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CROXTON HOMESTEAD COMPLEX

Location Bensch's Lane TARRINGTON, Southern Grampians Shire File Number 927 Level Stage 2 study complete

[1/3] 23382 Croxton Homestead Bensch [2/3] 23382 Croxton Homestead Bensch [3/3] 23382 Croxton Homestead Bensch

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The original Croxton Homestead, taken up by Donald Kennedy in 1842, appears to have been located on the south-west shore of Lake Kennedy. Donald Kennedy was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1851 and continued as an elected member until 1861. Kennedy took up his pre-emptive right and bought surrounding land which was sold by the Crown in 1857-58. He sold Croxton to John Alexander Macpherson in 1858. The existing house on the east side of Bensch's Lane is located on a block contiguous with the pre-emptive right but nearly 2kms west-south-west of the original homestead site and may date from this time. Macpherson had moved to Melbourne to study law but still stood for and won the seat of Portland in 1864. In August 1862 Croxton had passed to Thomas McKellar who was also an MLC. No architect or builder has been associated with the existing house. It is typical of the small picturesque cottages presented in pattern books of the time. The house was extended in the 1960s but retains a high degree of integrity and is in excellent condition. The house is enhanced by a mature modern garden.

How is it significant?
The Croxton Homestead complex is of historical and architectural significance to the Southern Grampians Shire.

Why is it significant?
The Croxton Homestead complex is of historical significance through its associations with several important squatters who were also politicians including Donald Kennedy MLC, John Alexander Macpherson MLC and Thomas McKellar MLC. It is of architectural interest as an example of the Picturesque aesthetic, the design possibly being derived from a pattern book.