There has been a lot of discussion regarding Clover Hill farm since we put up the photo the other day. A few questions about its age and history. The following is from the Lara Heritage review The farmhouse, ‘Clover Hill’ at 155 Forest Road South represents a noteworthy example of a 19th century farming property in the Lara area, with the main dwelling having been rebuilt during the interwar era. The original limestone dwelling was built in 1853 and from 1866 it was owned by William McClelland. In 1926, it was gutted by fire and according to the Geelong Advertiser, ‘the walls remained sound for use in the re‐building of the homestead there today.’ In the early days, McClelland ran a dairy farm on the property. The farm later included stud stock (with a Clydesdale horse stud established by William and later carried on for many years by his sons, and a jersey cow stud first established by Abraham and Robert McClelland) and cereal crops (wheat, barley, peas and lucerne). The McClelland family of Clover Hill contributed much to local municipal life in Lara. In 1958, the Geelong Advertiser described the service to local government by the family as follows: For 76 years out of the 92 since William McClelland came to the property, there has been a councillor on the Peak Riding in the Shire of Corio, residing on it. William served 33 years. Robert (his son) for 21 years. Cr A A McClelland is now in his 22nd year which includes 6 successive terms as President, covering the war years. When it comes to a matter of what has been produced on Clover Hill, municipal legislators must be on the list. Upon the death of William McClelland in 1919, the property was acquired by his son, Robert although by 1915‐26 it was under the joint ownership of Robert and his brother, Abraham. Although in disrepair, the existing rendered limestone dwelling is a locally distinctive example of rural interwar housing having 19th century origins. The steeply‐pitched galvanised corrugated steel roof of the front wing extends to form an encircling verandah supported by timber posts. It has an affinity with the steeply‐pitched hipped dwellings with return verandahs built in Charlton constructed between c.1911 and the 1920s. Photos - Clover Hill farm in 1958 and 2012
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:21:48 +0000