'Burger Cottage' and 'Lynnfield', 135 Lake Weyba Drive, Noosaville

DETAILS

DescriptionIn 1923, John Monks created four x 5 acre blocks by subdividing a portion of his 293 acre farm on Lake Weyba Drive. Lot 1 was purchased by Violet Buchanan on 26 November 1923. Lots 2, 3 and 4 were purchased by Fred Pratt on 16 October 1923.

During the Depression of 1929, Pratt took out a mortgage on part of his property and sold Lot 2 to Anthony James McKenna. Shortly afterwards, Pratt was requested to find a buyer for Violet Buchanan’s Lot 1. In 1934 Pratt purchased her five acres for 15 pounds for his youngest sister, a widow, Edith Annie Burger. It was intended to be a gift to her but she insisted on paying for the land with her meagre means, while still residing in northern New South Wales. Pratt died unexpectantly on 23 May 1935 and the lot passed to his widow Emma Jane Pratt. Edith continued paying off her Lot 1 to Emma Jane, completing the payments in October 1935.
During World War II Edith moved from New South Wales to Noosa. She stayed with her sister-in-law Emma Jane until a cottage could be built on her land. Emma Jane was residing on 12 acres at 111 Lake Weyba Drive, also purchased from John Monks, prior to Pratt’s purchase of Lots 2, 3 and 4.
In later years, Emma Jane sold Lot 3 to Adolphus Hubert Butler, a builder. Dolph Butler, who had established his family on Lot 3 by 1948, helped to build Edith Burger’s small cottage Lot 1 along with young Lynn (Edith's grandson) who was learning the building trade. The cottage, two rooms with a front and back verandah was limited in space, built from rough timber inexpensively sourced from the mill, on stumps above flood level. Gradually the inside was lined with Masonite and the frontage of the verandah was enclosed giving her a small front bedroom and spare beds for family.

Edith's daughter Beulah visited regularly when she could obtain a lift, sometimes with her friend Pam Cross (later Grice). Beulah then purchased Lot 1 from her mother Edith and the property was transferred into her name on 4 February 1963. Edith died peacefully on 31 August 1964 knowing her land and cottage would be loved by family. When Beulah and her husband Ernie Thomas Stanfield retired in 1980, they came to live in the while building of a brick veneer, 3 bedroom home on the lot, above flood levels, to be known as 'Lynnfield’ after Beulah’s son Lynn. The family continued to enjoy Burger Cottage as a holiday house.

In 2015, the Stanfield family sold the property. Until early 2022, the property remained as it was when the Stanfield family owned it but sadly there was a demise in the condition of the cottage. In early 2022 the property was sub-divided, the cottage removed, and the new blocks went to auction. As of December 2022, land works are proceeding to fill the land to meet building regulations for the new developments.

Source: 'Memories of Weyba' by Joan Stanfield; local research

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