Bejoording Homestead Complex and Central Square

Child Places

• 12234 Bejoording Townsite Spring-Reserve - Site of

Statement of Significance

The place has historic value for its association with the early settlement in Bejoording and the Syred family who were early settlers and continue (2010) to farm the wider landholding. The homestead complex has aesthetic value as the built elements form a visually cohesive farm group in a treed setting. The place is a good representative example of rural settlement in the Avon Valley, demonstrating the characteristic development and expansion of a family farm in a remote rural townsite settlement from the late 1850's to the 1870's. The site has research value as it has potential to contain subsurface archaeological remains. The place has social value as the site of the Bejoording school in the 1870's, and as a visible reminder of the early history on the Toodyay area. The contribution of the place to the community's sense of place was demonstrated by community efforts to restore the place in the 1970's and maintain access in 2000. The place has aesthetic value as demonstrations of early construction methods, materials and form. The authenticity of the buildings on the site is high because of the high proportion of original remaining fabric.

Physical Description

Two single storey dwellings joined by a covered breezeway. Painted and rendered brick construction with hipped iron roofs. Timber framed sash windows and panelled and timber plank doors. Simple open verandah with diamond shaped timber fringe. Tall red brick chimneys. Remains of a bush timber smokeshed, part of the roof frame remains but very little of the iron covering. Part of the mudbrick kiln remains insitu. Additional mudbrick outbuildings also on the site.

History

Bejoording was declared a town site in 1836. Settlers' stock was watered there but no land was taken up until 1856 when notice was given of town lots for sale. Most of the first purchasers of the land were related by marriage. William Syred was the first Bejoording settler in 1859. He built a substantial mud bat house and blacksmith shop. He worked at his smithy for most of the year shoeing horses, making nails and mending wagon wheels and farm machinery. A school was established at the homestead complex in the 1860's and the Syred family employed ticket of leave men as teachers and farm labourers. In 1974 the Shire of Toodyay and the local community took over the management and restoration of Syred's Cottage as a historic site. The cottage is currently (2010) leased to the Shire of Toodyay and used as a meeting place for community groups. The stables were relocated to the site in 1977 from the Water's family property in Coondle. In 2000, the reserve was amended to enable public access to the site.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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