Gemalla – Historic Houses and Former Uses

Gemalla’s history brings together a house made of wattle and daub, Gemalla Cottage and the property’s later use as a Scout Camp. It also includes the Reakes family and a historic bridge over Eusdale Creek. For travellers, this offers an overview of different building methods and phases of use.

Glen Eden and Gemalla Cottage

The house known as “Glen Eden” was built of wattle and daub beside Eusdale Creek. It is one of the historic sites associated with residential use and settlement of the reserves. Its location beside the creek and its classification as a historic site link a specific place with the history of residential use. Wattle and daub refers to a framework of interwoven branches.

Gemalla Cottage was built between 1915 and 1916, southeast of the main house, for Mabel and her husband, Jack Edmonds. Today, the cottage is a ruin. Bricks, timber and corrugated iron remain in its walls, foundations and roof. In terms of materials, the wattle and daub at Glen Eden contrast with the bricks, timber and corrugated iron preserved at the cottage. This makes it possible to compare the construction methods of the two buildings directly.

Residential Use and Scout Camp

The Reakes family lived in Gemalla until 1936. The cottage’s construction between 1915 and 1916 falls within this period. In 1968, the Forestry Commission leased the property and a surrounding area of 4 ha to the NSW Scout Association for use as the “Gemalla” Scout Camp. The Scout Association of NSW (Golden West Region) has been associated with Gemalla since 1968. The chronology places the cottage’s construction and the Reakes family’s residence in the same period, followed by the camp lease.

A Historic Bridge over the Creek

During the Scout Camp’s operation, the Scout Association installed a railway carriage as a bridge over Eusdale Creek. The bridge served both vehicles and pedestrians. This brings a distinct piece of historic infrastructure into focus alongside the houses. At Glen Eden, the creek reference describes the house’s location; the railway carriage, by contrast, provided a crossing for two types of traffic. This distinguishes a site from a former crossing over the waterway.

Gemalla on a Scenic Tour

Another perspective on Gemalla is offered by the route description for Greening Bathurst’s Scenic and Natural History Tour 2, dated July 2021. It describes a scenic drive through Gemalla with 18 stops. This places the area within a route with multiple stops, while the houses and Scout Camp represent individual historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Lewisham, Lake Cathie, Urunga, Chullora, Raleigh, La Perouse, Mount Panorama, Wiangaree

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.