Mindarie Pastoral Company Homestead (ruins)

Statement of Significance

The Mindarie Pastoral Company Homestead (Ruins) has historic significance as an example the
development and settlement of the Wanneroo district. The place has social significance to the
community of Wanneroo and in particular to local residents as evidenced by local interest in the place
at the time of inspection.

Physical Description

The Mindarie Pastoral Company Homestead (Ruins) were located on Lot 304 on Plan 21925 Vol 2098
Folio 905 at 650 Connolly Drive, Clarkson within the City of Wanneroo's Coastal Ward. On inspection
(March 2004) the ruins were approached via a dirt track with Clarkson Community High School to the
east and a recent housing development and between Victorsen Parade and Lesima Way to the west.
Evidence of a homestead comprises established landscaping including lilac trees, bougainvilleas and
grape vines. Remnants of building materials which appear possibly to have been part of a former
homestead include old bricks, surface limestone and pieces of corrugated iron were found on the
site. The ruins were not extant.

History

The suburb name Clarkson was proposed by the Shire of Wanneroo in 1979 in honour of an early
settler who held large land leases in the area.
Before pastoral leases were purchased in the 1880s, grazing without legal authority occurred on
Crown land.
Among the earliest families to purchase leases in the Wanneroo district were the Gibbs, the Highams,
Maleys and the Clarksons. In 1888 Bernard Drummond Clarkson took up a 18,000 acre grant at
Mindarie to graze his sheep which he brought down from his Yalgoo property, Meeka Station to sell.
The ruins of the original homestead are situated on the original lease area.
John Clarkson is also noted as bringing sheep from Yalgoo. He was a Major in the Light Horse
Brigade and died of a heart attack in the late 1950s.
A house was built near the ruins around 1951, however this house is also no longer extant. The
property was sold in 1958 to Kemp Hall and Archie Pearce and subsequently transferred to Harry and
Lynn Kemp Hall. Dorothy and Robin Miles were caretakers on the property until the 1990s.
The land has been subdivided for redevelopment, the first subdivision taking place in 1959.
In 1961 Quinns Road (fmr road no 7723) was constructed on land resumed from a portion of the
Mindaire Pastoral Company land.
Currently (2004) the land is under redevelopment as Somerley Estate.

Condition

Site

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.