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This home was built by one of Gympie's all time great builders, to a design that was created to allow a 4 bedroom plus en-suite home
and a separate 2 bedroom fully self contained unit, both fully air-conditioned, to be built under the same roof.

The ultra modern home is as good as new in every way. Kitchens, family rooms and all walk areas have beautiful timber floors.

It is only 100 metres from the golf club and is ideal for groups of golfers on tour. They can
all stay together within walking distance of the course, but with the privacy of their own home.

The main bedroom upstairs has a king-size bed, the whole floor is taken up by the bedroom,
en-suite and walk-in robe, with a verandah as well. Two of the other rooms have a queen bed,
and one with two simgle beds. While the rooms are private, they can easily access the commor
area, making it ther perfect retreat for golfing parties.

Builder hangs up hammer after 55 years of 'dreams'

A man synonymous with home building in the Cooloola area, Dave English, finished work after 55 years of home building.

Mr English, 77, retired home to McIntosh Creek Road, to spend time with wife Gladys and concentrate on growing orchids, a passion of his for about half a century.

Mr English started out as a builder in his own right on his return from WW2. He had completed his apprenticeship with his father John, a builder, before war service.

On return, he and older brothers Frederick and Victor, also carpenters, were taken into the business by their father and the second generation of the company started in 1945.

The name English will not be lost to the building industry with Dave's sons Lawrence and David having entered the industry, both now working for themselves.
Mr English's sons are just two of the apprentices he has trained. More than 25 others have also done their time with him during his 55 years as an employer.

And the house to go out on was an achievement for Dave English as well. Built on Shield Street for Gary and Rosie Boshammer, with Mr English saying it was the biggest home he has ever built.
"It is probably the biggest home I've ever built and possibly the most unusual", he said.

Rosie saw the style in a magazine and adapted it to suit the site and the family's needs. It took the truss designers about three weeks to work and design the roof structure. The home is built out of heritage sandstone block and is on two levels with the floor area covering 53 squares.

"Heritage sandstone is a terrific product and the strongest home you can build is cement block. You will never move it, the core is filled down and locks the building together as are the head beam. A block home is almost impossible to destroy".

For more information on Heritage Sandstone visit GB Masonry Pty Ltd

Mr English estimates he had built more than 2000 homes in his time in the industry in Gympie, the Mary Valley, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

"It is a creative industry, most homes are the peoples' dreams, often the biggest dream and investment people have in life. I just helped people find that dream in a great house."

  
 
Historical Facts

  • In October 1867, James Nash discovered the Gympie Goldfields.
  • The population of Gympie in 1868 was its highest ever at over 20,000.
  • In February 1893, the Mary River rose to 83 feet 6 inches, the lowest part of Mary Street being covered by 25 feet of water.
  • In 1903 almost 2000 men were employed at the Gympie Gold Mines.
  • Gympie at on time has 28 hotels.
  • The Goldfield produced 4½ million ounces of gold at a value of £14½ million.
  • First Gympie Show was held in 1877 on land now occupied by the Old Railway Station.
  • First railway link was to Maryborough in 1881.
  • It was once possible to walk underground from near Gympie Railway Station to the Scottish Mine past Monkland (a distance of approx. 2 miles).
  • Gympie received its gas lights in 1882, water supply in 1900, telephone in 1901, ambulance in 1902 and electricity in 1916.
  • Te concrete water tank which was to become the Gympie Museum Gold Mining Display was constructed in 1902.
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