The main supports in the shed consist of native pine to which Oregon Bearers have been bolted and walls and roof of galvanised iron affixed. The implements and hand tools are a collection of objects which give a broad picture of the equipment used in the early days of fruit graowing and farming.
Olivewood
The focal point is the original Chaffey homestead built in 1889, using a unique pine log method of construction. The house has been tastefully furnished and decorated with period artefacts. In addition the original fruit packing shed houses a great collection of old style tools and implements as used in the early days of what was the first irrigation settlement in Australia. A comprehensive museum of local memorabilia including aboriginal artefacts is also maintained.
Address:
Twentyfirst Street, Renmark, SA
Tel:
0885866175
Hours:
10am-4pm Thurs-Mon, 2pm-4pm Tues, closed Wed.
Admission:
Adults $4, pensioners and concessions $3.50, children $1, coach parties $3.50 per person
Facilities:
Wheelchair access, Refreshments, Garden weddings, Books, Postcards, Souvenirs.
Collection:
Inside the house, fruit packing shed and separate museum, is a large collection of local items with many photographs that give visitors a very good insight into the early days of the irrigation colony and information about the major events in the progress of the area since then.
Subject:
Items
Fruit Packing Shed
Building with implements and tools
Creator:
Chaffey Bros
Description:
The shed was built for the Chaffey Bros for the packing of fruit produced on the property. It is a timber framed structure utilising both sawn and adzed timber sections, clad with corrugated iron. The design is American or Canadian and the building was probably created between 1890 - 95.
Date:
late 1800 early 1900
Biographical Sketches
Renmark's Pioneer Family (5 volumes)
Creator:
Heather Everingham
Description:
A collection of over 370 biographical sketches of early Renmark families including photographs of individuals, families and headstones.
Date:
1887-1914
Historian Heather Everingham has put together essays on most of the early families who lived in Renmark in the early days of the settlement. The texts are derived from material published in the Murray Pioneer (Renmark) and other material provided by relatives. Photographs of some original homesteads are included.
Building
Olivewood
Creator:
A.F. Matulick
Description:
The original home of Charles Chaffey - one of the founders of the Renmark Irrigation Colony. The Chaffeys were Canadians and the building style reflects American/Canadian architecture. The builder was a local trademan who adapted designs to produce the outer walls from native pine.
Date:
1888-1889
Associated Places: 'Bangalore' Renmark.
Photographic Collection
Reiners' Collection
Creator:
Johan Reiner
Description:
Four thousand black and white prints from original glass negatives depicting early history and progress of Renmark and surrounding areas.
Date:
C1895
Johann Reiners worked in a surveying team in the early days of horticultural development of what is now known as the Riverland. Residing at Renmark he set up a photographic business which lasted for many years and was taken over by his daughter. Reiners was able to capture on film many important events in Riverland history. A collection of his equipment is also on display
Paintings
Needham Watercolours
Creator:
F.M. Needham
Description:
Five water colour paintings created by Mr F.W. Needham showing aspects of life in the early days of the Renmark Irrigation colony. They are some of the earliest known paintings of the Renmark area.
Date:
1887-1889
Item Id Number:
0030 - 0031
Five water colour paintings created by Mr F.W. Needham showing aspects of life in the early ays of the Renmark irrigation colony. Needham was a licensed surveyor and artist. He died in 1910 at the age of 71. He was present during the developmental stages of the first Renmark settlement