FORMER PASSALAQUA HOMESTEAD
164 SHICER GULLY ROAD GUILDFORD, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
The former Passalaqua homestead, although in ruinous condition, is architecturally, scientifically, and historically significant at the local level. The house and remains of outbuildings demonstrate design qualities of the Swiss-Italian farm house style characteristic to the area. (See site card for more information.)
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FORMER PASSALAQUA HOMESTEAD - History
Prospero Passalaqua was born in Genoa in 1832. His naturalisation papers state his native place as San Martino, Alessandria, Italy. He was listed as a store-keeper. He was a third-class passenger on board the St Luduina (other spellings - Liduine, Luidwina), a Dutch barque that sailed from Antwerp. It arrived in Sydney on 4th October 1855. The voyage was eventful with the third class passengers being denied adequate food. It is reported there were 126 Italian migrants on board, mostly Swiss-Italian. The Swiss Consulatesought work for some of these men and they were employed at Hunters Hill where they built stone houses for Swiss-French immigrants. It is not know if Passalaqua was among them.
Prospero Passalaqua was naturalised by Sir Charles Henry Darling, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the colony of Victoria on 21st November 1863. It is highly probable that he underwent naturalisation to take advantage of the land sales being offered by the Government. He purchased Lots 54 and 55 in the Guildford land sales in 1865. He farmed the land, grew grapes and made his own wine.
On 17th May 1867 he married Julia Dew an Englishwoman from Castlemaine. It appears that the stone residence was built at this time. Julie Dew bore three children but died in childbirth with the fourth child in 1878. Also in 1878 a bad fire burnt the farm except for the buildings.
In 1879 Prospero married May Ann (Mariana) Martinoja who lived in Guildford. She was the daughter of (Giacomo) Fillipo Martinoja and (Domenica) Mary Martinoka (nee Righetti). Both parents were from the Ticinese provinced. Fillipo had migrated from the market town of Cevio in 1854 and Mary had migrated from the village of Someo in 1861. The Martinojas had a stone house, the remains of which can be seen near the corner of Shicer Gully and Fryers Rds, Guildford. The Martinojas are buried in the Guildford cemetery. Prospero Passalaqua had nine surviving children.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER PASSALAQUA HOMESTEAD - Heritage Inventory Description
The major remaining structures of the farm complex are the barn and residence. There are remains of the neighbouring Barassi stone buildings to the north of the house and a large stone wall across the paddock to the north running parallel with the road, but set back across the creek line.
Physical Conditions:
Damaged/disturbed.
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FORMER PASSALAQUA HOMESTEADVictorian Heritage Inventory
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BARASSI FARMHOUSE RUINSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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