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WOODHOUSE HOMESTEAD COMPLEX

Location Woodhouse Lane WOODHOUSE, Southern Grampians Shire File Number 827 Level Stage 2 study complete

[1/30] 23426 Woodhouse facade 1728 [2/30] 23426 Woodhouse facade 1729 [3/30] 23426 Woodhouse facade 1730 [4/30] 23426 Woodhouse coach house [5/30] 23426 Woodhouse dam lake [6/30] 23426 Woodhouse dam lake [7/30] 23426 Woodhouse dining room [8/30] 23426 Woodhouse facade 1725 [9/30] 23426 Woodhouse coach house [10/30] 23426 Woodhouse coach house [11/30] 23426 Woodhouse facade window [12/30] 23426 Woodhouse front door [13/30] 23426 Woodhouse front verandah [14/30] 23426 Woodhouse mens quarters [15/30] 23426 Woodhouse rear 1736 [16/30] 23426 Woodhouse side verandah [17/30] 23426 Woodhouse side verandah [18/30] 23426 Woodhouse side verandah [19/30] 23426 Woodhouse stables 1740 [20/30] 23426 Woodhouse stables slab [21/30] 23426 Woodhouse stables slab [22/30] 23426 Woodhouse verandah [23/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1744 [24/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1745 [25/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1746 [26/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1747 [27/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1754 [28/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1950s [29/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed 1950s [30/30] 23426 Woodhouse woolshed drain

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Woodhouse Homestead Complex is located in the north-west corner of the intersection of the Hamilton-Chatsworth Road and Woodhouse Lane about 12kms north-east of Mount Rouse. It is at the head of Muston's Creek. The squatting run was taken up by Adolphus Sceales in March 1848 who died in 1854. The run then passed to James Ritchie who passed it on to his brothers, Daniel and Simon Ritchie in 1858 and, from 1860, Simon Ritchie held the licence on his own (B&K, 302). The Ritchie brothers were in partnership with James Sceales, Adolphus' brother, in the neighbouring Blackwood run. For much of the later nineteenth century, Woodhouse was occupied by James Alexander. The original dwelling survives and was later used as a kitchen. A new homestead was built immediately adjacent to it in 1857 and this was extended in 1868 by the architect J. M. Knight of Penshurst. It was extended and substantially modernised about 1900. It remains today much as it was at that time and is set in a large mature landscaped garden including an ornamental lake. The very large woolshed and the men's quarters were also built in 1868. The Ritchie family held the property until 1928 when it was purchased by John Baillieu. It was sub-divided under the Soldier Settlement Scheme and, in 1948, the block including the homestead complex was allocated to W. C. Wawn. The Plowright family were the subsequent owners. The homestead and garden are in very good condition and the various outbuildings and woolshed are in good condition, all retaining a high degree of integrity to the early twentieth century period.

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

Why is it significant?
The Woodhouse Homestead Complex is of historical significance for its associations with Adolphus and Jane Sceales, Scottish immigrants and early squatters who established the run. It is of further significance for its long term ownership by the important Ritchie family, although it was developed by James Alexander. The Woodhouse Homestead Complex is of architectural significance for demonstrating a sequence of development, each stage of which is still represented including the major developments in 1868 which were designed by the local architect, J. M. Knight.