"Pirra", homestead including interior

The extensive brick and stone homestead "Pirra" (formerly "Serendip" and "Windermerer") was constructed firstly as a modest colonial vernacular style house of unknown date for pastoralist Geo. Fairbair. In 1880 Alexander Davidson & Co. architects, designed the two storey brick mansion house addition in an eclectic Victorian style. "Pirra" is one of the most distinctive of Alexander Davidson's many Western District homestead designs executed in the years 1865-90. The homestead was the seat of noted pastoralists Geo. Fairbairn for more than 50 years and a centre of social activity in the district in the late nineteenth century.

Geelong Regional Commission Register

Historic Buildings Council Register

Geelong Advertiser - 26th August, 1880, tenders for homestead. 8th April, 1881, Tenders for additions. 7th October, 1958, p.10 "Historic Homes No. 30"

National Trust of Australia (Victoria) File 1275.

Pike, Douglas (Ed) - Australian Dictionary of Biography

Melbourne University Press, 1972, 6 volumes

Vol. 1 p. 27 biography of George Armytage (1795-1862).

Vol. 3 p. 51, 52 biography of Charles Henry and Frederick William Armytage.

Vol. 4 p. 147, 148. biography of George Fairbairn (1816-1895).

Smith, James (Ed) - The Cyclopedoa pf Victoria, Cyclopedia Co. Melbourne. 1903. Vol. 3, p. 106. biography of Geroge Fairbarin Jnr. M.L.A

Wynd, Ian - 'So fine a Country: A history of Corio Shire' Draft Copy, to be published in 1980

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

Homestead building