Rosewood History

Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.) Saturday, 25 July 1925, page 11

HIDDEN VALE.
A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.
By F. E. LORD.

When Mr. A. J. Cotton first saw the Vale, 25 years ago, lying below timbered uplands, and surrounded by mountains, he gave to it the name by which the whole property has since been known. The view commanded by the large, low-built home stead is a fair one indeed. It is three parts bounded by the Little Liverpool Range, beyond which Cunningham’s Gap and some of the highest points of the main range are plainly seen. Most prominent of the mounts in the Liverpool Range is Beau Brummell, standing out with the bold arrogance of its namesake. Directly opposite the homestead is Mount Walker, on which the sun’s last beams rest in rosy benediction. The play of mists on the mountains give delicate movement to the picture, or a dense cloud lying directly beneath the rays of the rising sun might be a frozen sunlit sea. The original home, a fine, two-storied building erected by Mr. Cotton soon after his acquisition of the properly, was destroyed by fire about four years ago. It was not long, however, before the present comfortable abode was built in its stead, with the same modern conveniences of the former home. Mr. Cotton is an Englishman, and he knows to the full the comforts of deep armchairs, and a big wood fire.

A FERTILE AREA.
Hidden Vale is four miles from Grandchester, and consists of 11,000 fertile acres of freehold, watered by Mort’s Creek. It was originally a portion of Franklin Vale, and was first acquired by Mr. Jost and named Jost Vale. The orderliness of the paddocks attests to the work put into their clearing and burning off by Mr. Cotton, and their grass production bears testimony to the benefit derived there from. Dairying, principally is carried on in the surrounding district, but it is not an industry now at HiddenVale, which is essentially a cattle property as all Mr. Cotton’s properties are. The principal work carried on there is the breeding of the well-known Shorthorns, to which, very special care and attention is given. A visit to the stud is an interesting feature at Hidden Vale. Foster mothers, in addition to the natural ones, are used in the rearing of the calves to insure the animals maturing to the desired perfection, and there are many waifs and strays in the human world that would be glad of a little of the care and attention and the warm housing that are given for these young animals. 

HIDDEN VALE SCHOOL.
Conspicuous on a rise on the left hand side of the road, as one approaches the homestead from Grandchester, in a picturesque little building standing in the centre of several acres of land bounded by rows of camphor laurels and weeping figs. It is the Hidden Vale School house. The building of the school is due to Mr, Cotton, who also gave the land on condition that when the school was established the Government bought the whole from him. It is under the most pleasing conditions, that the pupils—averaging about 14—of this little country school imbibe their learning under the guidance of Miss Dunne. Clean, white painted walls are round them, against which vases of bright flowers show to advantage and give pretty variety, while on most days the large sliding windows are open to the pure air, and give a view of the open vale and range of beautiful soft blue mountains. Less than a quarter of a mile from the school is the quaint and much becreepered, old slab home of Mrs. Hogan, one of the eldest identities of the district. It stands in the midst of a garden filled, with hardy, old fashioned flowers and vegetables. Gardening is the old lady’s hobby, albeit she can only walk with difficulty and the aid of a stick, and she is ever pleased with a gift of a few plants or flowers. Visiting Granny Hogan is an established custom among her neighbours.