FORMER HOUSE SITE, WYNDHOLM PARK, MINERS REST

Strong evidence of potential historical archaeological remains (in a ruinous state and mostly subsurface context) of a farming homestead and access track / driveway, located adjacent what is now an unused road reserve on a property whose address is 171 Gillies Road, Miners Rest. Evidence of archaeological remains is present in the raised remnants of a volcanic boulder lined driveway/ access track leading east from what is now a grassed road reserve, to an area of raised, rubbly but grassed over ground at the location of a former homestead. It is known that this location once housed a residence, several outbuildings and yards / garden as well as windrow plantings. A c. 1934 aerial photograph shows the location of structures present at that time, although other structures may have been present at the site prior to this photograph being taken. The remains are thought to date to at least c. 1886, and potentially earlier. It is known that the built structures on site had been demolished by not long after the mid-twentieth century, and it is likely that any archaeological features associated with the site are over 75 years old. The only detailed information about the type and extent of structural features once present at this location comes from a c. 1934 aerial – which shows what appears to be a residence, yards, and several outbuildings. 

Archaeological methods are required to determine the extent, nature and integrity of the site, and to shed light on the type of remains, their potential age beyond what is reasonably supposed, and therefore their associations with the local area and people at different times. The subsurface nature of the bulk of the archaeological site means that there is strong potential for the archaeological record to provide valuable information in the form of preserved artefacts and features associated with the former use of the site. 

Please see attached supporting documentation for a detailed statement of significance measured against the thresholds for the entry of archaeological sites on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The place provides information about rural residential (farming) occupation of the land on the former Wyndholm Preemptive Right from likely at least from the late nineteenth century and possibly earlier. All other evidence of residential occupation on this once large landholding has been demolished, and no known historical archaeological representations of other residential sites remain. 

The site potentially provides information about the lives of mid-late nineteenth century tenant farmers who occupied the land when it was under the ownership of the former squatter Thomas Waldie. 

The site almost definitely represents the residence of David and Jessie Ferguson, long-term tenants and then owners of land within Wyndholm Estate – both of whose associations also extend to other lots on the property. Jessie Ferguson is also associated with Lot 1 where she lived for some time as part of the Fisher family – the last 6 years of which she listed as the tenant farmer. David Ferguson is likely associated with Lot 2, and undeveloped farming lot which he leased from Thomas Waldie for some 15 years prior to his 1885 marriage to Jessie and 1886 purchase of Lot 3. David remained at the residence until his death in 1897, and Jessie until 1929, when she moved away aged 86. See attached supporting documentation for further information. 

The site provides material evidence of residential farming life on the outskirts of Ballarat likely from at least the 1880s and possibly from earlier in the 19th century. The site may provide information about the lives of mid-late century tenant farmers who occupied the land when it was under the ownership of the former squatter Thomas Waldie. 

The site almost definitely represents the residence of David and Jessie Ferguson, long-term tenants and then owners of land within Wyndholm Estate – both of whose associations also extend to other lots on the property. Jessie Ferguson is also associated with Lot 1 where she lived for some time as part of the Fisher family – the last 6 years of which she listed as the tenant farmer. David Ferguson is likely associated with Lot 2, and undeveloped farming lot which he leased from Thomas Waldie for some 15 years prior to his 1885 marriage to Jessie and 1886 purchase of Lot 3. David remained at the residence until his death in 1897, and Jessie until 1929, when she moved away aged 86. 

The Fergusons represent a way of life for early farming settlers of the Ballarat region who arrived in the region and called it home. The Fergusons arrived at Wyndholm in the late 1860s (Jessie) and early 1870s (David) as tenant farmers to the original squatter landholder, and remained on the property for the remainder of their working lives – in Jessie’s case for some 60 years. Although their relationship to and responsibility for the land will have changed over time, as they moved between allotments at Wyndholm, and took the opportunity when it arose to become owner-occupiers of a lot, the way of life, farming on the estate, remained the same. See attached supporting documentation for a discussion of the significance of the site in relation to Victoria's framework of historical themes.