PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
42 MERRI CONCOURSE CAMPBELLFIELD, HUME CITY
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Statement of Significance
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PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - History
Historic research conducted as part of this assessment included a review of primary and secondary sources, including historic maps, land titles, and newspaper articles in order to determine the occupation history of land encompassing the listed site. The summary presented below draws of the results of a Historical Heritage Assessment (HHA) currently being undertaken on behalf of Hume City Council (Crotty and Dolling, 2023b). Details of the assessment relevant to H7822-0032 are summarised below and further detailed in the attached supporting documentation (see Crotty and Dolling, 2023a). [Note: The supporting documentation additionally includes historic maps and aerial imagery of the site, and additional references to primary and secondary source material]. In summary, the result of this research indicates that: • Archaeological features and deposits previously identified at the site/potentially preserved at the site are likely associated with the nineteenth to early twentieth century occupation of the land for farming purposes; specifically: - A complex of historic farm buildings are recorded as having been located at the site in 1854, including (but not necessarily limited to): a brick house with a cellar, detached kitchen, storeroom, stables, dairy, piggery, men’s huts, barn and gardens; and an associated complex of dry stone wall and timber fencing. • H7822-0032 is located within Crown Portion (CP) 13, Parish of Will Will Rook. Ownership records for CP 13 are unfortunately incomplete (see LTA, AP67399; see Crotty and Dolling 2023a); however, a review of the available primary source material – including historic maps, land application records, and historic newspaper articles pertaining to the nineteenth to early-twentieth century ownership/occupation of CP 13 – indicates that: - A number of substantial buildings had been constructed at the site by 1854 by the then land owner J. H. Spencer as the residence and complex of farm buildings for a property known as the ‘Plas Newydd Estate’. - Following the subdivision of this estate, land encompassing the listed site was acquired by John Payne, and a farm of 162 acres known as ‘Kent Farm’ was established, encompassing the original 'Plas Newydd Estate’ farm building complex. - Kent farm continued to operate as a mixed-use farm combining dairying with small scape cropping until c.1930 when the land was acquired by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works for use as the Campbellfield Night Soil Depot. [NOTE: The existing site listing indicates that the site is associated with notable local publican, shire councillor and justice of the peace, William Barry; however, no primary sources linking Barry with the site have been viewed as part of this assessment]. • Land encompassing the site formed part of the ‘Campbellfield Night Soil Works’ until at least 1960. • Historic aerial imagery indicates that (see maps in Crotty and Dolling, 2023a): - three structures (likely farm buildings) were preserved at the site until at least 1945; - two structures were preserved at the site in 1951; and - no structures were preserved at the site in 1975. • Recent historic aerial imagery indicates that: - land encompassing the site remained open, predominantly agricultural (grassed) land during the twentieth century; - beginning in c.2002, land encompassing the site was utilised as an informal (illegal) dump (see Crotty and Dolling, 2023a). • Archaeological features and deposits that may be preserved at the site are likely to be buried beneath dumped rubbish. At the time of the field survey (April 20, 2023) this material was evident at the site as a series of moderate to large mounds, each measuring several metres in diameter and up to 1.0m in height (see Crotty & Dolling, 2023a & 2023b). Additional details, including primary sources (e.g., historic maps) and references pertaining to the historic ownership and use of land encompassing and in the immediate vicinity of the listed site (H7822-0032), are provided in the attached supporting documentation (see Crotty and Dolling, 2023a).PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - Interpretation of Site
The proposed revised site extent encompasses the historic location of a nineteenth to early twentieth century farm complex. Primary sources indicate that complex was constructed between c.1846 and 1854, and remained in use until the early 1930s. Additional details are provided in the attached supporting documentation (see Crotty and Dolling, 2023a).
PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - Archaeological Significance
The farm ruinsincluded basalt pitchers and floaters marking deep footings of the principal rooms, a cellar which had been filled with demolition rubble and a levelled terrace lined at the margins by foundation stones extending 2 metres wide along the south side of the building. Slabs of Hoffman bricks overlying basalt footings, a 5 by 5m surface of basalt cobbles, probably indicating a detached kitchen/dairy to the north, and a brick rubble layer over in situ handmade bricks were also recorded, as were a basalt drain and basalt dry stone walls to the north and west forming horse paddocks. Aside from the structural components, scatters of domestic refuse were recorded as well as rubbish dumps on top of the escarpment (see Maloney 2003).
The site appears changed from the situation potrayed in the 2003 Heritage Review (Moloney), whether through vegetation cover, clearance or dumping. However, enough remains to suggest that the site retains some archaeological potential, and some upstanding remains may survive beneath the dumped construction material.
PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - Historical Significance
The remains of the former Barry Road farm are of local historical significance as an example of the early tenanted farming properties which were once typical along the Merri Creek. Established by the early 1840s, these farms constituted the western boundary of the first farming district in Port Phillip. The remains reflect the first wave of European settlement in the district, and demonstrate the character and techniques of building and farming practice in the pioneering period.
Heritage Inventory Description
PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
The proposed revised site extent encompasses the historic location of a nineteenth to early twentieth century farm complex that was constructed at the site between c.1846 and 1854. The complex remained in use as a farming complex until the early 1930s. Primary sources indicate that complex included: a brick house with a cellar, detached kitchen, storeroom, stables, dairy, piggery, men’s huts, barn and gardens; and an associated complex of dry stone wall and timber fencing. [Note: Additional details are provided in the attached supporting documentation (see Crotty and Dolling, 2023a)]. At the time of the recent site inspection (April 2023), land within and in the vicinity of the proposed revised site extent comprised predominantly open grassed land (former agricultural land) with scattered tree and dense shrub (boxthorn) cover. The majority of the proposed revised site extent was also covered in large piles of mounded rubbish. This material is evident at the site as a series of moderate to large mounds, each measuring several metres in diameter and up to 1.0m in height. The presence of this material and dense vegetation meant that it was not possible to effectively visualise the natural ground surface, or to assess the current condition of features identified as a result of previous site inspections and recorded on the site’s existing Heritage Inventory site card (e.g., footings, surfaces, cellar, etc.).
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PLAS NEWYDD ESTATE/ KENT FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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