Save Historic Rosedale aka Lincoln's Farm
Save Historic Rosedale aka Lincoln's Farm
The Issue
Lincolns Farm/Rosedale (also known as Seaview Farm/ Rose Hill Farm/Westham station) is a heritage listed pioneering agricultural and dairy farm with sweeping views of the bay, situated next to Portarlington on the corner of Geelong Rd and Pt Richards Rd, Bellarine.
The property dates back to 1839, only 4 years after John Batman landed at Indented Head, the entire North Bellarine coastline being monikered 'The Indented Head' after Matthew Flinders surveyed the area in 1802 and found the coastline to run geographically inward from the bay.
Whilst the original house, stables and dairy no longer stand having been sadly demolished in 2020, the cheese cellar dated to 1862 is still relatively in tact, and this petition is in regards to saving this building
Please see The Age article 25/9/2022 that touches on Lincoln's Farm. There have also been 2 other articles in the Bellarine Times dated 22/9/2022 and 29/9/2022, and 2 articles in support of the development in the last month.
From 1839, Mr Henry Baynton had a squatter rights cattle run at the property, and named the then station 'Westham'. Mr Baynton shipped cattle to Tasmania (Van Diemans Land) from the farm until 1845, one of the first places in Victoria to do so. He even had a jetty built near the end of Stewart Grove for the purpose of cattle loading. After taking up the Westham run at 'The Indented Head', he established a further cattle run near Hamilton, named Nigretta, which still stands today. By 1845, Mr Baynton became insolvent sadly.
In 1849 the Crown then reduced squatters runs in size, and sold 'Westham' to Joseph Birkett in 1849, who then renamed the property 'Rose Hill Farm'.
From the research we have done in conjunction with Heritage Victoria and the National Trust, the property pre dates the National Trust listed Portarlington Mill, as Mr Joseph Birkett, a wheat farmer and owner of 'Rose Hill Farm, The Indented Head' was a director of the Portarlington Mill Company - and it was he who initially formed the committee to build the mill in 1854 on 5 acres of land- very possibly on a former section of 'Rose Hill Farm'. Thomas Widdicombe was engaged to build the Mill, but Mr Birkett owned the land it sits on. See- https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/E35A1E46-F840-11E9-AE98-1D26C6EC1788/content?image=1
Maps from 1839 and 1851 show the initial land covering up to and including Sproat St until 1857, and going westward, all the way down to near McAdams lane, and inclusive of the shoreline right up to Port Philip Bay.
Building of the Portarlington Mill commenced in 1855 and it was completed and operational by 1857.
A flour mill was required to process the wheat Mr Birkett cultivated, and as the property was so productive ('one of the best wheat farms in the colony' according to an article on trove) the flour was shipped to the then pioneer settlement of Melbourne town to assist with food staples for the original settlers.
This information has been verified by viewing the original crown title dating back to 1849, and the electoral roll dated to 1851, noting that prominent businessman and local magistrate, Joseph Birkett did indeed own and live at the property now known as Rosedale/Lincoln's Farm (and occupied the recently demolished original four roomed double gabled dwelling) at the time of the planning for the Mill, which commenced in 1854.
The unique Iron ore 'Portarlington stone' rocks used to build the Portarlington Mill were the same used to build the cheese cellar, and these are believed to be the only 2 buildings left made out of this material standing in Australia.
According to the article below and a few others on trove, the stone was mined from the beachfront near Hat Rock see- https://poi-australia.com.au/points-of-interest/australia/victoria/portarlington/the-portarlington-kiln-mill-jetty-c-pre-1858-7-turner-crt-portarlington-vic/ which sadly displaced the First Nations community and celebrations and corroboree place of importance, when babies were born at Hat Rock birthing cave.
The quarry for the Portarlington stone also exposed a fresh water spring, bringing much needed fresh water supply to the Bellarine Peninsula, the sourcing of which had been problematic for the original settlers.
This property in the early 1840s/50s, was central to the establishment of the entire North Bellarine, and Victoria as a whole, and we cannot find any pioneer farming settlement in Victoria that predates Lincoln's Farm that remains as farmland. There is a possibility that this farmland is the first commercial agricultural production in Victoria, this claim is yet to be completely validated. **New information- it is believed to be one of the first pioneer commercial agricultural productions in the state of Victoria. Emu Creek sheep station (Sunbury) began in 1836, The Henty run at Portland (1836) Bonney's sheep station (Kilmore) in 1837, Gulf station (Yarra Glen) commenced in in the 1840s, at least a year, if not more, after Henry Baynton commenced his cattle run at the Westham (Lincoln's Farm), making it one of the very first commercial agricultural productions in Victoria.
In 1860, when wheat rust destroyed the crops, Mr Birkett sold the property to Mr Edwin Collins who then renamed the property Sea View Farm, and under Mr Collins stewardship, the 'original four roomed double gabled dwelling was extended upon and a dairy house, cheese house and stables' were added in 1862-1864. The farm was 'one of the first in the colony to perfect the cheddar cheese method' (from The Leader newspaper article on trove), and it was also the first place where cheddar cheese and salted butter was exported back to England, a 6 week journey by ship in those days mind you - much to consternation of the English as the cheese didn't come from the Cheddar region- so it was originally labelled 'imitation cheddar'.
There was indeed a bit of international controversy in regards to the Empire and the colony in this regards to cheese manufacturing, and this farm was at the centre of it all.
The only other cheese cellar that is still standing and predates the Lincoln's Farm cellar, (1832) is owned by the Van Diemans Land Dairy Company, and even then, as far as the information we have available, VDLDC cheese was only produced for consumption in the colony, making Mr Collins and Sea View Farm production the very first to produce and export cheddar cheese and salted butter in Australia.
From there Mr Collins success in running the cheese factory was exemplified by his pioneering techniques with the pasture and fertilization, by hauling seashells up from the beach, crushing and spreading them onto the pasture. The ingenuity of using the Portarlington iron ore stone cellar to mature the cheese and butter in the hot Australian conditions, was also a significant factor in his success. Mr Collins family still live in the area, and are immensely proud of their predecessors innovation and skills, and are fully supportive of this campaign.
Around 1877 Mr Collins then sold the farm to a Mr Fry, who also purchased or leased the Mill around the same time, (another connection to the Mill), who then sold the property to a Mr Andrew Baxter in around 1890. We have some evidence Mr Baxter was a Methodist pastor, but more investigation is required to understand his role in the area.
After Mr Baxter's untimely passing at a young age in 1915, it was then sold to the Wheadon family, and in approximately 1920ish, they then onsold the farm to Mr James Lincoln, and his wife Lucy.
The property was then bequeathed to Mrs Lincoln after her husband James sadly passed away young, raising her boys there and running the farm as a single mother, til the early 1980s, a quite remarkable feat.
There is a current application for a chocolatierie, factory, restaurant and farmstay with the City Of Greater Geelong, which seeks to modify the cheese cellar dating back to 1862 into part of the farmstay accommodation. This includes, according to the application - 'part demolition, infill and reuse of remnants'.
See PDF 'Revised Planning Report' page 25 here-
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/advertisedplanning/adlist_detail.aspx?app_number=219/2022
This farm was one of the first places in Victoria where cattle were shipped to Van Diemans Land, one of the most important in supplying staple food sources to colonial settlers in Melbourne town, and was also one of the very first places on mainland Australia where cheddar cheese and butter was successfully manufactured and exported from. There are so many 'first's' that began at the property in Australian pioneer and colonial settlements, and its history is rich and colourful as the characters who owned it over the many years. The Heritage Victoria implemented historical overlay area of approximately 5 acres of the property where the house, cellar, original dairy and stables stood, appears to remain largely undisturbed since 1839.
We feel the only fitting use of the cellar, is a full restoration to heritage values, including an exact replica of the original wooden gabled loft that was demolished along with the homestead and stables, and a monument, or signifier of the importance of all these pioneering families who made a significant contribution Australian agriculture, the establishment of Victoria and the North Bellarine, and feeding our original settlers.
In itself, the cellar as a monument could be a tourist attraction relating and honouring the stories of all who toiled the land.
There have even been a number of books written about the farm, amongst the more well known, 'Lincolns Place' by renowned author Colin Thiele (Storm Boy) and illustrated by Robert Ingpen. Robert Ingpen's sketches of Lincoln's Farm being chosen to be presented at the Regional Dailies Conference of Australia
The land is currently zoned farmland, not commercial, and is a habitat for the protected growling grass frog, as it has a natural water course running through it that ends up at Pt Richards flora and fauna reserve. The environmental impact report was done at the incorrect time of year (April) when wildlife movements increase over spring/summer (August-March).
Farmers Federation Bellarine secretary Fiona Conroy has stated that there are concerns over the possible rezoning, and the possible conflict of the 'Right To Farm' policy which maybe impacted by this development being so close to the canola farm next door. Keeping in mind peak harvest season, with large farm machinery for canola is summertime, not including dust and possible pasture burns, the smoke, noise and dust created will possibly affect the enjoyment of those attending the restaurant, and those visitors that will be accommodated in the farmstay
There are also concerns about how a large commercial enterprise may impact that uniquely beautiful natural view as you come into Portarlington.
The traffic report was also conducted during off peak season, and we fear this will also be an issue. With the 600 lot Panorama Portarlington due to title soon, the intersection of Geelong Rd/Batman Rd/Pt Richards/Greenhills Rd will be congested with an estimated 1000+ more cars entering that intersection daily than what currently occurs, notwithstanding at least 100 cars and boats that travel along Pt Richards Rd during summer. The intersection upgrade, and probable duality of Geelong Rd from Portarlington to the Drysdale overpass will supercede the commercial viability and cost of the chocolatierie, and rate payers of the City Of Greater Geelong will be partially paying for these upgrades.
We, the local North Bellarine Peninsula community members aren't against a chocolatierie or farmstay in the area, we simply feel this property has too many overriding concerns to ignore and a more suitable property could be found for this development
Thank you for taking the time to read, please sign and share and this petition will be submitted to City Of Greater Geelong councillors, including Mayor Trent Sullivan, aswell as Member for Bellarine, Alison Marchant and planning minister Sonya Kilkenny
More information about these amazing pioneers can be found here -
Henry Baynton arrives in Australia, Van Diemans Land from London in 1829
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8644209?searchTerm=Henry%20Baynton%20enterprize
Joseph Birkett helps establish Geelong Agricultural Show,, and forms the Bellarine farmers association and market
329
The Issue
Lincolns Farm/Rosedale (also known as Seaview Farm/ Rose Hill Farm/Westham station) is a heritage listed pioneering agricultural and dairy farm with sweeping views of the bay, situated next to Portarlington on the corner of Geelong Rd and Pt Richards Rd, Bellarine.
The property dates back to 1839, only 4 years after John Batman landed at Indented Head, the entire North Bellarine coastline being monikered 'The Indented Head' after Matthew Flinders surveyed the area in 1802 and found the coastline to run geographically inward from the bay.
Whilst the original house, stables and dairy no longer stand having been sadly demolished in 2020, the cheese cellar dated to 1862 is still relatively in tact, and this petition is in regards to saving this building
Please see The Age article 25/9/2022 that touches on Lincoln's Farm. There have also been 2 other articles in the Bellarine Times dated 22/9/2022 and 29/9/2022, and 2 articles in support of the development in the last month.
From 1839, Mr Henry Baynton had a squatter rights cattle run at the property, and named the then station 'Westham'. Mr Baynton shipped cattle to Tasmania (Van Diemans Land) from the farm until 1845, one of the first places in Victoria to do so. He even had a jetty built near the end of Stewart Grove for the purpose of cattle loading. After taking up the Westham run at 'The Indented Head', he established a further cattle run near Hamilton, named Nigretta, which still stands today. By 1845, Mr Baynton became insolvent sadly.
In 1849 the Crown then reduced squatters runs in size, and sold 'Westham' to Joseph Birkett in 1849, who then renamed the property 'Rose Hill Farm'.
From the research we have done in conjunction with Heritage Victoria and the National Trust, the property pre dates the National Trust listed Portarlington Mill, as Mr Joseph Birkett, a wheat farmer and owner of 'Rose Hill Farm, The Indented Head' was a director of the Portarlington Mill Company - and it was he who initially formed the committee to build the mill in 1854 on 5 acres of land- very possibly on a former section of 'Rose Hill Farm'. Thomas Widdicombe was engaged to build the Mill, but Mr Birkett owned the land it sits on. See- https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/E35A1E46-F840-11E9-AE98-1D26C6EC1788/content?image=1
Maps from 1839 and 1851 show the initial land covering up to and including Sproat St until 1857, and going westward, all the way down to near McAdams lane, and inclusive of the shoreline right up to Port Philip Bay.
Building of the Portarlington Mill commenced in 1855 and it was completed and operational by 1857.
A flour mill was required to process the wheat Mr Birkett cultivated, and as the property was so productive ('one of the best wheat farms in the colony' according to an article on trove) the flour was shipped to the then pioneer settlement of Melbourne town to assist with food staples for the original settlers.
This information has been verified by viewing the original crown title dating back to 1849, and the electoral roll dated to 1851, noting that prominent businessman and local magistrate, Joseph Birkett did indeed own and live at the property now known as Rosedale/Lincoln's Farm (and occupied the recently demolished original four roomed double gabled dwelling) at the time of the planning for the Mill, which commenced in 1854.
The unique Iron ore 'Portarlington stone' rocks used to build the Portarlington Mill were the same used to build the cheese cellar, and these are believed to be the only 2 buildings left made out of this material standing in Australia.
According to the article below and a few others on trove, the stone was mined from the beachfront near Hat Rock see- https://poi-australia.com.au/points-of-interest/australia/victoria/portarlington/the-portarlington-kiln-mill-jetty-c-pre-1858-7-turner-crt-portarlington-vic/ which sadly displaced the First Nations community and celebrations and corroboree place of importance, when babies were born at Hat Rock birthing cave.
The quarry for the Portarlington stone also exposed a fresh water spring, bringing much needed fresh water supply to the Bellarine Peninsula, the sourcing of which had been problematic for the original settlers.
This property in the early 1840s/50s, was central to the establishment of the entire North Bellarine, and Victoria as a whole, and we cannot find any pioneer farming settlement in Victoria that predates Lincoln's Farm that remains as farmland. There is a possibility that this farmland is the first commercial agricultural production in Victoria, this claim is yet to be completely validated. **New information- it is believed to be one of the first pioneer commercial agricultural productions in the state of Victoria. Emu Creek sheep station (Sunbury) began in 1836, The Henty run at Portland (1836) Bonney's sheep station (Kilmore) in 1837, Gulf station (Yarra Glen) commenced in in the 1840s, at least a year, if not more, after Henry Baynton commenced his cattle run at the Westham (Lincoln's Farm), making it one of the very first commercial agricultural productions in Victoria.
In 1860, when wheat rust destroyed the crops, Mr Birkett sold the property to Mr Edwin Collins who then renamed the property Sea View Farm, and under Mr Collins stewardship, the 'original four roomed double gabled dwelling was extended upon and a dairy house, cheese house and stables' were added in 1862-1864. The farm was 'one of the first in the colony to perfect the cheddar cheese method' (from The Leader newspaper article on trove), and it was also the first place where cheddar cheese and salted butter was exported back to England, a 6 week journey by ship in those days mind you - much to consternation of the English as the cheese didn't come from the Cheddar region- so it was originally labelled 'imitation cheddar'.
There was indeed a bit of international controversy in regards to the Empire and the colony in this regards to cheese manufacturing, and this farm was at the centre of it all.
The only other cheese cellar that is still standing and predates the Lincoln's Farm cellar, (1832) is owned by the Van Diemans Land Dairy Company, and even then, as far as the information we have available, VDLDC cheese was only produced for consumption in the colony, making Mr Collins and Sea View Farm production the very first to produce and export cheddar cheese and salted butter in Australia.
From there Mr Collins success in running the cheese factory was exemplified by his pioneering techniques with the pasture and fertilization, by hauling seashells up from the beach, crushing and spreading them onto the pasture. The ingenuity of using the Portarlington iron ore stone cellar to mature the cheese and butter in the hot Australian conditions, was also a significant factor in his success. Mr Collins family still live in the area, and are immensely proud of their predecessors innovation and skills, and are fully supportive of this campaign.
Around 1877 Mr Collins then sold the farm to a Mr Fry, who also purchased or leased the Mill around the same time, (another connection to the Mill), who then sold the property to a Mr Andrew Baxter in around 1890. We have some evidence Mr Baxter was a Methodist pastor, but more investigation is required to understand his role in the area.
After Mr Baxter's untimely passing at a young age in 1915, it was then sold to the Wheadon family, and in approximately 1920ish, they then onsold the farm to Mr James Lincoln, and his wife Lucy.
The property was then bequeathed to Mrs Lincoln after her husband James sadly passed away young, raising her boys there and running the farm as a single mother, til the early 1980s, a quite remarkable feat.
There is a current application for a chocolatierie, factory, restaurant and farmstay with the City Of Greater Geelong, which seeks to modify the cheese cellar dating back to 1862 into part of the farmstay accommodation. This includes, according to the application - 'part demolition, infill and reuse of remnants'.
See PDF 'Revised Planning Report' page 25 here-
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/advertisedplanning/adlist_detail.aspx?app_number=219/2022
This farm was one of the first places in Victoria where cattle were shipped to Van Diemans Land, one of the most important in supplying staple food sources to colonial settlers in Melbourne town, and was also one of the very first places on mainland Australia where cheddar cheese and butter was successfully manufactured and exported from. There are so many 'first's' that began at the property in Australian pioneer and colonial settlements, and its history is rich and colourful as the characters who owned it over the many years. The Heritage Victoria implemented historical overlay area of approximately 5 acres of the property where the house, cellar, original dairy and stables stood, appears to remain largely undisturbed since 1839.
We feel the only fitting use of the cellar, is a full restoration to heritage values, including an exact replica of the original wooden gabled loft that was demolished along with the homestead and stables, and a monument, or signifier of the importance of all these pioneering families who made a significant contribution Australian agriculture, the establishment of Victoria and the North Bellarine, and feeding our original settlers.
In itself, the cellar as a monument could be a tourist attraction relating and honouring the stories of all who toiled the land.
There have even been a number of books written about the farm, amongst the more well known, 'Lincolns Place' by renowned author Colin Thiele (Storm Boy) and illustrated by Robert Ingpen. Robert Ingpen's sketches of Lincoln's Farm being chosen to be presented at the Regional Dailies Conference of Australia
The land is currently zoned farmland, not commercial, and is a habitat for the protected growling grass frog, as it has a natural water course running through it that ends up at Pt Richards flora and fauna reserve. The environmental impact report was done at the incorrect time of year (April) when wildlife movements increase over spring/summer (August-March).
Farmers Federation Bellarine secretary Fiona Conroy has stated that there are concerns over the possible rezoning, and the possible conflict of the 'Right To Farm' policy which maybe impacted by this development being so close to the canola farm next door. Keeping in mind peak harvest season, with large farm machinery for canola is summertime, not including dust and possible pasture burns, the smoke, noise and dust created will possibly affect the enjoyment of those attending the restaurant, and those visitors that will be accommodated in the farmstay
There are also concerns about how a large commercial enterprise may impact that uniquely beautiful natural view as you come into Portarlington.
The traffic report was also conducted during off peak season, and we fear this will also be an issue. With the 600 lot Panorama Portarlington due to title soon, the intersection of Geelong Rd/Batman Rd/Pt Richards/Greenhills Rd will be congested with an estimated 1000+ more cars entering that intersection daily than what currently occurs, notwithstanding at least 100 cars and boats that travel along Pt Richards Rd during summer. The intersection upgrade, and probable duality of Geelong Rd from Portarlington to the Drysdale overpass will supercede the commercial viability and cost of the chocolatierie, and rate payers of the City Of Greater Geelong will be partially paying for these upgrades.
We, the local North Bellarine Peninsula community members aren't against a chocolatierie or farmstay in the area, we simply feel this property has too many overriding concerns to ignore and a more suitable property could be found for this development
Thank you for taking the time to read, please sign and share and this petition will be submitted to City Of Greater Geelong councillors, including Mayor Trent Sullivan, aswell as Member for Bellarine, Alison Marchant and planning minister Sonya Kilkenny
More information about these amazing pioneers can be found here -
Henry Baynton arrives in Australia, Van Diemans Land from London in 1829
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8644209?searchTerm=Henry%20Baynton%20enterprize
Joseph Birkett helps establish Geelong Agricultural Show,, and forms the Bellarine farmers association and market
329
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 17 September 2022