FITZROY RIVER FARM
122 FITZROY RIVER ROAD, TYRENDARRA, GLENELG 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
What is Significant?
Fitzroy River Farm is a farm complex consisting of a main homestead and several outbuildings and other elements, situated on land between the Fitzroy River and the Darlot's Creek approximately two kilometres south west of Tyrendarra. The Farm complex dates from the 1870s as a selector's homestead, taken up by John Stanford.
The original two roomed sandstone and limestone house was built in the early 1870s (prior to 1874), and added to over time. The original two rooms are now used as a kitchen and dining room, incorporated into the current homestead. The Stanfords added to the house and constructed outbuildings of timber and sandstone, an outhouse, and drystone walls around the property through the latter nineteenth century. Allotments along the Fitzroy River were purchased by John Sandford after the land was opened for selection in the early 1870s. The complex of sandstone and bluestone buildings, including a sandstone homestead, were built by John Sandford, and the improvements were made to the land including fencing and planting of crops. The homestead was built using sandstone cut from a quarry on the property and was extended in the 1890s and the 1980s. Early outbuildings include a sandstone toilet and a timber kitchen (rebuilt), a stone creamery and a timber butchery and a stone well, close to the house. Remnants of early buildings built of bluestone still exist on the property. Restoration work and additions were made by the Barrett family in the 1980s including the rebuilding of the kitchen which was burnt down.
How is it Significant?
Fitzroy River Farm is of historical significance and architectural significance to the Glenelg Shire.
Why is it Significant?
Fitzroy River Farm is of historical significance as a remaining district selector's farm complex with elements which date from the 1870s to the 1890s. The property has historical significance for its long associations over more than 120 years with the Stanford family, prominent district farmers and publicans. Although many families took up selections throughout Glenelg Shire during the 1870s, a large proportion of those families soon left their farms owing to lack of farming experience and economic hardship. Selector families who survived for as long as the Stanford family became increasingly rare. The buildings on the property are evidence of the self -sufficiency of early pastoral families, providing their own food and building materials from the site.
Fitzroy River Farm is of architectural significance for its collection of fine quality buildings notable for their stonework. The homestead and some outbuildings were built from sandstone thatwas cut from a quarry on the property and bluestone, collected as field stone from the property, was used for outbuildings and garden edges. The Barrett family additions made in the 1980s were constructed from stone quarried on the property and were designed to match the earlier structures.
-
-
FITZROY RIVER FARM - Usage/Former Usage
Continues as a farm
FITZROY RIVER FARM - Physical Description 1
Fitzroy River Farm is situated on low undulating land between the Fitzroy River and Darlot's Creek, Tyrendarra. The homestead is a single storey building of locally quarried sandstone and limestone. It is situated in a gentle hollow away from the harsh winds from the nearby Southern Ocean. The hipped roof is clad in corrugated iron, with the verandahs extending along the same line. The verandah and part of the roof appear to be somewhat irregular after being replaced in the 1980s. The windows are twelve pane double hung sashes in all of the principal rooms.
It is thought that the kitchen and dining rooms (located on the south side of the current homestead) may be the original homestead, a two room dwelling said to have been constructed of stone and wood. The two rooms immediately north are said to have been constructed next, these are simple, unadorned rooms with simple timber mantles above a fireplace, twelve pane double hung sash windows and simple timber doors.
The east wing, constructed c.1890, comprises three sandstone rooms, none of which have a damp course incorporated into the walls. As a result, severe rising damp is evident on the external walls.
The southern facade has a shallow post and beam verandah clad in corrugated iron, rebuilt about 1980. The verandah on the north side of the house has been enclosed to form a corridor between the west and east wings.
On the west side, a wing including a laundry, toilet and bathroom was added (c.1980s). The wing was built in sandstone, quarried from the same paddock as the earlier building on the Fitzroy River property. The sandstone chimneys have been re-pointed and the roof has been replaced. The stone on the west wing is in very good condition because of the finer cut of stone and the modern construction methods including a damp proof course.
There are a number of sandstone and timber outbuildings on the site as well intact bluestone footings of at least two early buildings.
Directly south of the dwelling, a sandstone creamery is flanked by two timber wings. The west wing is known as the butchery, and the east wing was known as the kitchen. This section was rebuilt in 1980 after being burnt down. The original stone kitchen chimney survives intact. The creamery is in good condition. Next to the kitchen chimney, there is a stone well (approximately 1.5m diameter), which is closed.
A small sandstone outhouse with a gabled corrugated iron roof and the remnants of a dry stone wall are situated close to the southwest of the main homestead. Remnants of a number of ruinous stone buildings exist on the site, and the footings to a large bluestone building (approximately 4m wide x 6m long) survive approximately 20 metres south of the homestead. To the west of the homestead, there are stone footings and a partial wall of a building (approximately 4m wide x 5m long). Northeast of the homestead, there is a small timber building (Dairy) and stone footings. Other farm outbuildings include modern machinery sheds southwest of the homestead and a relocated timber building south east of the homestead.
There is very little garden which might be associated with the earliest phases of development. Although in a hollow, most trees and shrubs which may have been planted are unlikely to survive on the site. Two Cypress, situated approximately 20 metres east of the house are substantial enough to have been planted in the late nineteenth century. The trees have a limb span of approximately 7.5 metres.FITZROY RIVER FARM - Physical Conditions
Good
FITZROY RIVER FARM - Historical Australian Themes
3 Developing local, regional and national economies
3.5 Developing primary production
3.5.1 Grazing stock
3.5.3 Developing agricultural industries
5 Working
5.8 Working on the landHeritage Study and Grading
Glenelg - Glenelg Shire Heritage Study Part One
Author: Carlotta Kellaway, David Rhodes Mandy Jean
Year: 2002
Grading:Glenelg - Glenelg Heritage Study Stage Two (a)
Author: Heritage Matters
Year: 2006
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
CASTLEMADDIE H6Victorian Heritage Inventory
-
FITZROY RIVER FARMGlenelg Shire
-
-