Black Braes Cravens Rd Mernda- 1997- since demolished
The Whittlesea Heritage Study (Meredith Gould, 1991:
`This complex is the most substantial of the typical Separation buildings to survive. The farm comprises a weatherboard cottage with a series of brick and weatherboard additions, remnants of an early partly buried brick building - probably a dairy and several sheds from the twentieth century. Mature trees enhance the context for the structure. Although the farm complex does not survive from the heyday of Separation, the early weatherboard house appears from external inspection to be particularly intact, and to have the potential to describe the development of the
farm. Unfortunately access to the interior was not possible on the day arranged however external inspection reveals much of the significant information for the house.
The early hipped roof cottage appears to comprise 3 front rooms possibly with a skillion to the rear. The front door gives access to a parlour and rooms to each side are accessed from this room. The detailing to windows here indicates a probably late 1850s or early 1860s date. This three roomed building probably had a freestanding kitchen to the rear, possibly now incorporated into the attached wing or a kitchen in an attached skillion. This arrangement was more substantial than the usual two room first settlers establishment as seen at Bassett’s in Doreen (12.11) and indicates a property with greater resources. Additions have been added over a period of 20-30 years including an unusual brick addition to the front and several in timber. The building looks down the valley to the open plains below and the distant hills.
Immediately in front of the verandah is an intricate cottage garden layout formed with brick edging. Located as it is on a prominent knoll the house is a landmark for some considerable distance. This building is on of only four buildings which survive from the once extensive Separation settlement of over 70 houses. It is reasonably intact.
Separation represents the misguided optimism for close settlement of the Plenty Valley following the Gold Rush. The subdivision itself indicates the prominence of the Plenty River in the early development of the Melbourne area. Black Braes farm provides a clear picture of farming at the failed mid nineteenth century subdivision of Separation. It is historically significant at a
Regional level. Architecturally it is significant at the local level for the illustration of farm house accommodation within Whittlesea City in the late 1850s and 1860s Black Braes is an important part of the small heritage conservation area for Separation....'
Black Braes Cravens Rd Mernda- 1997- since demolished
The Whittlesea Heritage Study (Meredith Gould, 1991:
`This complex is the most substantial of the typical Separation buildings to survive. The farm comprises a weatherboard cottage with a series of brick and weatherboard additions, remnants of an early partly buried brick building - probably a dairy and several sheds from the twentieth century. Mature trees enhance the context for the structure. Although the farm complex does not survive from the heyday of Separation, the early weatherboard house appears from external inspection to be particularly intact, and to have the potential to describe the development of the
farm. Unfortunately access to the interior was not possible on the day arranged however external inspection reveals much of the significant information for the house.
The early hipped roof cottage appears to comprise 3 front rooms possibly with a skillion to the rear. The front door gives access to a parlour and rooms to each side are accessed from this room. The detailing to windows here indicates a probably late 1850s or early 1860s date. This three roomed building probably had a freestanding kitchen to the rear, possibly now incorporated into the attached wing or a kitchen in an attached skillion. This arrangement was more substantial than the usual two room first settlers establishment as seen at Bassett’s in Doreen (12.11) and indicates a property with greater resources. Additions have been added over a period of 20-30 years including an unusual brick addition to the front and several in timber. The building looks down the valley to the open plains below and the distant hills.
Immediately in front of the verandah is an intricate cottage garden layout formed with brick edging. Located as it is on a prominent knoll the house is a landmark for some considerable distance. This building is on of only four buildings which survive from the once extensive Separation settlement of over 70 houses. It is reasonably intact.
Separation represents the misguided optimism for close settlement of the Plenty Valley following the Gold Rush. The subdivision itself indicates the prominence of the Plenty River in the early development of the Melbourne area. Black Braes farm provides a clear picture of farming at the failed mid nineteenth century subdivision of Separation. It is historically significant at a
Regional level. Architecturally it is significant at the local level for the illustration of farm house accommodation within Whittlesea City in the late 1850s and 1860s Black Braes is an important part of the small heritage conservation area for Separation....'