Emu Bottom Homestead
Encyclopedia
Emu Bottom Homestead is a historic homestead near Sunbury, Victoria
, Australia
. Built circa 1836, Emu Bottom is the oldest existing farmhouse constructed by settlers in Victoria. It was so named because “it was low lying ground and the haunt of numerous emus.” The main homestead and some of its outlying buildings were constructed from “local stone, dry coursed with creek mud.”
Emu Bottom is also a rare example of early Australian colonial architecture, with its “twelve paned deeply recessed windows…recalling the old world… while the homestead (was) also intelligently adapted to the new environment” with its wide verandas and easterly aspect.
The building of Emu Bottom homestead commenced circa 1836. George Evans (1785–1876), who had arrived on the Schooner Enterprize
from Van Diemen’s Land in 1835, settled near modern day Sunbury. Emu Bottom, later called Emu Vale, was occupied by Evans, by squatting licence, as one of many large squatting runs on Crown land
. In 1843, Evans, aged 58, married eighteen year old Anne Holden. Six children were born from the union and grew up at the homestead. After 1851, many squatting runs, including Emu Bottom, became available for outright purchase. To Evans' dismay, “his” run was purchased by the immensely wealthy W. J. T.“Big” Clarke. The homestead block of 640 acres (2.6 km²) stayed with Evans, but this was hardly viable. In about 1860, Evans leased the property and moved to operate a hotel in central Melbourne. He died in Melbourne in 1876, but his family eventually returned to Emu Bottom. In 1916 the last of Evans’ son’s died and the property passed through several owners, being renamed “Holly Green.”
, expert and painstaking restoration was carried out; the additions of the previous hundred years …were unmade.” During restoration, several discoveries were made including the original kitchen fireplace and oven, as well as some artefacts.
Some further restoration took place after a fire in 1980.
Emu Bottom operated as a tourist attraction between 1970 and 1975, attracting 90,000 visitors a year. The TV series Cash and Company
and sequel Tandarra
were filmed on the property in 1974-5. The TV mini-series Against the Wind
was filmed on the property in 1978.
As the city of Sunbury grew closer, pressure on the small 600 acres (2.4 km²) farm increased. In 1979 the farm was subdivided, with 24 hectares being preserved for the historic homestead.
Today the homestead and surrounds are managed as a reception centre. An important wetlands nearby has several platypus viewing platforms.
Sunbury, Victoria
Sunbury is a regional city, located north-west of Melbourne's central business district, in the state of Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume. At the 2006 Census, Sunbury had a population of 31,000...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Built circa 1836, Emu Bottom is the oldest existing farmhouse constructed by settlers in Victoria. It was so named because “it was low lying ground and the haunt of numerous emus.” The main homestead and some of its outlying buildings were constructed from “local stone, dry coursed with creek mud.”
Emu Bottom is also a rare example of early Australian colonial architecture, with its “twelve paned deeply recessed windows…recalling the old world… while the homestead (was) also intelligently adapted to the new environment” with its wide verandas and easterly aspect.
History
Enterprize (1829)
The topsail schooner, Enterprize, was built in Hobart, Tasmania in 1829 by William Pender. It was used for coastal transport of cargo such as coal, livestock, and supplies....
from Van Diemen’s Land in 1835, settled near modern day Sunbury. Emu Bottom, later called Emu Vale, was occupied by Evans, by squatting licence, as one of many large squatting runs on Crown land
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
. In 1843, Evans, aged 58, married eighteen year old Anne Holden. Six children were born from the union and grew up at the homestead. After 1851, many squatting runs, including Emu Bottom, became available for outright purchase. To Evans' dismay, “his” run was purchased by the immensely wealthy W. J. T.“Big” Clarke. The homestead block of 640 acres (2.6 km²) stayed with Evans, but this was hardly viable. In about 1860, Evans leased the property and moved to operate a hotel in central Melbourne. He died in Melbourne in 1876, but his family eventually returned to Emu Bottom. In 1916 the last of Evans’ son’s died and the property passed through several owners, being renamed “Holly Green.”
Restoration and revival
In 1968, the property was purchased by the current owners, Hedley and Jan Elliot. “Under the direction of architects John and Phyllis MurphyJohn and Phyllis Murphy
John and Phyllis Murphy were architects in Australia. Phyllis was also known for her work with wallpaper design and restoration.The Murphys completed a number of conservation projects through the National Trust in the 1960s and 70s...
, expert and painstaking restoration was carried out; the additions of the previous hundred years …were unmade.” During restoration, several discoveries were made including the original kitchen fireplace and oven, as well as some artefacts.
Some further restoration took place after a fire in 1980.
Emu Bottom operated as a tourist attraction between 1970 and 1975, attracting 90,000 visitors a year. The TV series Cash and Company
Cash and Company
Cash and Company was an Australian television period adventure series, set during the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s. The original series consisted of 13 one hour episodes, filmed in colour and on location in rural Victoria....
and sequel Tandarra
Tandarra
Tandarra was the follow-up Australian television series to Cash and Company , set during the Victorian gold rush period of the 1850s...
were filmed on the property in 1974-5. The TV mini-series Against the Wind
Against the Wind (TV series)
Against the Wind was a 1978 Australian television mini-series.It is a historical drama portraying both the British rule of Ireland, and the development of New South Wales and Australia...
was filmed on the property in 1978.
As the city of Sunbury grew closer, pressure on the small 600 acres (2.4 km²) farm increased. In 1979 the farm was subdivided, with 24 hectares being preserved for the historic homestead.
Today the homestead and surrounds are managed as a reception centre. An important wetlands nearby has several platypus viewing platforms.