Albany WA April 22, 1025
Slow old day today, just couldn't be bothered rushing into town or visiting yet-another-museum.
Finally had to go to the shops, sometimes it just can't be helped. On the way back I finally remembered to take the fairly obscure turn-off into the Old Farm at Strawberry Hill. Its the remnants of the first farm in WA and its tucked in between all the bungalows and cottages but is worth a visit. The original farm as such was established in 1827 after places like Green Island failed to literally produce the goods. In 1833 the brand new Governor's Resident, Sir Richard Spencer, came to town from the old dart, bought the farm and built the first cottage. It is said that with his, and his family of wife and 10 kids, arrival, that they doubled the population of Albany!
How these people survived in basically a two room shack is anyones guess, but they did until they built the two story 'mansion' next door. Sadly, it is really difficult to see how any of the building might have been back then as they have all been altered a lot and there are indications that there were more building which have disappeared.
There is a big gap in the history from the 1830s, (Spencer died in 1839) but the property was bought in a derelict state in 1889 by the Bird family who restored it and lived in it until 1956. It again fell into decline, was bought by the government and ended up as the first building to belong to the brand-new National Trust.
Outside, the only other building that remains from the period is the Miners' cottage, so-called because a family called Miner came to work for the Birds in about 1870
Some snaps
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| Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
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| Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
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| Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
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Brian in Miner's cottage. Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA
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| Brian in Miner's cottage. Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
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| Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
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| Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
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| Old farm, Strawberry Hill, Albany WA |
After lunch, a sandwich at the van today, we went for a stroll along the boardwalk that connects Middleton Beach to Albany the town. On the way we came across this lizard (I think that its probably a King's Skink) having its lunch at what looked like a bit of doggie dunnit, but what do I know?
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| King's Skink. Ellen Cove WA |
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