Carrs Plains Homestead, 252 Soldiers Road, MARNOO WEST
252 Soldiers Road MARNOO WEST, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
Carrs Plains homestead at Marnoo West, has significance as a legacy of the mid 19th century sheep station originally established by the Dennis brothers - William, Alexander and John - in 1847-48, and managed by Holdford Wettenhall from 1861-62. The property became well known for its popular pure Merino sheep stock. The surviving homestead is reflective of the prosperous development of the sheep station from the 1850s to the 1870s, with the remaining timber slab (c.1850s), brick (1866) and weatherboard (1875) wings making up the Victorian Vernacular styled homestead. This building has suffered significant deterioration and appears to be in poor condition. At least half of the weatherboard additions of 1875 have been removed, but generally the homestead is of moderate integrity. It is not known whether other outbuildings survive (the homestead original comprised a complex of outbuildings, dams and fences).
Carrs Plains homestead is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered and in poor condition, the building demonstrates original and early design qualities of a Victorian Vernacular style. These qualities include the complex single storey roof forms comprising the steeply pitched hipped roof rear section with vertical timber slab wall construction, multiple hipped roof section built of hand made bricks in 1866 with encircling skillion verandahs and the surviving portion of the timber weatherboard additions in 1875 with the remaining section of a hipped roof (now terminating as a gable end). Other intact or appropriate qualities include the face brick chimneys, timber verandah posts, timber framed double hung windows, galvanised corrugated iron roof cladding, and the timber roof shingling under the galvanised corrugated iron. The surviving underground brick-lined tank, timber bridge over the Richardson River and remnant gardens and mature trees also contribute to the significance of the place.
Carrs Plains homestead is historically significant at a STATE level. It is associated with the mid 19th century development of sheep runs in the Wimmera and in particular with the establishment of the Carrs Plains station by the Dennis brothers (Alexander, William and John) from 1846-47. The property has associations with Holdford Highlord Wettenhall from 1861-82. He initially managed the property for his relatives and later acquired half of the landholdings including the homestead. Wettenhall established a well-known and popular pure Merino breed of sheep and became a prominent figure in the Wimmera as a member of the Stawell Roads Board, long-serving Councillor with the Stawell Shire Council, member of the Legislative Council in the Victorian Parliament, and a Commissioner of the Wimmera United Waterworks Trust. Carrs Plains was taken over by Wettenhall's son, Herbert, who also played an important role in the Wimmera region as well as continuing the success of the sheep station largely began by his father. Herbert had an active interest in the affairs of the Inland Freezing Works and was a member of the first board of directors. He was also instrumental in the formation of the first Fat Lamb Association of Victoria and helped in the formation of Young Farmers' Club.
Overall, Carrs Plains homestead at Marnoo West is of STATE significance.
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Carrs Plains Homestead, 252 Soldiers Road, MARNOO WEST - Physical Description 1
Carrs Plains homestead at Marnoo West, largely consists of the early homestead complex surrounded by remnant overgrown gardens that include mature cypress and other exotic and native trees, together with overgrown shrubs and flower beds. The remnants of the original underground brick-lined water tank is situated nearby and is now exposed to the weather.
The single storey, Victorian vernacular styled homestead is characterised by complex roof forms clad in galvanised corrugated iron. There is a vertical timber slab building at the rear of the homestead with a steeply pitched hipped roof form. This building represents one of the earlier parts of the complex.
The brick wing built in 1866 has multiple hipped roof forms clad in galvanised corrugated iron (in poor condition) with original timber shingles underneath. The walls have original exposed hand made bricks. Some of these bricks are in poor condition and there has been structural breakdown in some areas. There are early window openings with later timber framed double hung sash windows. Encircling the homestead is an early skillion verandah supported by rudimentary timber posts that have replaced the original supports. Early face brick elongated chimneys adorn the roofline.
To one side of the brick homestead is part of the timber addition of 1875 (in poor condition). The once hipped roof addition has been reduced in half, now terminating just past the brick chimney into a gable end clad in galvanised corrugated iron. The early parapeted timber portico has been removed and replaced with a simple skillion verandah, following the verandahs that previously flanked this portion of the building. There are two early timber framed double hung windows.
Heritage Study and Grading
Northern Grampians - Shire of Northern Grampians - Stage 2 Heritage Study
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Vicki Johnson, David Rowe, Phil Taylor
Year: 2004
Grading: State
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Carrs Plains HomesteadNational Trust
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Carrs Plains Homestead, 252 Soldiers Road, MARNOO WESTNorthern Grampians Shire
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