Mount Abundance Homestead
| Mount Abundance Homestead | |
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Mount Abundance Homestead today
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| Location | Warrego Highway, Bungeworgorai, Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 26°35′32″S 148°41′47″E / 26.5921°S 148.6965°ECoordinates: 26°35′32″S 148°41′47″E / 26.5921°S 148.6965°E |
| Design period | 1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | c. 1860 - 1923 |
| Official name: Mount Abundance Homestead | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600371 |
| Significant period | 1860s (historical) 1860s-1880s (fabric) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, kitchen/kitchen house, causeway/ford, gate/s |
 Location of Mount Abundance Homestead in Queensland
Location of Mount Abundance Homestead in Queensland
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Mount Abundance Homestead is a heritage-listed homestead on the Warrego Highway, Bungeworgorai near Roma, Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1860 to 1923. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
This single storeyed timber homestead was built c. 1860 for Stephen Spencer, a squatter from New South Wales who arrived in Queensland in 1857.
The Mount Abundance run was taken up in 1847 by Allan MacPherson, a young squatter from New South Wales. MacPherson had come to Queensland seeking new pastures, and had followed the route of Sir Thomas Mitchell into the Mount Abundance area. Mitchell had named Mount Abundance in 1846 during his expedition to find a route from New South Wales to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Following constant conflicts with local Aboriginies, MacPherson decided Mount Abundance was a dangerous place and in late 1849, MacPherson withdrew his sheep from Mount Abundance, leaving it as a cattle station, and returned to England. In 1856 MacPherson briefly visited Australia at which time he disposed of his pastoral interests, including the sale of Mount Abundance to Stephen Spencer.
Spencer and his family are considered to have been the first European family to settle in the area. It is recorded that when they arrived at the station, it was found to be run down, and the buildings damaged by fire. Rough huts provided temporary quarters until Spencer built a new homestead, and Mount Abundance station is described as the focal point for the district during this period. Spencer ran a supply store, and the station formed a depot for European explorers heading into the western districts. A post office was opened at the homestead in September 1861. Augustus Charles Gregory arrived at Mount Abundance in 1862, and selected a locality for the township which become known as Roma, proclaimed in September that year. The post office at Mount Abundance homestead closed at the end of 1863 when the Roma post office opened.
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