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Sutton's Farm

Author

City of Mandurah

Place Number

24454
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

Old Coast Rd Mandurah

Location Details

Lot 6

Local Government

Mandurah

Region

Peel

Construction Date

Constructed from 1870, Constructed from 1881

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Municipal Inventory Adopted 15 Jul 1997 Category 1

Category 1

National or State significance The highest level of protection is appropriate including referral for entry on to the appropriate national and/or state registers, and the provision of maximum encouragement to the owner/s to conserve the significance of the place. The place should be photographically recorded and a conservation plan be prepared.

Statement of Significance

Sutton’s Farm is of high historical significance. It is associated with the Suttons and the Coopers, some of the earliest pioneering European families in the Mandurah district. Although the original homestead has been heavily
modified, the farm’s outbuildings, including single men’s quarters, stables and shed, are basically intact and provide valuable insight into farming life and practices, as well as building methods and materials used in Mandurah in the 19th century. Various farm machines and implements located on the property enhance this significance.
The Sutton family graveyard, which was once on the property but is now separated, is also high historical and cultural significance, providing valuable information about the fates of three of the Sutton family members.
Sutton’s Farm was also the location of Winjan’s Camp, the home of a well-known Aboriginal leader in the district, George Winjan, who was also a mediator between the black and white communities. The Winjan Corporation hopes to rejuvenate Winjan’s Camp, signifying the importance of this site to Mandurah’s local Aboriginal population.
A very tall Norfolk Pine adjacent to the homestead building is believed to have been planted around 1890 and is
now around 20 metres high. It is one of the oldest introduced trees in the district, and has for many years been
used as a beacon for both travellers and locals.

Physical Description

Farm comprises a modified 11-room homestead and associated farm buildings
including barn/stables and single men’s quarters (1870). It was situated on prime farm land stretching from Halls Head to Falcon, 9 km south. The homestead is limestone with walls 18 inches thick and pit sawn timber. It was originally roofed with shingles and had an 8 foot verandah right around the building, but over the years the shingles have been replaced by tiles and the verandah widened and bricked in in parts.
A stand of nine very old olive trees is adjacent to the homestead, and a more recent chicken coop to the rear. Old farm machinery and tools in situ. A stock race is still standing but is overgrown with grass.
The graves associated with the farm are now separated by canals, but remain a
feature of a small park within the Halls Head canal development. The surrounding
original limestone wall is in poor condition in part, but appropriately weathered for its age, as are the trees that shelter and frame the graves. Parts of the farm can be seen from this graveyard. Winjan’s camp was also on Sutton’s Farm. This site is currently being assessed by the Australian Heritage Commission.

History

The homestead was built by Henry Sutton. The farm was bought by Joseph Cooper in 1924 but was still managed by the Sutton family. Tony and Hal Sutton bought back the farm in 1949 and continued to farm it until it was sold to Esplanade Developments Ltd in 1977. From the 1930s to the 1950s, football was also played on one of the farm’s paddocks when the paddock near Hackett Street became too boggy. Large trees on the farm were cleared for the purpose, however an old Norfolk Island pine tree on the property is still one of Mandurah’s arboreal landmarks. The owners of the farm have commissioned a preliminary conservation assessment, and the Heritage Council advised in January 1999 that it would be conducting a formal assessment, acting on a previous referral.

Condition

Fair

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Ronald Richards "Mandurah and the Murray: a sequel to the history of the old Murray District of Western Australia" Shire of Murray and City of Mandurah 1993

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use VACANT\UNUSED Vacant\Unused
Original Use FARMING\PASTORAL Homestead

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Roof TILE Terracotta Tile
Wall STONE Limestone

Historic Themes

General Specific
PEOPLE Aboriginal people

Creation Date

05 Nov 2012

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

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.