ALBERT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX

Springfield Lane and Albert Road PENSHURST, Southern Grampians Shire

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Southern Grampians Shire

23288 Albert Homestead complex house 1862

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • Physical Conditions

    ALBERT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Conditions

    The complex is in ruins. Many substantial and minor plantings survive in the garden and the orchard.

    Physical Description 1

    ALBERT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Physical Description 1

    It is not possible to determine exactly what the form and plan of the wattle and daub hut which was the first Albert homestead. It appears to be very similar to one of those which survives at the neighbouring property, Acacia and others on different properties which were all built in the 1850s. The hut faced north into a garden enclosed by dry stone walls and towards two Linden trees which marked the entrance. The extensive orchard was to its south. The later house was built immediately to its north-east and beyond that, in a separate walled yard, the later woolshed.
    
    There was probably a central passage in the hut with a small room on either side and two or three smaller rooms across the back. The single massive stone chimney was located at the eastern end. It seems unlikely that there was a habitable attic although the roof space may have been used for storage. The surviving timbers show that the building was constructed with a morticed and tenoned timber frame set on a loose stone base. The major timber were sawn. Within the panels of the frame there were roughly hewn upright timbers tapered at both ends which were covered with clay probably reinforced by straw. In surviving structures the clay and straw appear to have been wrapped around the uprights in a technique know as 'Lehmwickle'. The same system was used for ceilings. The rough, or at least ribbed surface was then smoothed with a second application of clay. The gabled roof would have been framed in timber and covered with split timber shingles.
    
    The plan, form and materials of the later or bluestone Albert homestead appear to be very similar to those built at Willowbrook in 1861, at Acacia in 1864 for Pastor Hiller's House in Hiller Lane, east of Hamilton. In which case, the house was symmetrical about a central front door with the windows of the front rooms on either side. There is evidence of a steep staircase in the front hall indicating a substantial attic and one end gable wall still retains the blocks of stone which formed a small window. The walls are of coursed bluestone rubble with squared rock faced blocks in the outer skin. The inner faces of the walls are rendered and plastered. No ceilings survive and very little joinery. The house faced west also towards the entrance of the walled garden.
    
    Some distance to the north of the second house there are the remains of a bluestone woolshed. It is set within and on the east side of its own yard enclosed by dry stone walls. There were two large openings in the western side with pivoting doors opening into the yard. Smaller openings for the exit of sheep survive on the northern side. The most unusual aspect of the woolshed is that it is comprised of three relatively small rooms rather than one large open space. The origin and purpose of the plan are not known.
    
    An extensive orchard survives to the south of the house including mature specimens of a variety of Pears of different cultivars (Pyrus comminus unk. cultivars), Sweet Elder (Sambucus canadensis), Peach (Prunus persica), a variety of apples (Malus x domestica unk. cultivars) a variety of Plums (Prunus sp. unk. cultivars), Fig (ficus carica). The site has a great deal of garlic growing among the fruit trees, it is not known if this was an early traditional form of insect (pest) control, or has escaped from a vegetable garden and gone wild. Iris have also spread from what was once the homestead garden.

    Historical Australian Themes

    ALBERT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Historical Australian Themes

    Theme 3 Developing local, regional and national economies
    3.5 Developing primary production
    3.5.1 Grazing stock
    3.5.2 Breeding animals
    3.9 Farming for commercial profit
    3.14 Developing an Australian engineering and construction industry
    3.14.1 Building to suit Australian conditions
    3.14.1Using Australian materials in construction
    
    Theme 5 Working
    5.8 Working on the land
    
    Theme 8 Developing Australia's cultural life
    8.12 Living in and around Australian homes
    8.14 Living in the country and rural settlements

    Usage/Former Usage

    ALBERT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Usage/Former Usage

    Ruinous buildings.
    Abandoned garden and orchard.
    Farmland

    Integrity

    ALBERT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Integrity

    Orchard appears to survive substantially intact. The stone homestead has been destroyed for building materials. The original wattle and daub hut has been destroyed.

    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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