old copper which she had when they first bought their house. She used an electric wringer machine for many years before upgrading to a twin tub which she used up until the day she died and my sister still uses it.)
The Wolston Farmhouse is situated in Wacol, southwest of Brisbane. They have programs for school children and are looking at improving their information centre for visitors and the volunteers who do so well to keep the property in pristine condition.
DETAILS
ADDRESS:
223 Grindle Road
Wacol 4076 QLD
OPEN:
Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Lunch 10am to 2pm
High Tea 10am to 1:30pm (bookings essential)
Closed on Public Holidays
PHONE: 07 3088 8133
EMAIL: wolston.house@nationaltrustqld.org
ENTRY FEES:
National Trust members – Free
Adult – $10.00
Concession – $7.00
Children – $5.50
For Groups of 10+ please contact
