The death of Noosa and Tewantin identity Dawn Farbach last month signals the end of an era for the Noosa North Shore’s most gracious and historic surviving home, the River House.
As the owner of River House for more than half a century, and a long-term North Shore resident, Dawn’s passing closes the page on the most recent chapter in the intriguing history of the property whose previous owners include Noosa Shire’s first chairman, James Duke, and long-serving MP Harry Walker.
Dawn and her late husband Rick bought the River House in 1967 as a holiday house for their young family. They would travel up from Brisbane each school holiday to enjoy fishing and sailing on the beautiful Noosa River. Prior to purchasing the house they owned another block further up the river where the family camped. Outside the holidays the house was rented for a number of years to a group of American hippies who would move out of the house when the family were there.
Dawn and Rick retired to the River House in 1980. Rick, a well-known Brisbane jazz musician and also musical director of all three Brisbane television stations, hosted many family gatherings and parties over the years, with Rick and Dawn’s muso friends often landing at the River House with instruments in hand.
Apart from opening the verandahs that had been enclosed by a previous owner, and adding iron lattice work, the house has been maintained in its original condition over the Farbach tenure. Nestled amongst modern homes, the River House harks back to a less frenetic time on the Noosa River. Over the years Dawn filled the house with an eclectic collection of curios, knick-knacks and memorabilia, and took much pleasure in ringing a ship’s bell and waving as boats passed.
The original Crown Land grant for 80 acres on the Noosa North Shore was made to Robert Dath in 1882 and was the site of the Dath Henderson and Co timber mill until it closed in 1892.
James Duke, the Father of Cooroy, was asked to care take of the mill site after the closure, and lived there in the mill manager’s house before purchasing the land in 1901. Duke built the River House in 1913 as a residence for his family.
When ill health forced him to move over the river to Tewantin, the property was sold to Rosanna Walker, wife of Harry Walker MP. Harry Walker was a member of the Queensland parliament for more than 40 years, representing the electorates of Wide Bay and Cooroora. Throughout his career he was a member of six political parties. A portrait of Harry still hangs on a wall at the River House, amongst Farbach memorabilia.
Rosanna Walker subdivided the land in 1928 and the blocks along the river were progressively sold off. Following Harry’s death in 1950, she sold the River House block to Joseph Miller in 1951. He then subdivided the block into two lots and sold the house to Rick and Dawn in 1967.
The historic photos that adorn the walls of the Royal Mail Hotel at Tewantin tell the colourful tale of timber getters of the day. The River House is part of that story.
Vale Dawn Farbach. The story of the River House begins a new chapter.
Pia Harrison on behalf of the Farbach family.
