Warren Park
Photographer: John T. Collins, June 22, 1968. State Library of Victoria Image H98.250/1078
The Homestead still exists and was described Graeme Butler in his 1997 City of Casey Heritage Study (2) as this large stuccoed Italianate farm house faces to the west across the valley, surrounded by many mature exotics such as a Moreton Bay fig, oaks, elms, Norfolk Island hibiscus, a bunya bunya...and a hoop pine. The verandah floors and steps are stone and paired timber posts are used to support the concave roof. Cast-iron has been added. Slim half-height side lights are used on the front door which terminate at the window sill height, a configuration typical of the 1860s-70s buildings. The roof is an M hip-form and the cemented chimney mouldings are slimmer than those used later in the 19th century (3).
The homestead sits on what was originally Crown Allotment (CA) 60, Parish of Narree Worran, which was granted to J. Walker in 1865. This was Joseph Frederick Walker. Walker also held Crown Allotments 71, 72 and 73, they adjoined CA 60. The boundaries of this land were the Police Paddocks to the west, Hallam North Road to the east and Churchill Park Drive to the south - 569 acres in total. He also owned 595 acres on the east side of Hallam North Road - CA 55, 52A, 52B and 53 - the eastern boundary of which was Logan Park Drive and the southern boundary Churchill Park Drive. Some of this land is now under Lysterfield Lake (4).
Part of the Parish of Narree Worran plan. Click on image to enlarge.
Joseph Walker's land is either side of Hallam North Road, north of Churchill Park Drive
(coloured red on the plan).
You can see a complete plan on the State Library of Victoria website here
Joseph Walker, who had been Head Master at Yarra Park State School in Richmond, lived in Camberwell for much of his life. In 1903, when he was 73 he married Henrietta Mary Robertson, who was 36. There were no children from the marriage. Joseph died in 1909, you can read his obituary in The Argus, here. At the time of his death, according to his Probate papers, he still owned all the land west of Hallam North Road including the Warren Park homestead, described as a stone house of four rooms - this land was valued at £1,994. He also still owned CA 55 on the east side of Hallam Road, 189 acres, which was valued at £663 (5).
Warren Park
Photographer: John T. Collins, June 22, 1968. State Library of Victoria Image H98.250/1080
Warren Park was leased for many years, Joseph Walker may not have ever lived there, and the Heritage Study lists some of the tenants as Andrew D. Wilson, a grazier in the mid 1890s; around 1900 George H. Davis, a broker and later Thomas W. Powles (6). The land is now part of the City of Casey, but was originally part of the Shire of Ferntree Gully which later became the City of Knox and Shire of Sherbrooke, so I don't have access to any Rate Books. However, we can find references to the property in the newspapers on Trove, which tell us who lived at the property over the years.
This is Lost and Found advertisement was inserted by R. Vizard of
Warren Park in 1871.
The Argus, February 10, 1871 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5842464
In 1871, R. Vizard placed an advertisement in the Lost & Found columns in The Argus, about a dog which had followed him home to Warren Park. In Joseph Walker's Will he left an interest in some of his property to his niece, Ada Vizard, the daughter of Reuben Vizard and Frances Matilda Vizard (7) so it is likely that it was Reuben Vizard whom the dog followed home from Dandenong.
From around 1880, the property was occupied by Walter and Isabella (nee Ogilvy) Winsloe and his growing family. Their first child, Eveline was born in 1878 in St Kilda and the next three births were registered at Dandenong - Richard in 1880, Alfred in 1882 and Matilda in August 1884 (8). It was no wonder that in May 1884, Mrs Winslow advertised for a 'respectable' girl to act as a nurse maid at their Warren Park home.
Mrs Winsloe's advertisement for a Nurse maid.
The Age, May 26, 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article193389254
The birth announcement of Matilda Winsloe at Warren Park.
The Australasian August 30, 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138094670
The next occupant at Warren Park was Mr J. Woolf. In 1891, he was mentioned in an article about the proposed railway line from Dandenong to Gembrook. Mr Woolf mentioned the extensive granite deposits at Warren Park and the value of the railway for transporting the stone. I have no personal information about Mr Woolf.
Mr Woolf, of Warren Park, extols the virtues of Narre Warren granite
South Bourke & Mornington Journal February 18, 1891 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70398709
Besides the surface produce of the land there are splendid quarries of granite and marble in the course of this projected line. Mr. Woolf, of Narree Warren, writes as follows :--" On the land at Warren Park, there are inexhaustible deposits of granite. The granite is highly suitable for building and monumental purposes. It can be easily obtained in large blocks of practically any required size and is easily accessible. It is considered equal to the best Scotch granite as regards colour, quality of grain, and of a kind mostly in demand for the finer class of granite work. It is similar in appearance to the Harcourt stone yet of a finer and more even composition. It is considered equal to any of the celebrated Scotch granites and the best grey granite yet found in Victoria. The construction of the railway now referred to would be of great benefit and would enable the granite to be convoyed to and sold in Melbourne.
We have reports upon this granite from the following gentlemen, viz.:-Frederick Dunn, analyst; Nahum Barnet ; Ellerker and Kilburn ; G. R. Johnson ; Oakden, Addison and Kemp ; William Pitt ; Reed, Henderson and Smart ; Smith and Johnson, architects ; Chambers and Clutten ; Jaguers and Son ; Jas. Taylor ; G. Williams ; Wilson, Corben and Co., sculptors and masons ; Atyes (Sleight and Co.) ; H. W. Lewis ; David Munro, G. J. Farran, etc." (9)
The Heritage Study mentions Andrew Wilson was at the property in the mid 1890s. After him was George Davis. Davis was there in 1899, when he advertised 30 bullocks for sale.
Mr Davis of Warren Park has bullocks for sale.
The Age, January 28, 1899 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189683769
Mr Powles of Warren Park has a problem with trespassers.
South Bourke & Mornington Journal July 5, 1905 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66143445
In January 1928, Warren Park, escaped destruction by a grass fire, as the article below reports, which is also transcribed. A Mr Fisher occupied the property, but that is all I know.
Warren Park is nearly destroyed by a fire
Dandenong Journal January 19, 1928 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200674794
Grass Fire. On Wednesday, 11th instant, a fire broke out on the property of Mr. Fisher, “Warren Park,” about five miles from Dandenong, and between the police paddock, and Lysterfield. Several car loads of fire fighters went from Dandenong, and checked the outbreak, but about five p.m, the alarm was again given, and more residents proceeded to the scene. The flames had gained a strong hold on the grass, and were burning fiercely on a wide front, the glare being very plainly seen from Dandenong. Reinforcements, including members of the Fire Brigade with the motor reel, went out at eight o’clock in the evening, and at 10 p.m. the fire was well under control. The flames got very close to the house and other buildings which were surrounded, and a strong wind gave the fighters a difficult task, but eventually the premises were saved, although the margin was very narrow. The outbreak extended to the hilly portion of the police paddock before it was got under. A large quantity of grass and some fencing was destroyed, but the fine work of the Brigade and others prevented much more serious damage being done. The locality was well patrolled all night, and on Thursday morning all immediate danger was over. At about 11 p.m. the fire bell was again rung, and it was stated that Mr. Fisher was missing, but immediately afterwards a telephone message was received to say that he was safe. (11)
The next residents of Warren Park that I can find are Henry and Kathleen Ward. Henry passed away on January 17, 1943, just a month after Kathleen.
Death of Henry Ward of Warren Park.
Dandenong Journal January 20, 1943 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214306939
The poem written by nine year old Patricia Meiklejohn of Warren Park.
The Age, December 11, 1948 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205676211
The Meiklejohn family were left Warren Park in May 1949, to take up a farm at Yinnar South.
The Meiklejohn family leave Hallam Road
Dandenong Journal, May 25, 1949 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222210626
Warren Park - a 'Gentleman's Estate'
The Age, December 12, 1963, p. 2. from Newspapers.com
The stables at Warren Park. They belong to Nugget, Smokey and Patchy.
Photographer: John T. Collins, June 22, 1968. State Library of Victoria Image H98.250/1081
The 1980s saw the property reduced in size again and when it was advertised for auction on December 14, 1985, see below, the Warren Park homestead was situated on just over 23 acres. Much of the original Warren Park farm on the west side of Hallam Road is now part of Lysterfield Park and Churchill National Park. Much of Joseph Walker's land on the east side of Hallam Road is also part of Lysterfield Park, and as we said, some of the land is now beneath the Lysterfield Lake.
Warren Park, on 23 acres, is auctioned in 1985
The Age, November 16, 1985, p. 105. From Newspapers.com
There was another Warren Park in Narre Warren in Shrives Road and it took me some time to work out which property the photographs were taken on. Warren Park in Shrives Road has this short listing in the 1993 City of Berwick Heritage Study. The homestead citation read - This old weatherboard house, with its unusual concrete render over flax (and possibly other materials) has an earlier section within, dating from as early as the 1850s. Evidence visible from the exterior (including a rendered arch in the interior passage) suggests the building dates from the 1880s at the earliest.....In the 1880s and 1890s, the house was owned by a well known Melbourne judge and used as a country retreat, later to be purchased by a Mr Ellis and then later used as a dairy (12). I believe this house has been demolished.
In 1951, Mr Young held a clearing sale at Warren Park, Shrives Road as he was giving up dairying. Part of his Clearing sale advertisement is below. Mr Young was Leslie Richard Young and his wife was Dorothy Claire Young. The had two children that I can trace - a son Richard and a daughter Claire (13).
Part of Mr Young's Clearing sale advertisement at the Shrive's Road, Warren Park.
Dandenong Journal, September 26, 1951 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222354880
It was this sentence in Graeme Butler's 1997 Heritage Study, which confirmed that John Collin's photographs were of Warren Park, Hallam Road - Perhaps the most significant structure on the property is a cemented conical store and well housing which is sited close to the house over a deep brick-lined well (14). Mr Collins' photo of the structure is below.
Warren Park's most significant structure on the property is a cemented conical store and well housing which is sited close to the house over a deep brick-lined well (15).
Photographer: John T. Collins, June 22, 1968. State Library of Victoria Image H98.250/1079
Acknowledgment
Some of this information comes from the City of Casey Heritage Study: Significant Places by Graeme Butler & Associates, 1997, pp. 47-48
Trove list
I have created a list of articles on Warren Park on Trove, access it here.
Footnotes
(1) Location descriptions come from various articles and advertisements in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here.
(2) Butler, Graeme & Associates City of Casey Heritage Study: Significant Places (1997), pp. 47-48.
(3) Butler, op. cit., p. 48.
(4) Land ownership comes from the Narree Worran Parish plan http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/99491
(5) Joseph Frederick Walker was the son of William Walker and Sarah Hughes. He died October 20, 1909, aged 79, at his residence, Crendon, Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell. His obituary from The Argus of November 2, 1909, is here. Henrietta Mary Walker, born 1866, was the daughter of William Robertson and Harriet Mary Tarburton. Henrietta did not remarry after Joseph's death and she died January 5, 1956, aged 89. Joseph's Will and Probate papers are on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria, https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/wills-and-probates
(6) Butler, op. cit., p. 47.
(7) Joseph Frederick Walker's Will, available at the the Public Records Office of Victoria, https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/wills-and-probates
Reuben Vizard (died 1925, aged 87), Frances Vizard (died 1916, aged 79) and Ada Vizard are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Narre Warren / Lysterfield. Ada married Sydney Flockhart Goodsir on December 4, 1907. In Joseph's Will she was left a life-time interest in CA 52A, 52B & 53, facing Logan Park Drive. However, these three allotments are not listed as an asset in his Probate papers, so the Goodsirs had possibly purchased the land previously. The Goodsirs are in the Electoral Rolls at Narre Warren through to the 1937 Roll. Ada died in 1947, aged 68, in Maryborough.
(8) Birth notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here.
(9) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, February 18, 1891, see here.
(10) Electoral Rolls available on Ancestry.com
(10) Electoral Rolls available on Ancestry.com
(11) Dandenong Journal January 19, 1928, see here.
(12) Heritage of the City of Berwick: Identifying and Caring for Important Places by Context P/L, 1993, p. 278
(13) Electoral Rolls and various family notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here.
(14) Butler, op. cit., p. 48.
(15) Butler, op. cit., p. 48.
(12) Heritage of the City of Berwick: Identifying and Caring for Important Places by Context P/L, 1993, p. 278
(13) Electoral Rolls and various family notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here.
(14) Butler, op. cit., p. 48.
(15) Butler, op. cit., p. 48.
This is an expanded version of a post which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past.
