Dalry Road Precinct

Author

Shire of Mundaring

Place Number

08573

Location

Dalry Rd Darlington

Location Details

Local Government

Mundaring

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1900 to 1930

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 22 Apr 1997 3 - Moderate significance

Child Places

  • 27486 Sandover House
  • 27484 Amy Heap House
  • 27489 Blackwood

Statement of Significance

The Dairy Road area of Darlington has very high aesthetic, historic and social significance for the community of Darlington and the Shire of Mundaring in helping to identify an intrinsic character that defines a hills lifestyle and ambience that is not otherwise easily understood or appreciated.

Physical Description

Dairy Road, Darlington typifies the essence that made up the original character of Darlington. Many of the original houses displaying the variety of materials that gives Darlington a diversify rather than a sameness; the coming together of bush settings and domestic gardens; the winding road that follows the landform requiring residents to drive around huge boulders in the road rather than push nature aside, are all factors that contribute to character of the village that residents so fervently defend.

History

The area around Dairy Road, Darlington contains various residences which contribute to an understanding of the evolutionary history of the Darlington area. One of the oldest residences is a granite, turn-of-the-century house on the corner of Lionel and Dairy Road. It was formerly the home of J.O. Neilson, an optician, thought to be one of the first owners of a motor car in Darlington. In the 1920's, like "Leithdale" (Site 126), Dairy House became a guest house, offering visitors recreation at the nearby golf course (Site 222), tennis courts and adjacent bush. Further down Dairy Road, closer to Hillsden (formerly Government Road), Dairy Lodge operated as a guest house from after World War I up to the early 1950's. When she worked at Dairy Lodge, Joan Digby described the kitchen as having a 10ft wood stove. Her accommodation was a 9ft x 5ft hut. The first owner of Dairy Lodge is thought to have been Mr. Barker, who was friendly with the Neilsons at Dairy House. Near Dairy Lodge and on the northern side of the road, is Blackwood (c. 1906) built by the founder of the WA Rose Society. Blackwood is typical of the jarrah/weatherboard and iron-roofed residences of the time and also included a gardener's cottage which in more recent times was the home of artist, teacher and gallery director, the late Hal Missingham. There are a series of smaller timber and stone cottages, and also of note are the dry stone walls leading up to the Montrose Steps (Site 142), and large granite boulder in the path of Dairy Road east.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Modifications: Various

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
I Elliot; ibid ch 11. p. 201
MHHS File; "Darlington".

Place Type

Precinct or Streetscape

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Other Use RESIDENTIAL Single storey residence

Historic Themes

General Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Settlements

Creation Date

18 Jun 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.