Belle View House and Stables, Bellevue

Statement of Significance

ARCHITECURAL & INNOVATIVE The house has architectural merit in siting, orientation and design for climate. This is evident in that the major living rooms have views across to the hills and an encircling verandah shades the walls. The house layout ensures good ventilation. The building is aesthetically competent and accords with similar substantial late 19th Century dwellings. The design of the stables represents a highly organised system of animal husbandry. \ HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE \ Historically significant at a local level as the present day suburb of Bellevue was named after Belle View house. The house is also closely associated with the Robinson and Seabrook families. ARCHAEOLOGICAL Excavation of the structure built into the hillside could reveal the function and artefacts which would benefit studies in historical archaeology in W.A. SCARCITY VALUE A fine example of a late 19th Century farm complex. The design and workmanship of the buildings raises the complex above the pedestrian .

Physical Description

A single storey brick building (English Bond) of asymmetrical plan. Awning style verandah on all elevations. The verandah is presently supported by iron posts on east, west and north elevations. Some original wooden posts remain on the south elevation. The roof is galvanised iron. Tuck-pointed brick quoining to corners, front openings and bay windows on east elevation. Stone rubble foundations with bituminous D.P.C. Main entry door has side lights with fanlight above. French doors allow access to the front verandah from a secondary hall. Masonry roof pediment has inscription "Belle View" AD 1887. The main reception areas are evident through a hierarchy of decoration Goinery-plasterwork and mantles) possibly rooms A, B & F. Both the rooms, A & F, had marble fire surrounds (since visit on 15/3/92 these surrounds have been removed). The present bathroom (room H) has fittings which date from 1950s/60s, it is possible this room may have been the original kitchen. The present kitchen (room J) was also renovated at the same time as the bathroom (similar period fittings). Two of the bedrooms (rooms C & E) have fireplaces, only in bedroom C has the mantle survived (wooden). Excavated Structure Stone and brick walls excavated into hillside on south side of house. Unknown function - requires further investigation. Stables These are located c.200m north of the house. Weatherboard construction with corrugated iron roof. The building is divided into several stalls with a passage running behind. Hatches set into the wall allowed access to feeding troughs. The layout of the stables is well considered and displays an attention to planning detail not usually found in this type of building.

History

Assessment 1992 Construction 1887 Belle View was constructed for Edward Robinson in 1887. Robinson had arrived in Fremantle in Fremantle in 1842 with his widowed mother, (his father died on the voyage out) brother and three sisters. His mother re-married John Seabrook (Sor) and the family moved to Brookton where Edward worked as a shepherd for his step-father. In 1863 he travelled with henry Lefroy as a guide to the Kagoorlie/Boulder area. In 1874 he entered into a partnership with his step­ brother John Seabrook (Jnr) in the Roebourne area where they established "Croydon." In 1886 he sold his partnership share and purchased 750 acres in the Helena Valley. This land had once been a portion of Stirling's Woodbridge grant. Robinson developed the land as a dairy. The house he built originally had 15 rooms which included servant's quarters, kitchen, baker's oven and a smoke room attached to the rear of the main building by a verandah. (Elliot p.221) The bricks were made om local clay deposits and made on site. There were once extensive outbuildings. The stable\are all that remain. He served on the local Greenmount Road Board 1908-1913. He married a widow, Sophia Bedcock and the couple had no children. After his wife's death in 1909, Robinson donated land to the Anglican Church and built it as a memorial to her memory, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Clayton Street. He then leased the farm and built a new house in Clayton Street, "Melita", where he lived until his death in 1913. On his death the property went to his nephew William E.Robinson, who sold it to Elder Smith & Co. Ltd. During Eider's ownership Jack Goodchild (Robinson's coachman) lived at Belle View until his death in 1959. The house appears to have lain vacant for sometime now.

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