Site 16 – Mrs Harris’ Boarding House

In the early years of Burren Junction, accommodation was in high demand. As the railway expanded and the town developed, visitors, railway workers, contractors, stockmen and travelling salesmen all needed somewhere to stay. While the local hotels provided accommodation for many travellers, others preferred the quieter surroundings of a boarding house.

This house, situated in Alma Street, operated as one of Burren Junction’s early boarding houses. It was first conducted by Mrs Kennedy, who later sold the business to Mrs Harris. For many years it provided comfortable accommodation for visitors spending time in the district and became a familiar landmark within the growing township.

Boarding houses played an important role in country towns during the early twentieth century. They offered more than simply a bed for the night—they provided home-cooked meals, companionship and a welcoming place for people who were often far from their own families. Many lasting friendships were formed around the dining tables and verandahs of homes like this.

One of the property’s most unusual attractions was a miniature working windmill and water tank, built in the front garden by Mr H. Jeffiries. The working model became a local curiosity and reflected the ingenuity and craftsmanship that was often found in small country communities.

Although no longer operating as a boarding house, the building still stands today, providing a tangible link to Burren Junction’s early years. Surrounded by mature trees, it remains one of the town’s surviving historic homes and a reminder of the hospitality that welcomed visitors to the district for many decades.

Historical information sourced primarily from Visions of the Plains – A History of Burren Junction and District (2nd Edition) by Judy Field, together with local community recollections.

Photos

Photo Mrs Harris’ Boarding House Today
The former boarding house still stands in Alma Street and is one of Burren Junction’s surviving historic homes.

Photo Mrs Harris’ Boarding House c. early 1900s
The boarding house during its early years. The miniature working windmill and elevated water tank, built by Mr H. Jeffiries, became a well-known local feature of the property. This is an artists impression of what we believe it may have looked like