HO37 - Pinewood Homestead
783 - 829 Blackhill Road TOOLERN VALE, Melton Shire
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Statement of Significance
Pinewood, at 783 - 829 Blackhill Road, Toolern Vale is significant as a predominantly intact nineteenth century farm complex associated with the pioneer pastoralist John Beaty, son John and descendents. The 1876 bluestone homestead is a predominantly intact example of a Victorian style and one of few surviving Victorian styled homesteads constructed in bluestone in the Melton Shire. The property also contains some notable plantings, including old Pinus radiata, hawthorn plantings and an old pear tree, and in particular a very old 'Canary Island Pine' tree. There are also all-stone drystone paddock walls.
Pinewood, Blackhill Road, Toolern Vale is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level (AHC D2). It demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style. These qualities include the symmetrical composition, single storey height, hipped roof form clad in slate tiles and the rendered chimneys. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the bluestone wall construction, location of the return verandah, narrow eaves, central timber framed main doorway with highlight and the flanking timber framed double hung windows, together with the brick kitchen at the rear. The old trees also contribute to the significance of the homestead setting.
The extensive system of substantial and largely intact drystone paddock walls are aesthetically, historically and scientifically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC B2, D2, F1). They demonstrate an unusual and now rare form of nineteenth century fence construction, and contribute to an impressive and intact early farming cultural landscape.
Pinewood, Blackhill Road, Toolern Vale is of LOCAL level historical significance (AHC A4). It is one of relatively few intact bluestone farming homesteads remaining in the municipality. It is also significant for its association with the Beaty family, an early and prominent Melton farming-pastoral family who occupied the property from at least 1855, and may have occupied it from 1848; John Beaty, grandson of the property founder, was six times a Melton Shire President.
Pinewood, Blackhill Road, Toolern Vale is scientifically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC C2). The site and vicinity of the original homestead may provide archaeological evidence of local historical significance.
Overall, Pinewood, at 783 - 829 Blackhill Road, Toolern Vale, is of LOCAL significance.
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HO37 - Pinewood Homestead - Physical Description 1
Physical Description -
The symmetrical, single storey, coursed, squared bluestone, Victorian styled house known as Pinewood is characterised by a hipped roof form clad in slate tiles. Early rendered chimneys adorn the roofline. Narrow overhangs are features of the eaves.
A feature of the design is the return bullnosed verandah, supported by columns. This verandah may have replaced an earlier verandah. There is an early timber verandah floor and there is timber verandah infill at one end.
The symmetry of the design is accentuated by the early timber framed central main doorway with highlight, and the flanking early timber framed double hung windows.
Internally, the house features high pressed metal ceilings, original cedar mantleplaces, and some original Beaty furnishings. There are substantial additions at the rear constructed mainly in timber, together with an early brick kitchen.
The mature exotic trees at the rear (main) driveway entrance to the house include one old specimen at the homestead gate which, according to Beaty family lore, is a 'Canary Island pine' with family historical associations. Inspection reveals that it is in fact an Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis). The original tree, planted c.1870s, fell in 2001, and remains as a stump on the opposite side of the gateway. The existing pine is said to have been planted c.1900 from a seed from the original. The property may have been named after these trees.
There is a more formal garden in the front (east side) of the homestead, which although mostly modern, nevertheless features some Pinus radiata probably more than 100 years old.
The original 1850s Beaty homestead was located on the east side of the creek; there is no obvious above-ground evidence of this. Nearby however there is an ancient and exceptionally fine specimen of a Pear tree at the Kororoit Creek. It is situated in a sheltered rectangular paddock enclosed by old dry stone walls and Hawthorn hedges.
The extensive boundary and paddock drystone walls (all-stone, rather than composite post-and-wire) on the property are substantial in terms of height, are well-built, and mostly in excellent condition (especially the internal paddock walls). The Hawthorn hedge (Crataegus monogyna) is also worthy of note.
Further away, old wheel ruts from early gold-field era roads have since been ploughed down.
There are the usual outbuildings associated with a substantial farm. The property was very recently sold out of the Beaty family.
HO37 - Pinewood Homestead - Historical Australian Themes
Melton Historical Themes: 'Pastoral', 'Farming'
HO37 - Pinewood Homestead - Integrity
Integrity - Predominantly Intact
HO37 - Pinewood Homestead - Physical Conditions
Physical Condition - Excellent
Heritage Study and Grading
Melton - Shire of Melton Heritage Study phase 2
Author: David Maloney, David Rowe, Pamela Jellie, Sera Jane Peters
Year: 2007
Grading:
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