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FORMER MCDONALD FARM SITE
71 WHELANS ROAD PARWAN, MELTON CITY
FORMER MCDONALD FARM SITE
71 WHELANS ROAD PARWAN, MELTON CITY
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Victorian Heritage Inventory
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The property was owned by William and Betsy McDonald and their four children, who immigrated from Scotland as assisted passengers in 1852. McDonald commenced farming in Parwan shortly after he purchased Allotments 2, 3 and 4 of Section 9 Parish of Parwan from the Crown in 1859. He then selected Allotment 1B under Section 42 of the Amending Land Act 1865 and purchased it from the Crown in 1872 under Section 31 of the Land Act 1869.
McDonald used the land for dairy and sheep. In 1877 the property was described as “a very neat cottage residence … in front of which is a prettily arranged and well-kept garden, consisting of about half an acre” (Australasian, 6 January 1877, p. 24; Nelson & Alves 2009, p. 255). After William McDonald’s death in 1881, his son’s ran the farm successfully throughout the 20th century. His son William and family were in the surrounding area in 1956. In particular the site has the potential to contain archaeological deposits and features that relate to the construction, use and abandonment of the former homestead.
The McDonald Farm Site comprises a brick and bluestone dairy (currently used for storage) surrounded by light modern industrial farm structures. The nineteenth century homestead and outbuildings were removed, and their location is unknown. The original homestead comprised a weatherboard house. The dairy was used as a milking shed until recently. The dairy has undergone stabilisation works and a concrete floor was installed. The roof of the structure was originally timber shingled which was replaced with tin when the shingles deteriorated.
The McDonald Farm Site comprises a brick and bluestone dairy (currently used for storage) surrounded by light modern industrial farm structures. The nineteenth century homestead and outbuildings were removed, and their location is unknown. The original homestead comprised a weatherboard house. The dairy was used as a milking shed until recently. The dairy has undergone stabilisation works and a concrete floor was installed. The roof of the structure was originally timber shingled which was replaced with tin when the shingles deteriorated.
How is it significant?
The site is of local historical significance and local archaeological significance.
Why is it significant?
The site is of local historical significance as evidence of the pastoral farming industry in Parwan. The site is of archaeological significance for its potential to contain information on Scottish immigrant families in addition to information about nineteenth century dairy farming in the area.
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