ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTER
502-580 BOUNDARY ROAD ARMSTRONG CREEK, GREATER GEELONG CITY
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Statement of Significance
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ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTER - History
William Batten acquired these allotments in 1855 and 1856, together with a number of other allotments in the Parish of Connewarre, as noted above. Connewarre Road District Board rate books show that William Batten was leasing 80 acres and a cottage to a John Roberts in 1865, but the rate books do not specify which allotments they were. Batten was also leasing land to a Thomas Wright at this time (Geelong Heritage Centre: Connewarre Road District Board rate books, 1865). It is likely that the 80 acres leased by John Roberts were part of 'Roberts Farm' .
After William Batten died in 1896 probate records show that this land contained a three room weatherboard cottage, kitchen and outbuildings known as 'Roberts Farm' occupied by a Mr Mullen jnr. (PROV: VPRS 28/P2, Unit 445, File 62/673). Ownership of the land later passed to Charlotte Jennie Larcombe (Search notes, DSE Application 55276). When local families petitioned the Education Department to construct a school, files show that the Berryman family was living on t he property, with a map marking their location in Allotment A on the boundary with Allotment B. AW Berryman signed the initial petition in 1912 and noted that there were two children in the family old enough to go to school and one not of age (PROV: VPRS 795/PO, Unit 2910, File 3917). Electoral rolls list a number of Berryman's in the district in 1914, but further research is needed to determine which Berryman fami ly occupied the allotments and what use they made of the land.Owner of the land, Charlotte Jennie Larcombe died in 1956, but prior to her death her daughter Pearl Wall is believed to have lived at 'Roberts Farm' (PROV: VPRS 460/P2, Unit 60; Search notes, DSE Application 55276). Following Charlotte's death probate records note no improvements on Allotments A and B, which at the time were leased to Wall and (Jessie Alice) Faulkner (PROV: VPRS 28/P4, Unit 1501, File 522/480).
In 1963 the land was acquired by William and St ella Birkett, who also acquired Allotments Land K and part of J in Section 4. William Birkett died in 1967 and probate records state that Allotments A and B did not have any erections or structural improvements and was divided into 12 paddocks with post and wire fencing. There were two small dams and the land was sown in pasture (PROV: VPRS 28/P5, Unit 7, File 669/323).
Further research is needed on the structures that occupied this allotment (Blake 2011).
ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTER - Interpretation of Site
The site contains portable historic relics on the ground surface within a grassed (& recently ploughed) paddock. Some of these relics may constitute evidence of the former circa 1896 3- roomed weatherboard cottage and/or structure marked on a 1923 Ordinance Map (see attached) of the area. A dam, also shown on the 1923 map, is still present at the location.
ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTER - Archaeological Significance
Based on the known evidence, the scatter has been assessed as having low to moderate archaeological significance. Although the known site consists of fragmented relics, the potential for currently obscured archaeological remains at the location could contribute information pertaining to a circa 1896 cottage and/ or a former structure marked on a 1923 Ordinance Map (see attached).
ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTER - Historical Significance
The site has been assessed as having moderate historic value based on its potential as being representative of part of an influx of occupation to the broader area in the late 1800s - early 1900s. There is historic evidence (including the 1923 Ordinance Map - see attached) of a number of homes being established in the broader area around the early 1900s.
Heritage Inventory Description
ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTER - Heritage Inventory Description
The site consists of a surface scatter of fragmented portable artefacts within the property on the southern side of Boundary Road approximately half way between Batten and Horseshoe Bend Roads. The site is at the approximate location of a structure shown on a 1923 Ordinance Survey of the area (see attached) and may be evidence of a circa 1896 cottage. The location currently consists of grassed paddocks.
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ROBERT'S FARM ARTEFACT SCATTERVictorian Heritage Inventory
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