Grove Farm Site

Statement of Significance

• The site has historic value for its association with the first European settlers of Belmont, the Hardey family. The house and farming property were key to the establishment and development of the region.

Physical Description

There is no evidence of the former farming property.

History

A large self funded group of Methodist settlers arrived in the Swan River Colony in February 1831. John Wall Hardey and his brother Joseph were leaders of the group and they were granted land in the present day Maylands penisular. John Wall Hardey was later granted a large parcel of land designated as Location 33 across the river in the future City of Belmont.

This large parcel of land was bound by the river and the present day Hardey Road and Abernethey Road was used in conjunction with the Maylands land to develop the family's farming enterprises.

Part of this site was used as the first racecourse until the Western Australian Turf Club acquired the present Ascot site in 1852.

The Royal Perth Golf Club also used part of Grove Farm from 1900 to 1908 when they made their permanent home in South Perth. Robert Davy Hardey considerably extended his family's influence with purchase of Locs 30, 31 & 32. This brought the Hardey's Belmont holdings to 7,000 acres, nearly the whole of today's City of Belmont. The land produced good crops of vegetables, fruit, even some tobacco and Robert enjoyed great success with his grape production and resulting wines. The wine making was carried out in partnership with his cousin Richard Hardey of Tranby. Cellars were dug under Belmont House, now the Sandringham Hotel, from the river bank and were only closed off in recent times.

Grove Farm house must have been one of the finest houses in the early years of the Colony. It was two stories and built of brick with 4 rooms upstairs, 4 rooms downstairs, plus a kitchen and bathroom. Horse stalls and a number of other buildings stood nearby.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: N/A
Authenticity: N/A

Condition

N/A

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.