BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE
650 SUMMERHILL ROAD CRAIGIEBURN, HUME CITY
![Victorian Heritage Inventory](http://api.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/img/owner_icons/1087.gif)
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
![BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE FEATURE BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE FEATURE](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/143/505.jpg)
![BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE FEATURE BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE FEATURE](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/143/505.jpg)
![BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/143/506.jpg)
![BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/143/507.jpg)
![BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE FEATURE BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE FEATURE](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/143/508.jpg)
![BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE](https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/vhd-images/places/000/143/509.jpg)
Statement of Significance
Data has been updated as a resultof the Outer Western Metro Project, Context, March 2010.
-
-
BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE - History
Plans prepared by Robert Hoddle in 1837 show two sites annotated as 'Batman's Sheep Station' to the west of Merri Creek. The southern station was to the south of what is now Craigieburn Road East, whilst the northern station is recorded as lying just north of Summerhill Road at Kinlochewe and consisting of a hut, a tent and a sheep yard. John Chandler records an early abode at Kinlochewe as being a slab hut with a bark roof and an earthen floor (Hopton 1951).
William and Daniel McKenzie are later recorded as leasing the reserve at Kinlochewe Station, and it was here that a small village sprung up next to the natural ford across Merri Creek. This was used by travellers taking the north westerly route from Darebin (Epping) and Pikes Water Hole (Wollert) across the open country to the 'Big Hill' (Kilmore) and beyond.
On the 28th of February 1840 an advertisement by William McKenzie appeared in the Port Philip Herald calling for contractors and tenants for the specification of plans and the building of an inn on the Kinlochewe Estate, to include stabling, outhouses, stock and hurdle yards and fencing. The advertisement also calls for a respectable tenant to whom the farm of 50 to 108 acres will be leased in addition. However, it appears that the inn was purchased in 1841 by Francis and Kenneth Muirson, although Francis Muirson was bankrupt just two years later and named in the Port Philip Insolvencies. The estate was purchased by William Hartley Budd at the subsequent auction, at which time the inn and hotel was described as follows: 'partly of brick and partly of wood, it had 14 rooms, stabling, fruit garden, 50 acres of arable land, 108 acres of grazing land and six paddocks'.
Construction of the inn was followed by the arrival of a blacksmith, John Kent, and a wheelwright, William Kirkpatrick, whilst those who farmed at Kinlochewe included Robert Campbell, Alexander and Josiah Harrison, Alexander and Godfrey McDonald, James Malcolm, Thomas Walker, Andrew Munson, McCrae Moritz, Captain James Pearson and Dr. Thomas Wilson (Meredith Gould Architects 1990). By 1848 Kinlochewe was thriving and it was noted in the Argus Newspaper that 'extensive improvements were being made at Kinlochewe'. In its heyday Kinlochewe boasted some 400 residents (CHIG website).
In 1850 the area suffered severe drought, and the following year the savage bushfires on what became known as Black Thursday ravaged the area and burnt the inn to the ground. Budd lost all of his buildings, stock, produce and fences in the fire, and considering it unprofitable to rebuild at Kinlochewe, as Sydney Road had become a more reliable route compared to the seasonal vagaries of the Kinlochewe ford, he opened a new hotel near Wallan called the Strangeways Inn in 1851. The post office was transferred to Donnybrook in 1853, at which time only farmers are listed. The village reserve having appears to havereverted back to rural grazing land.
BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE - Interpretation of Site
The previous (incomplete) site card recorded a collection of stones which were identified as relating to Batman's sheep station on the site. These probably correspond with the stone wall identified by the current survey (Feature 12 on the attached plan). At the time of the earlier survey (2000) the site was under long grass. This has obviously been heavily grazed since that time, revealing a large number of features which appear to relate to two major periods of use at the site, as follows:
Other features identified in the northern part of the site, in the vicinity of the previously recorded putative Batman's station, may represent the remains of the mid 19th century village of Kinlochewe. Lying to the west of a ford across Merri Creek, they include at least one brick floor, the partial remains of at least two others, the stone footings of what were probably timber buildings, a probable backfilled well and an eroded dam, whilst the area between them is strewn with bricks and artefacts including ceramics and metal fragments of 19th century date. Several stands of non-native and fruit trees surround the brick floors whilst, to the north west of these features, a large area of undulating ground may represent paddocks or perhaps market gardens.
In the south of the site there is a substantial bluestone building platform which is probably contemporary with the features to the north. This lies beside the northern branch of a bluestone edged raised roadway which runs into the site from Summerhill Road to the south.
This road also branches to the east towards three concrete platforms which must therefore represent the remains of later structures. These are accompanied by a brick lined cistern and are also surrounded by an extensive artefact scatter including metal and glass bottles which probably date to the turn of the 20th century.BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE - Archaeological Significance
The site contains extensive archaeological deposits, in the form of construction layers and artefacts, relating to the two apparent phases of occupation. This material would provide invaluable information concerning John Batman's estate, the earliest occupation of the region, and the former settlement of Kinlochewe which played an important role in the development of the area during the mid 19th century. Itmay alsodemonstrate the activity represented by the later structures in the southern half of the site which would appear, from finds made nearby, to date to the turn of the 20th century. This is especially important as it was previously believed that the settlement of Kinlochewe had ceased to exist following the 1851 bush fire.
BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE - Historical Significance
The site is highly significant as the probable location of the village of Kinlochewe which was previously unknown. This settlement was an important crossing point of the Merri Creek and a hib for the local community for a relatively short period during the mid 19th century. The site may also be associated with Batman Run.
Heritage Inventory Description
BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
To the west of a bluestone ford across Merri Creek lie the remains of a bluestone wall and several areas of brick flooring amongst a large scatter of brick and domestic metalwork. Also an in-filled well and exotic plantings, and several possible blustone footings. In the southern part of the site are a large blustone footing, three concrete foundations and a large brick lined cistern. A bluestone access road approaches from Summerhill Road.
-
-
-
-
-
BATMAN PASTORAL RUN AND KINLOCHEWE ESTATE SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
OCCUPATION STOCK CROSSING SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
SummerhillNational Trust H0958
-
-