Jim Whyte's Collection
Jim Whyte and his wife Maureen were community minded people and wanted to embrace the country life when they moved here to The Oaks so they began getting involved in different activities and organisations. Jim’s profession was a carpenter and builder. Jim became known in the area for building “The Dome” at Belimbla Park, various houses, the canteen for the football club, repairing the tennis shed and upgrading the Pony Club’s Club House. He built a house for a family at Oakdale which was based on the historic Elizabeth Farm House, all the windows and doors were hand-made, he also restored the windows, doors and gates at the Historic house at Glenmore and he did restoration work at Gledswood Historic Home. April 19, 1983, Jim started restoration of St Mathew’s Anglican Slab Church. Jim took this voluntary job on and with a dedicated team of volunteers, went about restoring the Church. It was a huge job which lasted from early 1983 until December 1984 and involved many community members and community donations. Jim also made the stained-glass window that is installed today. Worked continued in the interior of the church and the grand opening was in April 1985 with a church service and picnic.
In 1986 Jim began as the Building Supervisor for The Oaks Historical Society and the building commenced in 1987 under the guidance and Builder’s licence of Jim Whyte. There was a dedicated team of volunteers who helped to construct these buildings with some paid labour for professional works using the Bi-Centennial Grant that Jim and Mert Daley had applied for and put plans into council. The Oaks Historical Society were successful in gaining this large grant that funded the project. It was completed in 1988 and opened for the Bi Centennial. In 1993 Jim was involved in the moving of our Pioneer Slab Cottage and rebuilding it at the Heritage Centre and it is now used extensively on Thursdays for the school’s program. It is named the Burragorang Cottage. The interior is set up like an early settler’s cottage with kitchen and bedroom. Jim was involved in many other aspects of our organisation and community and this small exhibition represents some of his rare and vast tool collection.
