Eden Valley Farm Buildings

Statement of Significance

Eden Valley Farm has aesthetic, historic, social and representative cultural heritage significance. The homestead of Eden Valley Farm also known as Ronville, is a good example of the development of a farm in the Dumbleyung district. The homestead has buildings that represent all different time periods and the changes of living and working conditions since it was first settled in cl905. The farm house in 2002 is the last in a succession of houses starting with simple stone cottages to larger structures such as the timber and asbestos house. The farm has a significant historical story owing to its association with people who have contributed to the district's community. The Bairstow and Lloyd families have both been influential in the development of Dumbleyung and surrounding areas. Eden Valley Farm has been worked successfully producing prime sheep and wheat and therefore is an excellent representative of the important rural nature of the district.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Situated five kilometres east of Dumbleyung
• Large wheat, sheep, egg and chicken farm with production under biodynamic methods
• Homestead located approximately 1.5 kilometres from front gate of the farm
• Homestead consists of one house and a number of outbuildings that were former accommodation for the
Bairstow family
• A former Bairstow house is marked by a concrete slab and tank stand immediately west of the 1970s
house
1935 house and outdoor amenities
• Set on a rise overlooking the northern part of the property
• Weatherboard and asbestos sheeting walls
• Typical farmhouse square design under hipped corrugated iron roof.
• Symmetrical fa?ade
• Front verandah under broken back roof
• Totally enclosed balustrading on front verandah^
• Original wooden verandah floor
• Verandahs on east and west sides of the house enclosed with walls of asbestos sheeting, weatherboard and
large banks of louveres
• Side hung wooden casement windows
• External shower under tank stand (tank now removed)
• Only toilet for the house is external, next to outside shower
• Two tanks supply the water needs of the house
Outbuildings
• Situated c 100 metres from the house
• Large corrugated iron shearing shed
• Two large stone and corrugated iron sheds (former Bairstow dwellings) used for maintenance and storage
• One shed houses an amazing collection of spare parts, number plates historic signs and agricultural
machinery all stored in an eclectic assortment of shelves and cupboards made out of old stoves and
packing crates
• A small weatherboard workers cottage with a brick chimney was built by an employee cl940 was
transferred to this location 1982

History

Lake Dumbleyung was first sighted by Europeans when explorers Landor and Lefroy discovered it in 1843. However, it was not until 1875 that the first leases were taken up when adventurous pioneers moved into the area to take advantage of the virgin pastures.1 Despite the good grazing land and rich soil around the lake, rapid and permanent settlement of the Dumbleyung district only began with an influx of settlers, particularly from the Eastern States, during 1900-1915.2

Eden Valley Farm was first established in 1905 by the Bairstow family, who came from South Australia seeking new agricultural land. The farm is named after their home Eden Valley in South Australia and was worked by Ted Bairstow and his brother Frank (Eden). Ted and Eden were recognised characters of the district renowned for their laughter, which was distinctively loud. Eden was also well known for his accordion playing3 and Ted for his love and enthusiasm for trotting. Ted maintained the local trotting track for many years as well as training horses for trot meetings.4

The two brothers built at least four stone buildings on the farm, two of which are still in use. The oldest is a chaff shearing shed. A ruin is located on the south-west side of the property. The only remaining part of this building is a corner of the house, easily located in the paddock by an old peppermint tree. Near to the ruin is a depression, which surrounds an old well that can be clearly seen by a ring of carefully placed rocks. Though filled in, the walls of this well are known to descend at least 5 metres below ground. Interestingly the house site is littered with old broken bottles and shards of ceramics and pottery left over by the former in habitants, a 'gold field' for archeological investigation.5

Two other stone buildings exist closer to the timber and fibre board house built cl935. In 2002 these were used as outbuildings one which holds an amazing collection of spare parts and machinery bits stored in old stoves and fruit and packing boxes for cupboards. The smaller of the two stone buildings was the first dwelling for Ted and Frank before they got married. It incorporated stables and a hay room. This was later enlarged to house a chaff room, shearing shed and sheep yards.

The third building was larger with a central traditional grain barn that was used before World War One for district dances. The building incorporates a blacksmith shop/workshop and undercover machinery storage.6

The rock for building foundations and cornerstones was quarried about 50 metres from the shed site with the remainder of the stone collected from the farm's granite outcrops. The clay used as mortar was dug from the dam alongside the sheds. Some of the rock is a hard limestone type which was relatively easy to shape into rectangular blocks but has not been affected by weathering.7

To supplement their farming income the Bairstow family baked bread for the people of Dumbleyung. The outdoor oven was constructed from steel and then covered in clay. A long log was fed into the fire to heat the oven for baking. One of the local stories about the Bairstow's arose when a horse and cart laden with flour for the week's bread supply, was hit by a train coming home from town and flour flew everywhere. No bread for Dumbleyung that week. The front of the homestead oven is used for the workshop as a welding bench.8

Stone blocks that came from the chimney of the oven have been recycled in the building of a new house at the top of the property. They now are part of an exposed stone chimney in the loungeroom of the 1970s home.

Since 1945 the property has been owned and operated by the Lloyd family. On the farm is the Wishbone Siding building which was closed in 1981. Ron Lloyd has been an active community member taking on various roles such as the Chairman of the Dumbleyung Cooperative, Chairman of the Dumbleyung Tourism Committee and Captain of the Dumbleyung Cricket team.9

The Lloyd family, Ron and Margaret, Dayle and Terri in the 1990s, converted "Ronville Stud" to a new biodynamic approach to agricultural production. The new techniques allow for a totally organically raised product including grain and eggs that are eagerly sought. The farm is also a very successful sheep stud. An interesting addition to the farm is a llama which is kept as protection for the chickens from foxes.

There is a monument to Ron's father John Ross Lloyd, in the front garden of the house. It records the relationship of the line of descendents, since Ron, that have been directly associated with Eden Valley Farm.

The plaque notes:
In loving memory of John Ross Lloyd 26.7.1910-11.5.1994
Husband of Stella
Father of Ron and Doreen
Grandfather of Dayle, Warren, Greg and Michelle
Great grandfather of Emily, Campbell and Anna

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

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.