Springvale

Statement of Significance

The place is rare as a farmhouse from the early period of the development of the State, and is one of a small number of very early residences remaining in the Swan Valley and has been one of the leading farms in the viticulture industry in the Swan Valley; The place demonstrates the type of accommodation provided for workers on large estates in the mid-19th century; The place is evidence of the patterns of settlement and development of the Swan Valley, by showing the types of agriculture that have been present in the Swan Valley from farms of large landholding growing broad acre crops to the viticulture industry, orchards, poultry farming and finally the growth of smaller ‘hobby’ farms; and, The place is associated with the Barrett Lennard family, a significant family in the development of the Swan Valley, and most significantly with George Hardey Barrett Lennard, who was instrumental in establishing the viticulture industry in the area.

Physical Description

Springvale, West Swan is a single-storey brick and iron house with a rectangular plan and has the characteristic form of the simple, Victorian Georgian style farmhouses. The house is setback approximately 94 metres from George Street beyond a steeply banked gully. The small stream, St Leonard’s Brook, flows between the house and road. There is a large mature jacaranda tree behind the house, which is reportedly an early planting. The dwelling has a simple hipped roof with a verandah, which continues at the same pitch. In 2011 the roof sheeting was replaced with Colorbond and the original verandah detailing, which comprised square posts and a cross-timber balustrade was removed. The verandah was also extended around the southern side of the house and a patio was added to the east. The verandah is supported by large circular posts. The house runs in a north south direction with the front of the house facing George Street. Originally in plan the house was arranged as a series of rooms placed side by side to form a rectangle - four rooms long, and the width of a single room. The house had no internal corridors but had doors connecting each room. In 2011 additions along the western side of the house enclosed the western elevation creating an internal corridor. Along the eastern elevation each room has a timber framed, multi-paned, double casement window with a central mullion; and a door with segmentally arched heads. These windows appear to have been replaced in recent years. Each room also has a timber-panelled door with a multi-paned glazed upper part and a two-panel lower half. The brickwork to the older part of the house is in English garden wall bond with a row of headers at every fifth course. At some point in the place’s history all external brickwork was painted. The paint has recently been removed in all areas bar the south-west addition exposing the original red bricks. There is evidence that the brickwork on the east facade was tuck-pointed at some point in time. However, it is likely that the tuck-pointing was carried out later and not an original finish.

History

Springvale, West Swan was originally part of the landholding owned by the Barrett Lennard family whose large estates were taken up by one of the first white landholders in the Swan River Colony. Edward Pomeroy Barrett Lennard arrived in the Swan River Colony in June 1829. He was 30 years old, with little farming experience but considerable financial resources and six servants. In October 1829, Barrett Lennard was granted 2,906 acres in the West Swan area and progressively purchased more land. Lennard quickly established his household on the Swan River and by December 1829, he was residing on the farm, which he named ‘St Leonard’s.’ In 1840, shortly after he married, Lennard acquired 600 acres (lot G1) on northern boundary of the original allotment. Springvale, West Swan is located on what was originally named lot G1. Barrett Lennard called the farm ‘Cossington Farm’ after the small village in Somerset where Elizabeth Graham, his wife, had lived. The exact date of construction of Springvale has not been established. A survey in 1841 by surveyor Philip Chauncy shows the description ‘cottages’ and ‘spring’ at the location of Springvale. The St Leonard’s homestead, which burnt down and was rebuilt in 1841, was the centre of Barrett Lennard’s farming ventures. It is likely that Lennard’s servants or ticket of leave men resided at Springvale. It may have also been the home of Barrett Lennard’s eldest son Edward Graham and his wife Mary who married in 1862. By 1866 Barrett Lennard was declared bankrupt and it was not for some time that the family’s fortunes improved. In 1888, George Hardey Barrett Lennard, the first son of Edward Graham, became the new owner of St Leonard’s at the age of 26 when his father died. George turned the fortunes around with many successful ventures. His most significant venture was planting vineyards on the river flats in the early part of the 20th century. George was one of the significant individuals in the development of the viticulture industry in the Swan Valley. After George Hardey’s death in 1917, his widow and children subdivided the St Leonard’s and Cossington farms, including the land on which Springvale, West Swan was located. In 1922, the land containing Springvale, West Swan was transferred to John Godfrey, an orchardist who lived in Guildford. The property changed hands numerous times until the property was purchased by the Pavlinovich family in 1980 who also owned the St Leonard’s homestead and surrounding land. In 2007, the subject place was included on the State Register of Heritage Places on an interim basis. In 2009, the Minister for Heritage directed that the Interim Entry in the State Register not be made permanent. As a result the place is not listed on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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