CAROLINE CHISHOLM SHELTER SHEDS

658 OLD CALDER HIGHWAY KEILOR, BRIMBANK CITY

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    CAROLINE CHISHOLM SHELTER SHEDS - History

    During Victoria's gold rushes in the 1850s, Caroline Chisholm developed a system of providing cheap and safe accommodation for families of travellers on their way to the diggings, as well as immigrants who had just arrived in the colony. Situated at strategic points along the Mount Alexander Road, the first facilities were open for travellers in November 1855 and included sheds for single men and women, sheds for families and cookhouses. Having been Prior to the construction of the sheds, the Keilor site was occupied by a police station, and when the sheds were no longer in use the site was purchased from the Crown in 1906 by Patrick Donnelly, who is thought to have been the local shed keeper for some years, and occupied as a permanent home.

    Interpretation of Site

    CAROLINE CHISHOLM SHELTER SHEDS - Interpretation of Site

    An 1856 plan of the Keilor site shows four buildings on the site including a large shed measuring approximately 21m x 4m, a kitchen at its rear, a 'privy' and a stable block.

    The site is now cleared and graded. A bluestone drain recorded in 1992 has since been removed or buried through landscaping works associated with the creation of a berm around the southern and eastern edge of the site, although some blue stone was visible amongst the vegetation suggesting that the drain may have been disturbed. A scatter of brick and stone debris recorded at this time is still visible at the south east corner of the site.

    Parch marks and depressions suggest that sub-surface archaeological features survive within the site.

    Archaeological Significance

    CAROLINE CHISHOLM SHELTER SHEDS - Archaeological Significance

    The site was subjected to excavation in 1992. Artefacts were recovered and, although few structural remains were encountered, the work appeared to indicate that there was potential for the survival of sub-surface deposits within the site.

    The 2000 Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study concluded that the Keilor example has possibly the greatest archaeological potential of all of the known Caroline Chisholm shelter sites.

    Historical Significance

    CAROLINE CHISHOLM SHELTER SHEDS - Historical Significance

    The site is of high historical significance because of its association with Caroline Chisholm and the gold rush.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    CAROLINE CHISHOLM SHELTER SHEDS - Heritage Inventory Description

    Scattered bluestone, brick and stone debris are visible at edge of site, which comprises an open reserve, approximately 100m x 50m, with a landscaped berm around its southern edge.

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places

  • 
    BRIDGE

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1427
  • 
    PREFABRICATED BUILDING

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1971
  • 
    KEILOR HOTEL

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1974
• Public contributions