Sutton's Farm in Halls Head to be entered on Heritage Register

26/9/99
Sutton's Farm, established by one of the pioneering families of the Mandurah district, is to be entered on the Register of Heritage Places, Heritage Minister Graham Kierath has announced.
The historic Halls Head farm, is typical of the family farms developed in the mid-1800s as land throughout Western Australia was opened up for development.
Mr Kierath said Sutton's Farm and its associated graveyard were a significant part of Mandurah's history.
John Sutton, his wife Eleanor and their son Henry arrived in WA in 1839 on the Hindoo to become tenant farmers for John Tate, one of several wealthy immigrants who set about developing the Peel district.
Sutton, however, remained a tenant farmer for only a relatively short time before opening the Wayside Inn in 1849. Sutton also operated a ferry service across the estuary to the Mandurah townsite.
By 1850, Sutton had successfully applied for a land grant of 20,000 acres and the family set about establishing the farm.
Tragedy struck twice with the death of John in 1857 and Henry four years later, leaving Eleanor to manage the farm alone. Eleanor eventually sent for her nephew, also named Henry, who arrived in 1862.
"The buildings at Sutton Farm were all built by Henry Sutton in the Victorian Georgian style," Mr Kierath said.
"The single men's quarters, barns and stables were built around 1870 and the homestead was built in 1881. The homestead comprised 11 rooms and family legend has it that Henry built it from plans drawn by his late cousin.
"After Eleanor died in 1868, Henry inherited the property and became one of the mainstays of the community."
Mr Kierath said the farm and homestead also became integral parts of the local community.
Originally a dairy and cattle farm, it was one of the few employers in Mandurah in the 1890s, although with the introduction of bottled milk the dairy business slowly declined.
Before the building of the local town hall, the big dining room at the homestead was used for dances and other social gatherings.
Henry Sutton died in 1922 and the farm was sold to local farmer Joseph Cooper, although members of the Sutton family continued to have a say in the running of the property.
When Violet Sutton moved into a shop she owned in Mandurah in 1930, it was the first time a Sutton had not lived on the property for 90 years.
Ownership of the farm passed back to the Sutton family in 1953 and they continued to live there it was bought by developers Cedar Woods in 1977.
The family graveyard is now surrounded by public open space and Cedar Woods have erected a plaque acknowledging the contribution of the family to the local district.
Media contact: Steve Manchee (08) 9213 6400