Ranger’s House

Statement of Significance

• The site has historic value for its association with the early development of the Darlington region by Waylen and Amherst in the late 19th early 20th century as the location of workers cottages. • The place has historic value for its association with the development of Darlington as a farming district in the early 20th century. • The place has aesthetic value as an example of the adaptation and extension of buildings to accommodate changing circumstances and needs. • The place has historic value for its association with the Ranger family who were prominent community members.

Physical Description

From the available information the place comprises an amalgamation of structures from the early 20th century until the early 21st century. The detail of the structures and their relationships to each other is unknown. (Note: This place was not accessed for this assessment)

History

From the available information two workers cottages were built on this site c1900 by local businessmen and land owners, Alfred Waylen and Josceline Amherst who established the Darlington vineyard. The two timber cottages were to accommodate some of their workers, one of whom was believed to be the foreman, Mr Mumme. In c1916, the land was leased and later sold to George Henry Ranger (c1882-1964) and his wife Adelaide Vinetta Tilbrook (c1892-1984). By the time the couple settled on this land they had 3 children and their fourth was born at the property in 1922. Harry (as he was commonly known) Ranger maintained a dairy and wood yard at the property and worked throughout the district in a diversity of trades. It is believed one of the original workers cottages was burnt down by Harry Ranger and the other was incorporated into a later stone addition as can be seen in the c1920 photograph below. It is possible that the earlier cottage was later removed as aerial photographs from the mid 20th century suggest this earlier cottage was no longer extant. Harry Ranger built the new family home over several years and archival photographs suggest it was built of local stone. Aerial photographs indicate that a new addition was constructed to the northern elevation in the early 1990s.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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