Comadyne

Statement of Significance

Comandyne is the oldest established farm in the Wickepin jJ district still being worked by descendants of the pioneers who developed it. A fine example of architecture of the period, demonstrating a way of life and significant association with the Rosefamily and immigrant labour.

Physical Description

The farm consists of several buildings and structures which constitute an historically significant farm: the barn c1895, the homestead 1912, various wells, a concrete silo, a c1920 cottage (Teddy Bugg's), and the shearer's quarters. The homestead is constructed of local stone quarried on site. The cement verandahs which were constructed a year after the main house, at the same time as the back part of the house, were from cement specially imported from England. The verandahs cost as much as the house. The verandah surrounds the house except for the front room which aligns with the verandah, and features a gable roof. The verandah roof is separate from the main roof which is a hipped roof with gable features. The verandah has turned posts with curved spanning beams. Part of the north west verandah was enclosed in 1962, and a store-room and bathroom were added. Most of the original glass light-shades are in the house, the ornate ceiling roses, panel doors with finger plates and door knobs even still have their original keys. Every room has a fireplace. The barn is constructed of stone. It was originally the horse stables, then a hay store area, until the east side was rebuilt and it served as a shearing shed until the 1950s when a new shearing shed was built. The barn is now the farm workshop. Teddy Bugg's cottage is a one roomed cottage with pressed tin walls and ceilings. A fireplace, and a central front door with a paned window each side, and a back door. The shearer's quarters was originally a two room shepherd's hut which was dismantled and re-erected with the addition of two back rooms and a bathroom. It was lined on the inside during WW11 period.

History

Australian born in 1863, Frederick William Rose grew up in Queensland and Victoria's Goulbourn Valley, and married in 1888. After the Victoria Bank crash in the 1890s Fred and his wife Robina decided to move west. In 1892 the Kalgoorlie Goldrushes began, Narrogin became a local authority, and land surveyed by Lefroy in the east, was opened for selection. Rose selected land and travelled east to collect his family. Potts and Fairheads settled in the vicinity very soon after the Roses. The three families worked together for the U benefit of all. In 1893 an application by Rose, to purchase more land to complete his 1000 acre block, was approved. Under the 1893 Homestead Act, a permanent dwelling had to be erected within seven years. The barn was the first permanent building on the property. The farm house water supply is drawn from a fresh water spring below the rock in the north east paddock from the house. In 1970 the original timber lining was removed, and replaced with concrete. Several stoned wells are in evidence along the creek. Rose served on the Narrogin Roads Board, including seven years as Chairman, and the same for the Cuballing Roads Board. He was one of the founders of the Narrogin Agricultural Society, a founder of the Race Club. Mrs Rose tended the farm when her husband was often away. She planted crops of lupin and canola, and nurtured native trees, the sugar gums are still in evidence. After World War One, the War Service Land Settlement acquired several paddocks, while the Roses purchased other land. In 1916 and 1921, the weddings of the Roses two daughters took place at the homestead. It is currently a property of 4000 acres(1560 hectares) The shepherd's hut was used as the shearers sleeping quarters, and during the Second World War, three Italian Prisoners of War who were assigned to work on the farm lived in the hut. Domenic Cecchetti was assigned to a few different farms in the r~| district for the entire duration of the war. He had originally been in the building trade, he did the ^ stonework for the bridge across the creek in front of the house. Alfredo Campoli also worked on r-j the farm for a few years. In 1992 a re-union of the Rose family was held at the homestead to U celebrate 100 years since the land was selected.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact Authenticity: High degree

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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