120 WILDWOOD ROAD HOMESTEAD
120 WILDWOOD ROAD BULLA, HUME CITY
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Statement of Significance
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120 WILDWOOD ROAD HOMESTEAD - History
The site is the location of a former early homestead in private property at 120 Wildwood Road. The property was first part of the ‘Bulla Common’, the government reserve of land to the east of the Bulla Bulla township (Allotment 1 shown on Figure 10). The ‘Bulla Common’ was not subdivided until 1873, when the allotments were made available for sale (see the plan of subdivision, Figure 11). According to the 1959 Bulla Bulla Parish Plan (Figure 13), the property (Allotment 34) of 10 acres was first bought by J. Ward on 16 May 1876. A review of the Bulla Ratebooks (the Bulla District Road Board books) from the 19th century indicates that from 1876 John Ward was listed as the property owner. His occupation was described as a ‘Dealer’, and the property address was listed as ‘Green Gully and Oaklands Road’ and the land described as “Land, Bulla, Lot 34, Section 1’. From 1877 until 1881, the owner and occupier (tenant) are both listed as John Ward but the address of the property was then listed as ‘Craig Bank Road Subdivision’. In 1884-1885 and the 1886-1887 Rate Books the owner and tenant change to Mary Ward, described as a ‘farmer’. Then in 1888-1889 there is no owner listed, and the tenant changes to G.W. Taylor and Co. (George William Taylor, auctioneer). In 1890-1891 and the 1892-1893 Rate Books the owner is listed as G.W. Taylor and Co. and the tenant is listed as David Ralston. A building is shown on the 1938 Sunbury map (Figure 12, Figure 3) and a small square building and outbuildings are shown on the 1951 and 1968 aerial photos (Figure 6, Figure 8). Some basalt fieldstone was visible covered in grass in the location of the former house. A circular well/cistern that was present on the 1938 Sunbury map is attested by the current owner as being covered over by the present driveway. An aerial photo from 1951 shows a small building and driveway as well as trees or vegetation around a rectangular ‘enclosure’ (fence line presumably) around the building (Figure 7). The proposed VHI site extent for the homestead is based on this area as shown in the 1951 aerial photo. A 1968 aerial photo shows that the 1951 building has been demolished by that time, and that several other buildings and small sheds had been added (Figure 8).120 WILDWOOD ROAD HOMESTEAD - Interpretation of Site
The site was originally part of the government land allotment, known as the ‘Bulla Common’. In 1873 the large Common was subdivided and put up for private sale. The allotment 34 was purchased by John Ward in 1876. According to the rate books, Ward was occupying the property by 1877, and his wife, Mary Ward, up until 1887. The property was presumably used as a farm and private residence during that period. From 1888 until at least the 1951, the property continued to be used as a farm and private residence. The location of the original house is indicated on the 1938 Sunbury map (Figure 12). According to archival aerial photos, sometime between 1951 and 1968, the original homestead was demolished and other buildings and sheds were built. Sometime before 2004, the c. 1950s/1906s buildings were removed and the current brick house and buildings were built, based on satellite imagery available on Google Earth. The part of the property where the original 19th century house stood has not been redeveloped since its demolition, based on a review of archival aerial photos, maps and satellite imagery. The presence of parchmarks in the grass in this location on satellite imagery (Figure 9) and the basalt stones observed in the grass in this location (Figure 6), indicate that there is good potential for archaeological remains of the original homestead to be present.
Heritage Inventory Description
120 WILDWOOD ROAD HOMESTEAD - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is a private rural property with a single dwelling located at the western end of 120 Wildwood Road, Bulla. It is currently open and grassed with some mature trees. The property was once occupied by a former homestead including a house and several small outbuildings and a water cistern or dam. This information is based on the Bulla Shire Rate Books from the 1870s to 1890s, a 1938 map of Sunbury and a 1951 aerial photo. A building is shown on the 1938 Sunbury map and a small square building and outbuildings are shown on the 1951 and 1968 aerial photos. Some basalt fieldstone was visible covered in grass in the location of the former house. A circular well/cistern is attested by the current owner as being covered over by the current driveway. Review of archival aerial and satellite imagery shows square parchmarks visible in the grass in the location of the former homestead. The basalt stone and the parchmarks indicate that there is good potential for archaeological remains of the former homestead to be present within the site.
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