MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEX
95 MCDONALDS ROAD EPPING, WHITTLESEA CITY
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Statement of Significance
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MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEX - History
In 1839, following Hoddle's survey, the land south and west of the Darebin Creek Village Reserve was purchased by John Hosking and Terry Hughes at the Melbourne land sales. John Pike JP and, later, Charles Campbell owned the remainder of the Parish.
The north-south road set out by Hoddle, ran along the western boundary of the Village Reserve. In 1853, the Reserve was re-surveyed by Robert Mason, the main north-south road was diverted to go through the Reserve's centre and the town was re-named "Epping". Mason also set aside sites for a Catholic and Presbyterian Church, a cemetery and a village market (Payne, The Plenty, 115 and 169). By the 1870s the township had blacksmiths, a general store, a hotel, a butchers, a bakers and a bootmakers. Farming was the main source of employment in the area.
The land on which the structure is situated originally formed part of Lot 3 of Crown Portion 8 within the Parish of Morang. By 1850 John Watson, Edward Wight and Catherine Watson were the registered proprietors. The land was sold to John Armstrong the same year. John Armstrong sold a portion of the land (in the north west corner of the block) to John McDonald (later referred to as John McDonnell) soon afterwards. Rate records indicate that a house had been constructed on the property by 1865. McDonnell held the land until his death on 17 June 1886, when the land passed to his son John McDonnell (junior). John McDonnell (junior) held the land until his death on 27 July 1925, when the land passed to his wife, Mary McDonnell. Mary McDonnell died on 20 November 1954, after which the land passed to Herbert Cooknell. Cooknell divided it in to two lots, which were subsequently sold off to developers.
The McDonnells operated the property as a farm. The age of the structure identified in the study is difficult to determine, but it is highly likely that it dates to the period of the McDonnells (McDonalds) ownership.
Note: This citation failed to document the original homestead and only recorded the 1950s outbuildings and 1960s dwelling. It is therefore not an accurate citation in relation to the subject of this recording but does contain relevant place history.
MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEX - Interpretation of Site
. Original ownership (1850s) relating to Crown Portion 8 Parish of Morang.
. Continuous ownership of the land by the same family and descendants over a 100 year period.
. Construction of the original house in 1865 and its association with the early farming of the Epping district.
. The expansion of the farm curtilage over the period of ownership by McDonalds to include outbuildings and gardens. .
. Farming of the land under new ownership from the mid-1950s to mid-1970s with a new dwelling and outbuildings.
. Urban development from the mid-1970s to mid-1980l, at which time farming activity was reduced to the immediately surrounding land.
MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEX - Archaeological Significance
McDonalds Farm Complex is of archaeological significance as it contains the remains of buildings and fabric associated with 100 years of farming and settlement linked to the McDonald family who resided on the land from 1865. The former house and its surrounding curtilage is all that remains of a larger farming enterprise now substantially subsumed by metropolitan development.
MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEX - Historical Significance
McDonald Farm Complex is the site of an early settler's house and 'one of the few remnants of early settlement to survive in this region' (Meredith Gould, 1990). The place has potential to demonstrate 100 years of continuous ownership by the McDonald family.
Heritage Inventory Description
MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEX - Heritage Inventory Description
Remains of the original McDonalds farm cottage and associated buildings and structures including bluestone and rouble house foundations, remains of timber cottage, brick fireplace, brick-lined well (containing potential historic artefacts), mature trees, bluestone and brick paving associated with former outbuildings, remains of early household objects, original entrance from McDonalds Road, fence posts and remains of drystone walls. Recently abandoned 1960s cream brick dwelling and 1950s outbuildings.
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MCDONALDS FARM COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Epping Memorial PlaquesVic. War Heritage Inventory
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