Glen Avon & Glen Avon Barn

Statement of Significance

This barn, built in 1861, is aesthetically significant as a fine example of a stone farm building which has survived intact and in good repair for more than a hundred and thirty years. It has historical significance resulting from its association with some early pioneers in the Katrine District, namely the Slades, James Wilkerson, J Sewell, the Cookes and Viveashs.

Physical Description

The old stone barn is a good example of early stone building construction using local freestone with grey clay/earth mortar. This is still apparent as the inside of all the stone walls remains unplastered. The outside of all walls, however, had lime plaster grouting applied at a later date. (Said to have been about 1870). The barn was initially built to provide an indoor storage and threshing area for grain. The wide door spacings directly through the centre of the buildings (including ‘lean to’) for the access of carts and wagons are a notable feature of the building. This building, together with all the other old buildings on the farm are still used in the everyday working of the farm. Another building, now a rebuilt machinery shed, has a long stone walled section which incorporates part of a coach house built for the Slades in 1843, this being the oldest building of which any parts survive.

History

This old stone barn was the first building erected for James Wilkerson, the first year after he took over occupation by lease with right of purchase from the Estates of the late Frederick and Jane Slade in 1860. This final purchase was completed in 1876. It is the last original building of many other buildings erected there, first by the Slades (1841 to 1858) and then by the Wilkersons (1860 to 1900). There are also parts of five other buildings erected by the Slades (2 – in 1843 and 1847) and Wilkersons (3 – 1870s and 1890s) still existing within the present day home area of ‘Glen Avon’. The brick granary (1891) is still entire. The Slades with the Cookes at Katrine, then later the Wilkersons with the Viveashs at Katrine, with their large numbers of employees and tenant farmers, established quite a large settlement in the ‘Katterine’ (Aboriginal name) area over that period. After building this barn, Sewell started building St Saviour’s Church at Katrine for Bishop Hale and under contract to James Wilkerson, J Cooke and Abraham Morgan.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: All walls and gable roof ends are original. Also roof rafters of the lean to and bush timber cross wall ties. Modifications: Corrugated iron replaced original shingles in 1890s. Present day doors not original.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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