Clover Hill Farm

What is Significant?

Clover Hill at 155 Forest Road South, Lara, has significance as one of the earliest surviving and more intact examples of a farm dwelling in the local area. First built in 1853 and then rebuilt in 1926 (probably to the a similar Victorian vernacular design as the original building), the dwelling is identified by a steeply-pitched hipped roof form that extends to create an encircling verandah (the front portion only now surviving). Other significant qualities include the rendered limestone wall construction, quoinwork, timber framed double hung windows, central doorway, timber verandah posts and the rendered chimneys. Clover Hill also has significance for its long-standing associations with the McClelland family. The property was taken up by William McClelland in c.1866 and from this time it became a successful farm that produced cereal crops and Clydesdale horses, Jersey cows and fat lambs, as well as poultry. Lime extraction was also an important industry on the property carried on by others, including McClelland's son, James. The McClelland family owned Clover Hill for over 100 years and they contributed much to community life in Lara. For over 70 years, William McClelland and his sons, Robert and Abraham Alexander, were Councillors with the Corio Shire Council. Although the Clover Hill dwelling is in considerable disrepair, it maintains sufficient integrity in demonstrating its early design and its associations with the McClelland family.

How is it Significant?

Clover Hill at 155 Forest Road South is historically and architecturally significant at a LOCAL level.

Why is it Significant?

Clover Hill at 155 Forest Road South is historically significant for is long-standing associations with the McClelland family for over 100 years from c.1866 until the late 20th century, and for its associations with the production of cereal crops, as a dairy and poultry farm, and horse, cow and lamb stud. The property also has long time associations with the local lime industry, with lime extraction being carried out until the early 20th century. Farming and lime production were two of the key primary industries in Lara in the 19th and 20th centuries and the Clover Hill dwelling remains as a tangible physical legacy of these important industries to the district. Although Clover Hill appears to have been first built in 1853 (using limestone on the property), its historical significance also lies in its associations with the McClelland family. From c.1866, the property had been taken up by William McClelland, an Irish immigrant. McClelland and two of his sons, Robert and Abraham Alexander, contributed much to community life in the local area, serving as Councillors with the Corio Shire Council for well over 70 years, including several terms as Shire President.

Clover Hill at 155 Forest Road South is architecturally significant as a moderately intact example of a Victorian vernacular dwelling rebuilt during the interwar era, being one of a smaller number of surviving farm dwellings in the area associated with the 19th century. While originally constructed in c.1853, the surviving dwelling of 1926 appears to be a contemporary interpretation of the early Victorian vernacular design. It is an unusual example of a rural farm house in Lara, the vernacular design qualities demonstrated in the steeply-pitched hipped roof forms (the front roof extending to comprise an encircling verandah) and in the limestone wall construction that is indigenous to the site. Only the front portion of the encircling verandah now survives.

Group

Farming and Grazing

Category

Farm