Edenvale

Statement of Significance

Edenvale is an unusual rural example of the Victorian Regency style of architecture. The use of the verandas of the building as breezeways is uncommon in a house of this period and contributes to Edenvale's aesthetic appeal. The symmetry and the use of architectural elements: two bay windows with an ogee verandah, stucco window detailing and French doors, create a lively and interesting facade to the place. Edenvale is a landmark in extensive landscaped grounds and forms an entry statement to Pinjarra. Edenvale is associated with the McLarty family - a prominent pioneering family in the Murray District and a prominent family in Western Australian politics for nearly 70 years. Edward McLarty held a seat in the Legislative Council for 22 years and his son, Sir Ross McLarty, born in Edenvale, held a seat in the Legislative Assembly and became Premier of the State. Edenvale is valued by the Pinjarra community because it depicts the past development of Pinjarra and has a close association with the political activities of the State through the McLarty family. The social importance of Edenvale is demonstrated by the efforts made by the Pinjarra community to retain it in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the place was threatened with demolition. Edenvale contributes to the community's sense of place by providing an historical link to the settlement of the Murray District, and the subsequent development of the town. Edenvale provides a physical and social link with the past economic development and political importance of Pinjarra. Appropriately interpreted, Edenvale can provide a resource residents and visitors to understand the history of the surrounding area. Edenvale has high social significance as the key tourist attraction in Pinjarra.

Physical Description

Edenvale is an 1888 homestead comprising a single-storey symmetrical plan form with a central main doorway and entrance hall passing through the house to wide back verandah. Two projecting end bays at the front are accessible off the front verandah which spans the full width of the house and follows the line of the projecting bay and overlooks a large front garden sloping down to George Street. One of the bays formed a guest bedroom, the other a large parlour or drawing room. The two main front rooms off the Hall were used as a Dining Room and a Main Bedroom, which had French doors opening out onto the front verandah. A Dressing Room was provided off the Main Bedroom at the northern side of the residence. Three small Bedrooms range along the back verandah. Two farm offices complete the north-western wing of the house, with external access only. A Breakfast Room and Pantry are provided along the southwest wing, leading off the Dining Room, with the Kitchen beyond and forming the southern end of the back verandah. A cellar was constructed under a section of the back verandah. Fireplaces were provided to all rooms except the Guest Bedroom and the small office. A timber-framed addition along the south side of the southwest wing served as Laundry and work areas.

History

Edenvale was constucted in 1888 by Edward McLarty, son of pioneer farmers John and Mary McLarty, who arrived in WA in 1839 from Scotland. By 1888, Edward McLarty had six children, William Ernest, Amy, Edward Aubrey, Donald, Neil and Douglas, and the pressure of a large family required the building of a larger house than Liveringa, their then residence. The new house, a few metres south-east of Liveringa, was called Edenvale, and incorporated one of Liveringa's sheds into its west wing. Subsequently, Liveringa was used for storage and additional accommodation as required. The building of the more substantial Edenvale reflected not only a growing family, but the increasing wealth and influence of the McLarty family. The McLartys operated Pinjarra's first butcher shop from a small building situated between Edenvale and Liveringa. Edward was already runnng a store on the site well before 1873, since Constable Eli Wansbrough observed in his diary: [There] being no Govt. quarters here for us, we arrange with Mr E. McLarty to occupy a small cottage adjoining his store, it contains four small rooms with verandah and as much garden ground as I like to cultivate... rent to be £15 per year... [The cottage is] pleasantly situated in the middle of garden with a view of the church [and] the Murray bridge in front... In fact, the garden must have been well-developed by late 1873, since Wansbrough noted that his landlord let him have ‘as much fruit from the garden round our cottage as we can use’. The cottage which Wansbrough rented was probably located to the east of the store, and was most likely demolished in 1888 to make way for Edenvale. Retailing took place from a room at the west end of the store, which had a large cellar where items could be stored in cool, dry conditions. When Edenvale was constructed, it was located to the east of the store and, at some time, the intervening gap was bricked in to form another room. This new room became a staff dining room and connected with the kitchen of the main house by means of a doorway. The other rooms were converted for use as a Bake House and servants’ quarters. The 1888 homestead comprises a single-storey symmetrical plan form with a central main doorway and entrance hall passing through the house to wide back verandah. Two projecting end bays at the front are accessible off the front verandah which spans the full width of the house and follows the line of the projecting bay and overlooks a large front garden sloping down to George Street. One of the bays formed a guest bedroom, the other a large parlour or drawing room. The two main front rooms off the Hall were used as a Dining Room and a Main Bedroom, which had French doors opening out onto the front verandah. A Dressing Room was provided off the Main Bedroom at the northern side of the residence. Three small Bedrooms range along the back verandah. Two farm offices complete the north-western wing of the house, with external access only. A Breakfast Room and Pantry are provided along the southwest wing, leading off the Dining Room, with the Kitchen beyond and forming the southern end of the back verandah. A cellar was constructed under a section of the back verandah. Fireplaces were provided to all rooms except the Guest Bedroom and the small office. A timber-framed addition along the southwest side of the northwest wing served as Laundry and work areas. As part of his business ventures, Edward McLarty ran a coach service from Perth to Busselton twice a week, during the years, 1886-93. Though there is no evidence, it has been suggested that the coaches and horses were stabled at the Edenvale property. The opening of the Perth-Pinjarra railway line, in 1893, saw the demise of the coach services and the sale of the coaches to the Goldfields. The McLartys operated Pinjarra's first butcher shop from a small building situated between Edenvale and Liveringa. Gardens were either continued on the site from earlier occupation of Liveringa, or new gardens quickly established. It was noted in 1893: In the gardens of Mr. E. McLarty, Mrs. Alderson, and others, there are ‘all sorts and conditions’ of fruit trees and vines growing and bearing heavily. Active in local and, then, State politics, Edward McLarty became a member of the Murray Roads Board, in 1877, and held this position for nearly 40 years, including four as Chairman. During this period he served on various other boards: the Murray District Board of Education, the Murray Farmers Association (of which he became President) and the Pinjarra Common Lands Board. In 1894, Edward was elected to the Legislative Council, as the member for South-West Province, a seat he held for 22 years. Edenvale appears to have been one of the main social centres in Pinjarra in the 1890s, and along with many visitors, the large extended family would often have made the place busy. In 1894, Edward constructed the Premier Hotel. Soon after moving into Edenvale, the last of Edward and Jane McLarty’s children, Duncan Ross (known as Ross), was born. Ross followed Edward into politics, holding the seat of Murray-Wellington (1930-62). During a distinguished political career he was leader of the WA Liberal Party (1946-57), State Premier and Treasurer (1947-53), and Leader of the Opposition (1953-57). He was knighted in 1953 for his services to the State. Sir Ross was also very active in community affairs and was, at different times, both Secretary and President of the RSL and Chairman of the Hospital Board. He was elected the inaugural President of the National Trust (WA) in 1959. Sir Ross continued to raise his family at Edenvale and the house has an unbroken association with State political history from 1894 until 1962. Many Aborigines were employed at Edenvale, including a gardener who had been imprisoned at Rottnest Island. One significant member of staff was Kitty Rose, an Aboriginal girl who was taken on as a domestic helper when Sir Ross was a small boy. Kitty lived at Edenvale for the rest of her life and had her own sitting room off the back verandah. Kitty is said to have entertained her friends in this room with her gramophone and, later, a wireless. At an unknown date, the verandah enclosures were removed. At unknown dates, a doorway has been inserted in the western wall of the west wing, the timber shingle roof has been replaced and service rooms were added to the south-western verandah. In 1981-82, there was general restoration and reconstruction of parts of the fabric. Repairs were extensive and applied to all elements of Edenvale. In the 1980s, rooms in the rear wing were converted for use as public toilets. This also entailed the demolition of a bathroom addition to the northeast corner of Edenvale. One room in the rear wing was refurbished in the 1990s to create a display room for Sir Ross McLarty memorabilia. In 1987, the bread oven was demolished and there were alterations to the Kitchen to service the Heritage Tearooms. There was further restoration and refurbishment of the principle rooms from 1988. In August 2009, the rear wing of Edenvale was badly damaged by fire. Reconstructive conservation works were completed at the end of 2011. The reconstructed wing is now used for community meeting purposes. In 2013 the Edenvale Fire Restoration Project was recognised for excellence and awarded a State Heritage Award.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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