Range pioneers’ Flaxton homestead returns to family ownership

Joseph and Alice Dixon built, Chermside, at Flaxton on their citrus and dairy property about 1909.  

Safe as Houses: Matthew and Sarah Clarke at Tanderra House, Flaxton, which they have renamed Chermside, as it was originally known.

More than a century of history is being restored to family hands after Tanderra House Flaxton was purchased last week by the great-great-grandson of Blackall Range pioneers Joseph and Alice Dixon who built the original homestead. 

Real estate agent Roger Loughnan said it was wonderful to see the magnificent property returned to the family. The estate was purchased by great-great-grandson Matthew Clarke and his wife Sarah. 

“It’s a fascinating piece of local history and lovely to see the story come full circle as the home is returned to family hands more than a hundred years later,” Roger said. “Matthew and Sarah have changed the homestead name back to its original ‘Chermside’ out of respect for the Dixon legacy.

“It’s also important to acknowledge the role owners for the past 20 years, Geoff and Ann Hocking, have played in maintaining the gardens and upgrading the house in such a tasteful and sympathetic manner. The heritage-listed house could not have been in better hands.”

Joseph and Alice Dixon constructed the family homestead, Chermside, at Flaxton on their 790-acre citrus and dairy property about 1909. The house today is vastly different in size and layout and the name was changed to Tanderra House in the 1970s.

The homestead when constructed was a typical “Queenslander” with  wide-open verandahs. Internally the ceilings were high as there was no air-conditioning in that era. The floors to the main building are the original pit sawn beech.

Alice Dixon passed in 1927 and Joseph two years later, when Alice died it was during a spell of very wet weather and it was not possible to have the burial on Mapleton. Hence she was interred in the small cemetery plot along Flaxton Mill Road. Later Joseph was laid to rest alongside her.

The bones of the original homestead are still evident, and all the work performed through the decades has been completed with both passion and longevity in mind. Each of the minders of the residence over the years have added their mark to what Joseph Dixon started and one would hope that the same will be said in another 100 years.

Some of the trees date back to the time when the house was first constructed, notably the huge Magnolia Grandiflora. The home forms a stately backdrop to the gardens which have been continually developed by the Hockings.

The 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom home sits on .87 hectares and sold on April 26 through Roger Loughnan Real Estate.