Millington's Farm

Values

· The place is representative of the 3500 Farm Scheme development in Western Australia.
· The place represents the resourcefulness and innovative use of local material in construction.
· The POW hut represents the period of war and the use of foreign labour on farms in Western Australia.
· The place is associated with Henry Millington a pioneer of the Kulin district.
· The Mallee Shed and Fences are rare.

Physical Description

Machinery Shed
‘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
‘The fences are approximately 1 metre high, and constructed of mallee roots and have a thickness of approximately 0.6 metres.’
Farm Dwelling
‘The timber framed and fibro clad cottage has verandahs surrounding the original four rooms. The corrugated ion roof is a high-pitched gable with break pitch verandahs. Some of the verandahs have been enclosed.’
POW Hut
‘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.’

History

‘Henry Millington took up his land in 1929 and settled on his property in January 1930 as part of the 3500 scheme. (The 3500 Farm Scheme was a proposal by the Department of Agriculture to settle 8 million acres for 3500 farms in the area from Mollerin to Bullfinch and Southern Cross to Ravensthorpe). There were no properly formed roads, railway or services in the area. He cleared the first few acres 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’s on Millington’s farm lived in the hut that is still in evidence. Henry Millington was active in the Volunteer Defense Forces in Varley. The Mallee root shed was constructed during the war years when a machinery shed was required. ‘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 economic 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

High

Condition

Good

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.