ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX

Dartmoor/Hamilton Rd BRANXHOLME, Southern Grampians Shire

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Southern Grampians Shire

23194 Ardachy Branxholme 0731

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Conditions

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Conditions

    The original stone house is in ruins but retains a high archaeological potential with many surviving early plantings. The later house is in good condition although recently altered by the addition of a verandah, the demolition of a chimney and some changed fenestration.

    Physical Description 1

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 1

    Ardachy, eight kilometres north-west of Branxholme, is located on the south-west side of the Dartmoor-Hamilton Road and approximately two kilometres west of its intersection with the Murndal Road. The homestead complex consists of the ruins of the original stone homestead with its cellar and a nearby underground tank, its immediate garden defined by the remnants of a hawthorn hedge, the drive which leads from the main gate, passes through the original homestead site and terminates at the second timber homestead and its associated structures. Beyond the latter there is a large timber woolshed, now clad with corrugated iron, with yards in a paddock at the top of the hill. The first house appears to have faced west, possibly over a body of water, with the orchard at the rear. The newer house, on the hill beyond the first faces north-east. There was a sheepwash associated with the swamp to the east of the homestead and across the Dartmoor-Hamilton Road and a sheep dip to the west but little if anything is said to survive of these works.
    
    The original homestead was single storey with a cellar. Initially, it appears to have comprised four main rooms, two front rooms under a hipped roof and two under a skillion roof. The walls are built of coursed random rubble bluestone although some sections of wall also incorporate small hand-made bricks. The walls are plastered internally. The facade is asymmetrical in that the front door, while between two windows, is not central. The windows are surrounded by simple architraves. Brick chimneys may have been removed from the walls opposite the front windows. The walls have been whitewashed at some time. Wing walls indicate that there was a verandah across the facade. Footings suggest that the house was extended to the east, or rear, and to the south, or right side. Beyond the latter extension a domed and rendered brick access survives, in good condition, to an underground watertank. There is much collapsed building material and there are elm suckers in the ruins.
    
    In what appears to be an orchard to the east of the original house, and probably at its rear, there are a walnut tree, a fig, two apples and three pears and a Pittosporum. Near the house, on either side of the drive are Robinias. Beyond the house there are a Norfolk Island Pine (Aracaria heterophylla), Cupressus torulosa, Quercus robusta and Q. d., a bay laurel, and a peppercorn tree (Schinus molle).
    
    The second house is a timber bungalow in form with weatherboard walls and half-timbered gables. The roof is corrugated iron. It has a typical early twentieth century plan with projecting rooms and an L-shaped verandah. The verandah is timber with simple timber brackets. The chimneys are pressed red brick with rendered and corniced tops. The windows are double-hung sashes. A new wide timber verandah, with detailing similar to the original, and a balustrade has been added at the side of the house, a side window has been enlarged and a chimney has been demolished. (An original bathroom window may also have been altered.) The interiors have not been inspected. The woolshed has not been inspected.

    Historical Australian Themes

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Historical Australian Themes

    Theme 2: Peopling Australia
    2.5 Promoting settlement
    
    Theme 3: Developing local, regional and national economies
    3.5 Developing primary production
    3.5.1 Grazing stock
    
    Theme 5: Working
    5.8 Working on the land

    Usage/Former Usage

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Usage/Former Usage

    Continuing as a pastoral property.

    Integrity

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Integrity

    The original homestead and garden are derelict and abandoned but retain a high degree of archaeological potential. The second house retains a good degree of integrity although altered and extended in 2001.

    Physical Description 2

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 2

    James Maxwell Clow and Charles Haslewood first owners of squatting lease
    Duncan McIntyre, second owner of squatting lease and builder of first house
    George Coldham, subsequent owner of lease
    Stephen G Henty, subsequent owner of lease
    John McKellar, subsequent owner of lease (twice) and first owner of freehold?
    George Urquhart, subsequent owner of lease
    Henry James Neill, subsequent owner of lease
    Angus Urquhart, subsequent owner of freehold
    James Gordon, Walter Laidlaw and the Laidlaw family, subsequent owners of freehold and builders of second house.
    Walter and Ann Redfearn, Soldier Settlers in 1947

    Physical Description 3

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 3

    Ardachy Pre-emptive Right

    Physical Description 4

    ARDACHY HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 4

    All works and development should be subject to a conservation management plan for the original house, outbuildings, [woolshed?] and garden. Consolidate ruins, identify surviving plantings, and no substantial work around original homestead site and garden without a preliminary archaeological survey and a full survey if necessary. Maintain second house generally as existing.

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study

    Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
    Year: 2002
    Grading:

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