Port Mandurah Canals
Series
1990 saw the start of the construction of the canal development
on the Western side of the Mandurah Estuary on what used to be
farmland. In 6 stages over the following years the area was
transformed from farmland to multimillion dollar home land. In
between the mansions there are vestiges of times past.
This series of caches (PMC1 to PMC6) will take you on a circular
route of about 3.5 km that visits these islands of history that
have been preserved in amongst the canals.
Park near the bridge at S32 32.165' E115 42.977' and do the
series then take a leisurely stroll over the bridge to one of the
many coffee shops on the foreshore as a reward.
You will need to collect
clues at each of the caches in the series to find the this
cache.
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SUTTON’s FARM
Originally constructed c1870 (single men’s quarters
pre-date homestead) the current farmhouse was constructed in 1881
and comprises a modified 11-room homestead and associated farm
buildings including barn/stables and single men’s quarters
(1870). It was situated on prime farm land stretching from Halls
Head to Falcon, 9 km south. The homestead is limestone with walls
18 inches thick and pit sawn timber. It was originally roofed with
shingles and had an 8 foot verandah right around the building, but
over the years the shingles have been replaced by tiles and the
verandah was widened and bricked in in parts. The main farm
building has now been reroofed in corrugated iron and the brick
verhanda walls removed. A stand of nine very old olive trees is
adjacent to the homestead, and a more recent chicken coop to the
rear. Old farm machinery and tools are in situ and a stock race is
still standing.
HISTORY : The homestead was built by Henry
Sutton. The farm was bought by Joseph Cooper in 1924 but was still
managed by the Sutton family. Tony and Hal Sutton bought back the
farm in 1949 and continued to farm it until it was sold to
Esplanade Developments Ltd in 1977. From the 1930s to the 1950s,
football was also played on one of the farm’s paddocks when
the paddock near Hackett Street became too boggy. Large trees on
the farm were cleared for the purpose, however an old Norfolk
Island pine tree on the property is still one of Mandurah’s
arboreal landmarks.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE : Sutton’s Farm
is of high historical significance. It is associated with the
Suttons and the Coopers, some of the earliest pioneering European
families in the Mandurah district. Although the original homestead
has been heavily modified, the farm’s outbuildings, including
single men’s quarters, stables and shed, are basically intact
and provide valuable insight into farming life and practices, as
well as building methods and materials used in Mandurah in the 19th
century. Various farm machines and implements located on the
property enhance this significance. A very tall Norfolk Pine
adjacent to the homestead building is believed to have been planted
around 1890 and is now around 20 metres high. It is one of the
oldest introduced trees in the district, and has for many years
been used as a beacon for both travelers and locals.
Extracted from "The City of Mandurah Municipal Heritage
Inventory"
This
Cache
This is the final cache in the Port Mandurah Canals Series The
co-ordinates shown will take you to the main farm
building.
The cache is located nearby and you will need the clues from the
other caches in the series to find the location.
The cache is located at S 32° 32.ABC E 115°
42.DEF
The cache is a 700ml sistema with the normal items plus swaps
and room for Geocoins and small trackables.
For the FTF there is a Australian Flag Micro Geocoin and a FTF
Micro Geo Award. Please keep these but also log them so I can
keep track of who finds my caches first..
Chwiliwr