Local Government
Bridgetown-Greenbushes
Region
South West
Cnr Eedle Tce & South Western Hwy Bridgetown
The site is bound by Eedle Terrace to the north, the South West Highway to the east, Blackwood River to the south and an adjacent rural property to the west. Part of NT Blackwood River Crossing & First Settlers Precinct
Bridgetown-Greenbushes
South West
Constructed from 1896
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 28 Nov 2019 |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 25 May 2007 |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 28 Jun 2001 | Category 1 | |
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 29 Mar 2018 | Management Category B | |
· The place has aesthetic value due to the architectural integrity of the residence and the picturesque garden setting abutting the Blackwood River.
· The place is located on land originally owned by one of the first settlers in the Bridgetown district, Mr J Blechynden.
· The place was built by WAG Walter, the first magistrate in the district.
· The place is representative of Victorian Georgian homestead constructed in the South West from the mid to the late 1800s.
Ford House contains the original residence, barn, a small cottage, & a new residence & café, set amongst dense terraced cottage gardens on the north bank of the Blackwood River. Ford House is a single storey brick & iron residence with double hipped roof, two simple brick corbelled chimneys, and faceted protruding bay windows. The facades feature a surrounding verandah supported on stop-chamfered posts, & timber framed doubled hung sash windows. The former cook & wash house, located at the west end of Ford house has been removed & a new timber framed laundry constructed on the old site. A small timber framed weatherboard cottage located SW of Ford House has a simple gabled CGI roof with single door & four-pane window. It is likely this was a former shed. The Barn, located east of Ford House, consists of a single storey timber frame & CGI rectangular structure with vertical plank boarding. The new two storey café building, constructed immediately south of the Barn and linked via a gabled iron and timber walkway, is also a timber & iron structure with vertical timber boarding and two storey verandah. The new brick and color-bond residence, located to the SE of the café, has little significance.
The period of 1885 to 1914 was a period of considerable increase in settlement in the region. Factors affecting the pattern of settlement included the development of transport systems, roads and railway systems in particular, and the general growth and prosperity of the state related to the gold rush. The development of the railway system led to an increased demand for hardwood and for jarrah in particular for railway sleepers. There was a general movement of labour to the area to work in the timber industry and also for the construction of railways. There was also encouragement for those wishing to settle on the land with land grants created by the Land Act of 1898.
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | RESIDENTIAL | Single storey residence |
| Original Use | RESIDENTIAL | Single storey residence |
| Style |
|---|
| Victorian Georgian |
| Federation Bungalow |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
| Wall | BRICK | Pointed Brick |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
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.