Surry Hills Frontier Home

Nineteenth century frontier homes were designed to be sturdy and beautiful. In a time when people visited on verandas and told stories in their parlors, every detail mattered. This fine scale model made of American Cherry honors those details—right down to the cat you can see through the window. An easy, enjoyable project to build, it offers satisfaction for the modeler during assembly, and then serves as a source of pride—and a reminder of that frontier spirit—for years to come.

Strong, sturdy, expertly-crafted terrace homes were popular during frontier times. Economical, English-inspired architecture purposefully positioned rooms in the front of the house to receive guests; and those guests would notice and remark on every detail.

When they weren’t hard at work, people passed the time by visiting and telling stories. A trip to the bank, general store, or saloon was cause for excitement, and when the stagecoach arrived in town with the mail, everyone had something to talk about, in the parlor, or maybe on the veranda.

The Surry Hill Frontier Home design is based on homes typical of Australia’s expanding frontier in the 1840s-1890s. Like many in the American West, it featured subtle architectural details commonly seen in nineteenth century English designs. Local timber and stone were prominent building materials. Slate or sometimes corrugated metal would fashion the roof.

Details were for show, certainly—walls might be lime washed or painted salmon pink, then decorated with hood molds and carved panels—but their designs always served a purpose, too. The veranda screened out the mid-day sun. Kitchen and laundry spaces were often accommodated in extensions at the rear of the building. Those front rooms were for visiting, or gossiping. A third floor, with a dormer window, might provide bedrooms for kids or servants.

This scale model is authentic, and accurate details inside as well as out invite you to consider what life was really like on the frontier.

A great, one-evening kind of project, this kit includes wooden parts and sandpaper. Wood glue is required to complete the model and is not included with the kit. Not in the mood to build it yourself? Choose the Finished Model version.

To assemble this scale model, you will need a flat work surface that is at least 18" by 18"; white glue, brands like Elmers or Titebond Premium work well; and a knife to separate wood parts from the sheets.