MOUNT DERRIMUT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX

475 MOUNT DERRIMUT ROAD DERRIMUT, BRIMBANK CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    MOUNT DERRIMUT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - History

    In 1853 a blue stone cottage was built on the site by the Morton Brothers who ran a cattle operation from Mount Derrimut which built up a herd of shorthorns rated as one of the leading herds in the colony. In 1875 the Mortons sold the property to James Howatson, a sheep farmer, and returned to England. Howatson, who built the present homestead, died in 1897 and the property was maintained as a pastoral venture under his trustees until shortly before World War I. The property was leased to various tenants during this period who used the property for grazing and the buildings fell into disrepair. In 1950, ICI bought the property as conference and training facilities and to provide more adequate buffer areas around its Deer Park explosives Factory and magazine areas. In 1962 ICI leased the property and buildings to Melbourne University for use as an Agriculture Field Station providing residential training for students and teaching, research and experimental facilities.

    
    

    Interpretation of Site

    MOUNT DERRIMUT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Interpretation of Site

    The site was originally developed by the Morton Brothers who built a cottage and outbuidings on the site in 1853, but the existing house was built in the Italianate style in 1883/4 by James Howatson. Howatson laid out substantial gardens and planted a grove of trees on the lower slopes on the Deer Park side, and the surviving shearing shed and part of a cattle barn are also thought to be from Howatson's improvements, although these have both since been converted to other purposes. On purchasing the property, ICI enlarged and remodelled the homestead for use as a centre for staff training and conferences, with extensive restoration works being conducted in 1961. The original 1853 Morton bluestone cottage was demolished by ICIANZ in about 1953, although some of the bluestone outbuildings were recycled. (Forster). Further conversions were undertaken when the site passed into the control of the University of Victoria to create student accommodation, laboratories and class rooms. Structures surviving from this period in the site's use include a brick weather station to the west of the house.

    It has nowbeen taken over by the Sunshine Golf Club, whichopened in November 2007.

    Most recently a number of the later buildings to the south west have been demolished and much of the site has been cleared and landscaped as part of the site's development as a golf course. Several bluestone buildings have been reconstructed and renovated, and the barns to the south west of the homestead are now used by grounds staff.

    Archaeological Significance

    MOUNT DERRIMUT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Archaeological Significance

    The majority of the site will have been heavily truncated through landscaping associated with the construction of the golf course. However, the relatively undisturbed areas now under hardstanding around the Italianate house and other 19th century buildings at the top of the hill are likely to contain subsurface deposits relating to domestic and pastoral activity in the 19th centruy, including remains relating to the original 1853 cottage.

    Historical Significance

    MOUNT DERRIMUT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Historical Significance

    Mt. Derrimut HomesteadComplex is of historic significance for its associations with the Morton brothers cattle stud - one of the first major grazing and breeding properties in Melbourne's West, renowned for the quality of its breeding stock, and important for the role it played in the development and improvement of cattle breeds for Australian conditions. It is also significant as a rare example of a nineteenth century grazing property with its surviving Italianate homestead and garden, and some remaining outbuildings and stone walls. The role of the site as formerly the Melbourne University agricultural field station is also to its significance, demonstrating a longevity and continuity of use in connection with agriculture and animal husbandry in Victoria

    Heritage Inventory Description

    MOUNT DERRIMUT HOMESTEAD COMPLEX - Heritage Inventory Description

    Bluestone house, of 1883/4, and reconstructed outbuilding now used by golf club. Also associated farm buildings used by groundsmen and ruined bluestone block in carpark.

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