The house is in the Nomans Lake area, which refers to a chain of lakes east of Narrogin stretching from Toolibin to Little White Lake on the Arthur River. The area was surveyed for farming in 1905 in response to demand for farming land by mainly Eastern States settlers who came to WA during the gold rush. The bush block was selected and cleared by Herbert Charles Cardwell who made his first trip to Nomans Lake in a cart which was drawn by two horses. One horse was a milk cart horse who was very reluctant to leave the familiarity of the town. Herbert and his wife had one child, Herbert James. Herbert senior died at the age of 35 and his wife moved to the Eastern States. The property was bought by another pioneer, Lewis Hilder, and was occupied by his son Alan who expanded the farm with his son Norm. Norm's son and my work colleague, Tim Hilder was there until the age of six.
Eastern side.Original house flanked by two additions
Northern side.The fallen piece of galvanised iron is the remnant of verandah. woodfired copper in the left foreground
Western exterior collapsed verandah in foreground The earliest part of the house is an old Goldfields house that was transported to the site in a disassembled form before being reassembled.
The structure is corrugated galvanised iron on a wooden frame and a wood floor. Very little of the interior remains, possibly because lining on the interior walls and ceiling was originally lime washed hessian cloth. The interior must have been freezing cold in winter and scorching hot in summer.
I think that the original house consisted of four rooms surrounded on all sides by verandahs.
A spring in granite country upslope supplied water for the house
The structure is corrugated galvanised iron on a wooden frame and a wood floor. Very little of the interior remains, possibly because lining on the interior walls and ceiling was originally lime washed hessian cloth. The interior must have been freezing cold in winter and scorching hot in summer.
I think that the original house consisted of four rooms surrounded on all sides by verandahs.
A spring in granite country upslope supplied water for the house
 Southern end kitchen left living room right |  view to east |  Northern two bedrooms |
If I had visited the house a year earlier I would also have seen the Metters kitchen wood stove, but the Narrogin Restoration Group moved it to the Narrogin Restoration Museum where it can be seen in a replica pioneers cottage.
 Stove in original location |  After removal |  Now in Restoration Museum |
The southern verandah had been converted to a bedroom with asbestos exterior walls and a pressed iron ceiling. The northern verandah has a a wood-fired copper for washing clothes, and a more recent bathroom
 Sleepout bedroom |  Copper for washing clothes |  Bathroom |
As with all farms the machinery dump was worth a visit
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