MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX
428 Pierrepoint Road TARRINGTON, Southern Grampians Shire
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
Although the land on which Mona Vale stands was purchased by C. W. Hartwig, it was the family of Johann Mibus and his wife Dorothea, nee Stuf, which established the property and their son Ludwig and his first wife Valentine, nee Israel. They were amongst the earliest and most important of the Lutheran settlers in the Tarrington area and, like most of the very large families, many of the third generation migrated further to open up the Wimmera. Typical of the Lutheran settlers, the property has always been a mixed farm with some sheep and a small ploughed plot for wheat and can be contrasted with the large scale pastoral interests of the squatters at the time. The single-storey symmetrical bluestone house appears to have been constructed in 1858. It is very plain externally and internally with a conventional plan, standard form and typical detailing. Interestingly, it does not follow the traditional model used for some migrants homes, such as those at Gnadenthal and in the Barossa Valley. It is unlikely that the house was designed by an architect but the stone masonry and other construction suggests professional building contractors. There may have been more primitive structures using vernacular techniques of construction which predated the stone house. It is very likely that there was a detached timber kitchen wing. The original woolshed, the blacksmith's shop and a cottage were lost in the 1927 bushfires and further damage occurred in the and 1944 bushfire. A new house was constructed in the early twentieth century near the old which survives. Mona Vale is still farmed by descendents of the same migrants through the interweaving of the various large families. The old house is now abandoned, is in very poor condition and has only a fair degree of integrity.
How is it significant?
Mona Vale is of historical and architectural significance to the community of Tarrington and to the Southern Grampians Shire.
Why is it significant?
Mona Vale is of historical significance for its direct link with the first migrant families who settled around Tarrington and who subsequently extended their interests into the Wimmera. It is of particular interest as the home and focus of the Ludwig and Valentine Mibus family who ran a typical mixed farm and have many descendents. Mona Vale is of architectural significance for it sober design reflecting the conditions and values of the Lutheran migrants.
-
-
MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Conditions
Poor condition.
MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 1
Mona Vale is a single-storey symmetrical bluestone cottage with a skillion at the rear built contiguously. The hipped roof is covered with corrugated iron. The scale, form, materials and detailing of the house indicate a construction date in the later 1850s. The main ceilings, for example use machine sawn softwood lathes rather than hand split hardwood lathes. Other ceilings are timber lining boards, possibly covered with hessian and papers. The windows, now mostly missing, appear to have been 12 paned double-hung sashes. It is not known if there was ever a verandah. The plan of the house is straightforward with a central passage, about one metre wide, one large room on the east side and two smaller rooms on the west side. There are two other rooms in the skillion section. One chimney serves the fireplace in the large room and one of the rooms in the skillion. There may have been a detached kitchen, presumably timber, since the fireplace does not appear to be intended for cooking. The interiors of the house are all very simple with no plaster decoration. Some early colour schemes and decorative techniques survive which may date from the late nineteenth century.
MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Historical Australian Themes
Theme 3 Developing local, regional and national economies
3.5 Developing primary production
3.5.1 Grazing stock
3.5.2 Breeding animals
3.9 Farming for commercial profit
3.14.1 Building to suit Australian conditions
3.14.1Using Australian materials in construction
Theme 5 Working
5.8 Working on the land
Theme 8 Developing Australia's cultural life
8.12 Living in and around Australian homes
8.14 Living in the country and rural settlementsMONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Usage/Former Usage
pastoral and agricultural
MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Integrity
Fair degree of integrity
MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 2
C. W Hartwig (first owner)
Mibus familyHeritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
Year: 2002
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
MONA VALE HOMESTEAD COMPLEXSouthern Grampians Shire
-
TARRINGTON HOUSESouthern Grampians Shire
-
'Altona' Homestead (Formerly 'Laverton' Homestead) and Logan ReserveHobsons Bay City
-
-