Old Farm, Strawberry Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Farm, Strawberry Hill |
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Photograph of Strawberry Hill Farm
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| General information | |
| Type | Heritage listed building |
| Location | Albany, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°01′05.5″S 117°54′00.5″E / 35.018194°S 117.900139°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 2 July 1993 |
| Reference no. | 32 |
Old Farm, also known as Strawberry Hill, is a very special place in Albany, Western Australia. It's located on Strawberry Hill in the area called Mira Mar. This farm is famous because it was the very first farm ever started in Western Australia!
The farm sits on a hill that's about 237 feet (72 m) high. This hill is part of Mount Clarence. The soil here is a mix of clay and gravel, but the lower parts have rich, dark soil that's great for growing things.
Contents
The First Farm in Western Australia
Old Farm started in 1827. It was set up by the government when the first European settlers arrived at King George Sound. Three important people, Edmund Lockyer, Alexander Collie, and John Lawrence Morley, chose this spot for the government farm.
How the Farm Grew
When it first began, the farm was huge, covering 1,536 acres (622 ha) of land. Today, only about 6 acres (2 ha) remain. After Lockyer, three other leaders of the settlement, Captain Wakefield, Lieutenant Sleeman, and Captain Collet Barker, continued to develop the farm.
Strawberry Hill Gets Its Name
In 1831, Alexander Collie became the Government Resident (a bit like a local governor) of Albany. He moved into a small cottage on the farm. This cottage was made of wattle and daub, which is a building material made from woven branches and mud. Collie named the farm Strawberry Hill because he was growing a small patch of strawberries there.
Collie retired in 1832. The farm was then looked after by John Lawrence Morley, who later handed it over to Richard Spencer.
Spencer Family Takes Over
Richard Spencer became the Government Resident in 1833. He bought the farm and lived there with his wife, Ann, and their ten children!
New Buildings and Famous Visitors
Spencer built a new two-storey building made of granite. It cost £100, which was a lot of money back then! This new building was added behind the original wattle and daub cottage.
The garden at Strawberry Hill was doing very well. It grew many fruits and vegetables like blood oranges, raspberries, grapes, asparagus, figs, and almonds.
Some very famous people visited and stayed in the new building. These included Charles Darwin, who was a famous scientist, and Captain Robert FitzRoy. They were both from the ship HMS Beagle.
Changes Over Time
Sadly, the old wattle and daub part of the main house, which had a thatched roof, burned down in 1870. A second cottage was built in the same year by Charles Miner.
In 1889, Francis Bird, who was a chief architect in Western Australia, bought the property. He changed its name from Strawberry Hill to the Old Farm. His family owned the farm until the 1930s.
Old Farm Today
After the Bird family, the site was left empty for many years. In 1956, the Australian government bought it. Then, in 1964, it was given to the National Trust of Australia. This organization helps protect important historical places.
Soon after, work began to fix up and preserve the farm. Later, Old Farm was opened to the public, so everyone could visit and learn about its history.
Images for kids
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Farm house at Old Farm 2015
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Farm house side view 2015
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Vegetable patch at Strawberry Hill
