Edenvale Homestead Group (Pinjarra) given permanent heritage listing

11/8/95

The historic home of a former Western Australian Premier has been permanently listed on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the Edenvale Homestead Group in Pinjarra was placed on the register following a recommendation from the Heritage Council of WA.

"Edenvale provides an historic link to the early settlement of the Murray District and a virtually unbroken association with State political history from 1894 to 1962," Mr Lewis said.

The properties, incorporating the Liveringa (c. 1865, 1874) and Edenvale Homesteads (1888) and associated buildings were developed by the McLarty family in the second half of the nineteenth century and are part of the Edenvale Historic Precinct.

John McLarty, who emigrated to WA in 1839, purchased the site in 1856.

There is no record showing when Liveringa Homestead was constructed but it is thought it was built in two stages, the first in the 1860s, and then completed when Edward McLarty, the second son of John, married in 1874 and needed a home.

In 1888 Edward McLarty decided to build a bigger home for his wife and six children and immediately began construction of Edenvale only a few metres south-east of Liveringa, which was then used for storage and additional accommodation when required.

Mr Lewis said Edenvale was a substantial home built in the Victorian Regency style of architecture and reflected the increasing wealth and influence of the McLarty family.

"Edward McLarty was a farmer who bred cattle, sheep and horses on land around Pinjarra and supplied some of the best breeding stock in the State as well as timber shingles for the building industry in Perth and Fremantle," he said.

"As part of his other business ventures he ran a coach service from Perth to Busselton twice a week from 1886 to 1893."

The family also operated Pinjarra's first butcher shop and a general store.

In 1894 Edward McLarty was elected to the Legislative Council as the Member for the South West Province and held the seat for 22 years.

Edward's son, Sir Ross, followed his father into politics holding the seat of Murray Wellington from 1930 to 1962, serving as Premier and Treasurer from 1947 to 1953.

Sir Ross lived at Edenvale throughout his political career and raised his own family there.

"Having been elected the inaugural President of the National Trust (W.A.) in 1959, Sir Ross recognised the importance of the Edenvale Homestead Group as heritage buildings," Mr Lewis said.

"The place is extremely rich in local history and highly valued by the local community."

In the 1970s a citizens' committee was formed to save the buildings for community use and they were purchased by the State Government in 1979.

The buildings are also classified by the National Trust of Australia (WA) and are included in the Shire of Murray Town Planning Scheme and the Australian Heritage Commission's Register of the National Estate.

Mr Lewis said permanent listing on the State Register of Heritage Places ensured that the buildings had the full protection of the Heritage Act of WA.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595, 221 1377