Dalgarup Park

Statement of Significance

Dalgarup Park and homestead are significant as the family home built by and for Godfrey Hester, a significant business and community member of Bridgetown and one of the earliest settlers of the district when he arrived with his parents as a baby in 1858. Aesthetic Value Dalgarup Homestead is an impressive sight as it comes into view along Blackwood Park Road, with its large surrounding verandahs, tennis court, farm sheds, Oak Tree and other plantings and native trees, all nestled within the pastured hills of the farm, with Dalgarup Brook winding through the property behind the house. Historic Value The place is of historic value as the home of Godfrey and Mary Hester, significant mixed business and community contributors to the development of Bridgetown. Research Value NA Social Value Dalgarup Park had social value for its use as a ‘small school’ by the Hesters and nearby families. The property has had a tennis court since its very early days and has been used for the Bridgetown Easter Tennis Tournament for many years.

Physical Description

The original portion of Dalgarup homestead was constructed of plastered brick (made on the property), set on stone foundations. Later extensions are of fired brick. The roofline has changed somewhat, particularly with renovation and additions in the late 1990’s, when the original iron roof was replaced with Zincalume. The original home had five bedrooms, (with one bedroom used as a school for some time), a reception/lounge room and dining room, all coming off a central corridor. The original ceilings and ceiling roses have been replaced. Original skirting boards and air vents remain in original rooms, as well as jarrah floor boards in all but two original rooms. The original outdoor toilet also remains. Extensions have been made to the rear and southern end of the home, where a billiard room once stood. The bricks of the extensions have been plastered to match the original portion. The home fronts the tennis court which was surfaced with synthetic turf in 1996. The majority of the garden surrounding the house has been replanted since 1991, however the original Oak Tree (said to be the largest of its kind in Australia), sits about 80m south of the house and remains very healthy.

History

This property was owned by Godfrey William Hester, son of Edward Godfrey Hester, who owned Blackwood Park, where Godfrey was raised. Godfrey left the family farm at 19yrs, working for John Hassell at ‘ Winnegup’ Farm for a short while, then onto Bassendean, after which he went north for some time with his brother. He returned to Bridgetown about 8 years later, taking on shared management of Sir James Lee Steere’s property with Lee Steere’s son, Edward. He came away from this venture with a good stock of sheep, buying Dalgarup Park to commence his own farm. Godfrey (as an Anglican Church Warden) and his wife Mary (nee Sweeting) and four of their children, rented the Old Rectory in Bridgetown while Godfrey built their Dalgarup homestead himself, despite no previous experience, due to a labour shortage at that time. This house had been occupied by June 1897 when a newspaper notice announced the birth of Godfrey and Mary’s son at Dalgarup Park. In 1905 (about 8 years after the establishment of Dargarup Park) it was reported that, in addition to the main house, the homestead included: Packing and storing sheds … [a large] barn … cart horse and hack stables, a machinery shed, coach house and carriage shed. A manufacturing shed in connection with case making [association with fruit packing], men's quarters, and of course the usual kitchen garden. At that time Godfrey had 30 acres planted with apple orchards, 100 acres under hay and 1000 sheep. Godfrey went on to farm predominantly sheep at the property but also continued to run a large apple orchard. He foresaw the growth of Bridgetown and bought vacant land in the centre of Bridgetown, later selling a portion to the Railways. He also owned a commercial building in town, rented by the West Australian Bank for 30 years. The Hesters used one of the rooms in their house as a small school for their own children and those nearby. When his sons later attended Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont, Godfrey moved the family to a new home in Queenslea Drive, Claremont, which he named Dalgarup Hall, leasing out Dalgarup Park. Godfrey also bought the farm Lilydale on Knights Hill, after William Knight passed away, replacing the timber home with a fine brick homestead which still stands today. They lived here for a while after their son, Evelyn, took over the family farm at Dalgarup, then building Fort Belvedere in Bridgetown (now Bridgetown Club Inc., Pioneer Street) for their retirement. They lived here until they both passed away in 1945. Godfrey also served as a Justice of the Peace in the Blackwood District from 1899 and was keenly involved in a number of community groups.

Integrity/Authenticity

High The homestead continues to be a farmhouse. Medium Despite major alterations and additions, the original portion of the house can be interpreted externally and retains original features internally.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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