Hope Farm House

Statement of Significance

The building is important for its connection with the first European settlement of the area and for its association with pioneering families. The building is a fine example of the style, construction methods and use of building materials in this period.

Physical Description

Built in 1908 by Bill Jacobs (Wagin) who later built Manna Flats homestead (1911). The roof has three hips (a central valley) and a bull nosed verandah all round. Part of this (eastern side) has been bricked in. The walls are of stone (pug mortar) with brick pointed. Built in a traditional colonial style with high ceilings it has a large central hallway with five rooms leading off. The passage opens to two large rooms at the rear of the house.

Modifications include new windows on the back NW corner and one wall removed to
make a large kitchen on the NE back comer.

History

In 1901 Joseph Rolston Patterson (junior), wife Polly, (a sister to George Jefferies), four sons and daughter arrived from Hamley Bridge to take over the property left by Andrew Patterson. Polly died following the birth of Ruby, her second daughter to be bom in the west, in April 1907, at the age of 41. The eldest daughter, Lillian, was called upon to act as mother to the younger children; a situation that was often the case in those times. The family had barely moved into their new home which was built over the road from the
Whitelaw Gully home.

Joseph had five sons whose future had to be considered. As the boys were too young to take advantage of the homestead grant of 160 acres, Jim Patterson (their uncle resident in SA) selected the Woolkabin Homestead through which ran the old sandalwood track from Woolkabunning Well to Woolkabin Stake Well to Dumbleyung Lake. In 1905 Albert J Patterson, the eldest son, was able to take up bis own homestead selection and when his Uncle's Woolkabin block was forfeited in 1906, Albert purchased it. Later young Rolston also selected land south of Albert while George and Ralph went to Nyabing and the youngest son Hamley, continued farming Hope Farm after his father's (Joseph) death
in late 1942. On the Ballaying South Road the other sons, Albert and Rolston, were expanding. Albert purchased various blocks previously owned by the Harvey, Darby, Shackley, Bradbury and Randell families. His sons, Ernest and Elliott, had homesteads along this road which included the well-known Woolkabin Merino Stud.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.