DEVON PARK Homestead is set to be the scene of Dunkeld Museum’s very own antiques roadshow this weekend, a fundraising event called the Antiques Muster where people can bring their antiques to be valued by licensed antique valuers.
Funds raised will keep the wheels turning at the unique museum that is full of district memories.
The day will also feature guided tours of the garden at Devon Park homestead which is a heritage-listed building, but the interior will not be open to the public; however, owner, Susie Clarke will give an overview speech about the property during the opening ceremony at 11am.
The event will feature well-known antiques’ personalities, Warren Joel, Rhys and Ruth Colliton, Bruce Lowenthal and Roz Greenwood.
Dunkeld Museum secretary, Joyce Gordon said the community was invited to bring along any precious items to be appraised by the accredited antiques experts.
“You can also have a guess in a competition to pick which of the three items displayed are ‘Good, Better or Best’, have a walk through the gardens led by resident owner, Susie Clarke, browse through the stalls, try your luck at the raffle or just stand by and watch other people’s items being appraised,” she said.
“Rhys Colliton, one of the valuers is going to set up a couple of things similar style to the Antique Roadshow on TV.
“Light refreshments will include a sausage sizzle and ‘Devon Park style’ Devonshire scones in a package.
“Devon Park is only a nine-minute drive 11 kilometres from Dunkeld.
“There is also a raffle; the prizes include a child’s BMX bike, a handcrafted table made from local timber by the Dunkeld sawmill group.
“Another prize is chef’s Sunday lunch at the Bunyip Hotel (Cavendish) and a $25 voucher for Lyall Eales Store in Hamilton.”
She said the Clarke family of Devon Park had always been very generous supporters of the Dunkeld Museum and were making possible the opportunity to visit this beautiful homestead garden and surrounds.
Devon Park was originally named Linlithgow Plains; the first squatters licence No 156 was gazetted for 44,256 acres and allocated to Donald and Duncan Kennedy who held the property from 1845 to 1853.
The licence was transferred to Silas Harding in 1853; Silas was a well-known identity of Geelong, where he was known to have opened an ironmongery business and prospered.
Silas changed the name of the property to Devon Park after his native Devonshire in England. He married twice, firstly to Mary Louise Howell; she died in 1882, and Silas then married Elizabeth Oldham, who died in 1897 in a tragic buggy accident and the property passed to her brother Marcus Oldham and sister Anna, who married Devon Park manager, James White.
Devon Park was then sold in 1928 to Trevor Clarke and his mother Gertrude; the property was now in the hands of the Clarke family and following the marriage of Trevor Clarke and Sandra Shackell in 1935, and it saw the first children born to any Devon Park owners, being Carmen, Jim, Georgina and Sylvia.
Trevor Clarke was a great lover of trees, and the garden contains some particularly attractive specimens and after his death, his son, Jim and his wife, Susie, continued to tend the property.
After Jim’s death, Susie has carried on living in the homestead at Devon Park.
The family have retained the beautiful heritage listed homestead, garden and outbuildings section, plus some of the land.
The focal point of the Antiques Muster will of course be the accredited antique valuers in action appraising each item; all of the valuers are generously donating their time and service for the benefit of the Dunkeld Museum.
“You can come and have a look at the garden, you can have some special items appraised or you can watch others have their items appraised,” Mrs Gordon said.
“It will be a great day.”
Attendees are advised to bring cash as there is limited mobile internet service at Devon Park.
Devon Park is at 1485 Blackwood-Dunkeld Road, Dunkeld, and the date is this Saturday, December 7 from, 10am-4pm; more information can be found at dunkeldmuseum.org.au/muster
