Millington's Farm

Statement of Significance

The entire farm is representative of the 3500 Scheme
development. The various built places are of considerable significance in representing the
development of the property. The mallee root shed and fences demonstrates the innovative use of
local materials in construction. The POW hut represents the presence of war and foreign labour on
the farms. The dwelling is representative of a period of development. The place demonstrates
associations with a pioneer of the district, war time and the occupation of the land. The mallee root
shed and fences are rare if not the only, example of their type. The POW hut similarly is a rare
surviving example of its type.

Physical Description

POW hut Construction Date: c1940
The one room sapling structure is clad with vertical sheets of corrugated iron. The
chimney is made from flattened kerosene tins. The window is from an abandoned vehicle.


Machinery Shed: Construction Date: c1945
The walls are constructed of mallee roots and have a thickness of approximately 0.6
metres. The roof structure is a sapling structure, connected by wire ties, and with a bush thatch roof.

Mallee root fences: Construction Date: c1945
The fences are approximately 1 metre high, and constructed of mallee roots and
have a thickness of approximately 0.6 metres.

Farm dwelling : Construction Date: 1950
The Timber framed and fibro clad cottage has verandahs surrounding the original
four rooms. They corrugated iron roof is a high pitched gable with break pitch verandahs. Some of
the verandahs have been enclosed.

History

Henry Milllington took up his land in 1929 and
settled on his virgin property in January 1930 as part of the 3500 Scheme. There were no properly
formed roads, railway or sen/ices in the area. The first few acres were cleared by him with an axe and
a saw. He was then granted some funds to enable him to employ some help to clear the remainder of
his land. A hessian and corrugated iron dwelling was the first home on the property which was added
to over the years, and was home to his family until 1950. During the 1940s Italian Prisoners of War
were allocated throughout the district to assist the farmers. The POW on Millington's farm lived in the
hut that is still in evidence. Henry Millington was active in the Volunteer Defence Forces in Varley.
The Mallee root shed was constructed during the war years when a machinery shed was required,
but no funds were available, and materials were in short supply anyway. Innovation and
resourcefulness is the saviour of the man on the land, and Henry Millington was very innovative in
constructing his machinery shed from the readily available material on the farm. All the mallee roots
were picked by hand from the farm property. After World War Two the economical situation began to
improve, and in 1950 a new dwelling was constructed on the property. The family continued to farm
the property until March 1996 when Henry Millington's son retired.

Integrity/Authenticity

Machinery Shed:
Integrity: intact or redeemable
Authenticity: high degree

Mallee root fences:
Integrity: intact
Authenticity: high degree

Farm dwelling :
Integrity: intact or redeemable
Authenticity: high degree

POW hut:
Integrity: redeemable
Authenticity: high degree

Condition

Machinery Shed: The structure is beginning to subside, the walls are sinking and the roof has given way for the most part Mallee root fences: Good Farm dwelling : Good POW hut:The structure is in place, and some cladding remains. The roof is gone.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.