Website:https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/old-farm-strawberry-hill/ (Old Farm Strawberry Hill - National Trust (WA))https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/utility/venues/visitor-centre/ (City of Albany Visitor Centre.)
Description:The Old Farm is located on Strawberry Hill in the suburb of Mira Mar in Albany, Western Australia. It is known as being the first farm in Western Australia. The hill on which the property is situated rises to a height of 237 feet (72 m) and is a spur of Mount Clarence. The soil is a mixture of clay and gravel with rich black loam on the lower side. The current two-storey stone house was built adjoining the older home in 1836. The well established gardens were producing blood oranges, grapes, raspberries, gooseberries, asparagus, figs and almonds. The new house was the centre of the district’s social life. After a period of neglect it was purchased in 1889 by Francis and Augusta Maude Bird who restored the house and farmed the land. In 1956 the property was purchased by the Government as an historic monument but fell into another cycle of neglect. Transferred to the National Trust in 1964, the property is being conserved to appropriately reflect its significance. Originally it occupied an area of 1,536 acres (622 ha) but only 6 acres (2 ha) remain today. The property is 418.5km (260.04 miles) from Perth CBD The property is situated south of Perth in the Great Southern Region in Albany with a drive time of 4hours and 34minutes.
Jurisdictions::Great Southern Development Commission, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, City of Albany, National Trust of Australia (WA)
