Middle Swan homestead awarded State Government heritage grant

1/11/02
The Belvoir Homestead group in Middle Swan will receive $29,000 for conservation works through the 2002-03 Heritage Grants Program, Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards announced today.
Administered by the Heritage Council of WA, the grant is part of a $398,200 allocation, which will support 24 conservation projects across the State.
"The Belvoir Homestead Group (pronounced Beaver) at 1177 Great Northern Highway, Middle Swan includes a single-storey residence, outhouses, dairy, worker's quarters, implement shed, calf shed, stables and barns, stone paved yards, wells and the archaeological remains of earlier structures," Dr Edwards said.
"It is associated with the European settlement of Western Australia and the development of agriculture between 1830 and 1962.
"In particular, the property was used for general farming, vineyards and later as a stud farm. It has also been associated with WA's earliest wine production."
Dr Edwards said Belvoir was first developed by Captain William Shaw, whose family farmed the property between 1830 and 1876.
"It was later sold to one of the most successful businessmen in the Western Australian Colony at the time, William Loton, whose family remained at Belvoir until 1962," she said.
Today, the main homestead is being used as a residence, with adaptation, maintenance and conservation to the homestead and other buildings on the property continuing.
This has included the addition of a number of entertainment facilities, including a function centre and an open air amphitheatre.
Minister's office: 9220 5050