Lander Farm

Statement of Significance

The place has historic value as an excellent representative example of the diverse, small-scale agricultural and market-gardening enterprises that dominated the Gosnells area from the 1890s until the area began shifting from rural to suburban land uses in the post-World War Two period, having since its establishment in 1946 successfully produced commercial quantities of flowers, ducks, firewood and honey, in addition to domestic agriculture including horses and cattle.

The place has scientific value as it retains innovative home-made structures and machinery developed over fifty years in a context of limited financial resources, demonstrating the agricultural traditions of making-do, salvaging and recycling, and the manner in which informal local and domestic knowledge produces devices uniquely designed for very specific situations.

The place is a rare example of a duck farm.

The place has social value as the business operating there particularly employed local women, who could work flexible working hours which enabled the women to structure their work around family commitments.

The place has historic value as it was established by notable Gosnells resident Harold Lander, who was later joined by his brother Charles Lander.

Physical Description

Lander Farm, Gosnells, a farming landscape containing Harold’s First House, a vernacular timber-framed asbestos and iron cottage (c.1945) and outbuildings; rustic timber, hand-made concrete block and iron sheds (1950s & 1960s) containing equipment and machinery relating to a flower nursery, an apiary, timber cutting and duck farming; duckling huts, breeding huts and incubators in various materials; a relocated Nissen Hut (n.d.); a pre-painted steel Transportable House and a brick and tile Main House (1993) in a partially reforested setting.

There is an extensive sprinkler system on the property to defend against bush fires. The property has many structures such as sheds and pens associated with the duck farm that were made on site using recycled and salvaged materials which was an essential agricultural practice. The duck farm produced meat and eggs and was very labour intensive. Charles later mechanised some of the work, such as mixing feed, as the farm grew in size. The farm was divided into sections with ducklings, with and without mothers, in rows of pens and nesting boxes, and adult ducks in another area.

History

During the early twentieth century much of the locality was used for agriculture and market gardens. Many landowners in Gosnells on smaller properties had an orchard or livestock such as cow or chickens and worked in Perth, commuting by train. Later much of this land became subdivided for residential uses. Harold Lander's parents, George and Alice, migrated from England in 1912 and established a farm in Southern River.

In 1946, following his demobilisation from the army Harold Lander, one of George and Alice's eight children, took up a parcel of land on the east bank of the Southern River as a flower nursery from which he supplied cut flowers to florists in Perth. Initially Harold planted poppies, chrysanthemums and carnations, but later moved into producing gladioli and was a successful and well respected grower.

When Harold secured his land he built a small hut and dug trenches for an irrigation system which he ingeniously designed and constructed from available materials.

In 1949, Charles joined his brother on the property and developed a commercial duck farm which was in operation until 1995. Charles employed local women at the farm on flexible working hours due to their family commitments. The duck farm was a successful business with Charles taking a scientific approach to the breeding and care of the produce despite his lack of formal education or training.

George Lander, Harold and Charles' brother operated a firewood business and kept bees on the property for the commercial sale of honey. The buildings on the property were built by the brothers from available materials including manufacturing bricks from concrete.

Harold retired from his business in the 1970s and the area under cultivation for flowers was returned to bushland, or a contrived 'wilderness' which Harold planted with trees, shrubs and ground covers.

Harold Lander was a respected member of the local community and was a leader of the Southern River Progress Association which campaigned for local infrastructure. He was also an active member of many sporting and community groups. He died in 1995 and his ashes were scattered on the river bank.

In the late 1980s suburban development of Southern River did progress, until that time the western side of the Southern River was still largely rural. A new house was built on the property in 1994 for Charles Lander and his wife and since that time the other residences on the site have been continually leased. In 2004, the City of Gosnells gave approval for a portion of the land to be used for a 'non-conforming' use within a residential area to allow the existing firewood business, cattle, horses, poultry and farm machinery to remain at the place as the remainder of the property was developed as thirteen residential lots.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree
Authenticity: High degree

Condition

Overall: good condition

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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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.