The Henry White Homestead 1860
On the east side of Anderson's Creek Road near Reynolds Road, a whitewashed stone cottage stands under the shade of a large oak tree. The building dates back to the 1860's when it became tho homestead of Henry White.
Henry White was
27 25 (Source Edward White Feb2024) when,
with without (Source Edward White Feb2024) his brother, he left Sussex to come out to Adelaide (on the Stebonheath, arriving in Adelaide on 11 May 1849. (Source Edward White Feb2024) After working (for a short period in South Australia). (Source Edward White Feb2024), Henry came on to Melbourne and opened a wood yard at Richmond. Among the customers who came to the yard was Elizabeth Raney, an attractive 22-year-old girl with a rounded face and a friendly smile. Elizabeth came to order firewood for her mistress, who had brought her out from England as a companion.
In 1852, Henry and Elizabeth were married in the newly built St. Peter's Church Eastern Hill. Four years later with their two children, the Whites moved out to Doncaster to start a new life as farmers.
At first Henry rented a farm in Doncaster Road next to the Corbetts and, in 1864, they moved to East Doncaster. Henry purchased 320 acres in Anderson's Creek Road. The land still virgin bush had been part of Lewis Robinson Pre-Emptive Right.
Lewis Robinson had been an early squatter whose grazing run covered eight square miles. When land was needed for settlement in the late 50's, Robinson was given the right to purchase part of his run up to one square mile.
 |
| Henry White Homestead (1976 05 DTHS Newsletter and 1977 08 DTHS Newsletter) |
Henry and his wife cleared the land and planted vines and fruit trees. The family lived in a slab house that was on the land. During the following years, Henry, with the help of Elizabeth, rebuilt the house. One room at a time they changed the simple hut to a well-built stone house.
The term split-level had not been invented then but Henry's home was built on three levels with steps betwett the rooms leading down as the house followed the slope of the land. The external walls of stone were 17" thick and were roughly plastered inside and out. The roof was covered with galvanised iron screwed down onto the rafters with a ceiling of lining boards. In the large kitchen meals were cooked over an open fire. The brick fireplace was fitted with hooks to hang pots or a kettle. At the rear, a ledge was pro-vided to keep pots warm. Across the front and rear of the house were verandahs, that completed the roof line.
From the rear, there was a magnificent view acrost the White's land down to the valley of Deep Creek. This area became known as the Deep Creek Settlement, but when Henry White arrived there were only a few scattered houses. Next to the White's was Henry Buck. Down the hill on the right was Mathew Hoare and, on the left, were the Kents.
Roads were non-existent. There were only tracks that wound through the gum trees. Henry White's house became the centre of the settlement. A mail bag was hung on a gum tree in front of the house ready for the postman as he rode past on his three days a week trip to Warrandyte.
Henry's children were among the pupils at Sohramm's School in the Waldau Church when it first opened. By the time the family moved to Deep Creek, they had to travel to the Doncaster School. Ten years later the Deep Creek State School was built across the road from the Whites (on the corner of Reynolds Road and Andersons Creek Road) (Source Edward White Feb2024). The area did not grow so the school was moved to East Doncaster.
Religion was Henry White's main interest in life, having been "converted to Christ" in England. He was the leader of a group in East Doncaster who founded the Primitive Methodist Church in 1866. He devoted his life to the Church. The White children supported their father in service to the Church. Henry's daughter, Elizabeth, was the first bride to be married in the church. Her husband was William MacKinley a near neighbour in Anderson Creek Road.
Quotations from the Psalms and Epistles flowed easily from Henry's lips and he christened many of his children with biblical names. When Henry returned from registering the birth of his seventh son and told his wife that he had called the boy Elijah, she said with dismay "Oh Henry, not another biblical name." Elizabeth had a benevolent nature, but the next child was given the good old English name of William.
In 1893, Elizabeth White died at the age of 64. Her death was a great blow to Henry. He steadily declined and died in the following year.
Henry's son, William, inherited the house which later passed to his son, also called William. Eventually the house was sold and William left the district. A century of ownership by the one family had come to an end.
Over the years alterations were made to the building. As the family increased, and more room was needed, a new kitchen was built on the end of the back verandah. In 1920, the front verandah was reconstructed with a gable in the centre and the rear verandah was repaired and enclosed. (A bathroom/laundry was added to the end of the verandah.) (Source Edward White Feb2024)
The Henry White homestead is tha most important historic building in East Doncaster. It is an attractive picturesque cottage and is a favourite subject for artists. Historically it is a link with the pioneer settlement of Deep Creek and the homestead of the White family. Henry and Elizabeth White were important members of the community and their descendants, many of whom still live in the district, have taken an active part in the life of East Doncaster.
The future of the Henry White homestead is uncertain. In an area of high cost land and expensive houses, there must be a valid use to justify the retention of the cottage. Often historic buildings can be given a commercial or public use, but the ideal is for a building to retain its original purpose. In this case a comfortable home, equal in standard to a modern house could be constructed within the solid stone walls. With sympathetic restoration on the outside and with the oak tree left to provide environment, the cottage would retain its charm and historic connections.
Henry White's wife Elizabeth Raney came to Melbourne in 1850 as companion to a Lady who later married Mr. Fred Read a solicitor. Mr. Read's firm is now run by his great-grandson who still has business connections with some of Henry and Elizabeth's descendants.
Irvine Green writing in 1976 05 DTHS Newsletter
Henry White’s Cottage
0n 21st June, a public meeting was held at Schramm's Cottage for Henry White's Cottage. The meeting agreed that the Council be asked to preserve the Cottage for Community use. As such a use is beyond the scope of the Historical Society a committee was formed from interested members of the community.
Architecturally, Henry White's Cottage is important to the City for it is the last remaining complete example of vernacular architecture in the Doncaster-Templestowe area. It is a primitive building, typical of the shelters built by pioneers using available materials.
Historically, the Cottage has links with important aspects of the early history of East Doncaster. The Cottage started as a bark hut built on Lewis Robinson's cattle run. This run, which covered eight square miles, was given a grazing licence in 1848. Henry White bought Lewis Robinson's pre-emptive right of one square mile in 1865. While living in the hut, he rebuilt it with stone walls, one room at a time. During the 1870’s, a settlement grew up along Deep Creek. Henry White and his family were prominent members of this community for over one hundred years. He was the moving force behind the building of the Methodist Church in East Doncaster, and, with his family, was active in the life of the Church. The Cottage was the homestead for a large orcharding family and the centre for their activities.
It is fortunate that this building, which is important both historically and architecturally, is a well- proportioned, attractive building.
1977 08 DTHS Newsletter
Henry White's Cottage
Henry White's Cottage has been classified by the National Trust. That means that it was the opinion of the National Trust that the cottage formed part of the heritage of Victoria and must be saved. Within days of receiving this news the Doncaster-Templestowe Council voted to allow the cottage to be demolished.
1977 11 DTHS Newsletter
White's cottage - Andersons Creek Rd
Photo later than 1960 because before 1960 there was a pepper tree about 1 metre from the chimney (Source: Edward White Feb2024)
Photo probably after 1960 (Source: Edward White Feb2024)
Built 1870 with 1920 alterations.
Demolished 1977.
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/113988
Henry White's wife Elizabeth Raney came to Melbourne in 1850 as companion to a Lady who later married Mr. Fred Read a solicitor. Mr. Read's firm is now run by his great-grandson who still has business connections with some of Henry and Elizabeth's descendants.
1976 05 DTHS Newsletter
 |
| Elizabeth White (nee Raney) b1829 m1852 d1893 - dp0641 |
Henry and Elizabeth WHITE were orchardists in Anderson's Creek Rd.
Henry White was appointed Superintendent of the methodist Church, a position he held until 1910. (He cannot have held this position until 1910. His death is recorded
as 6th December 1894) (Source Edward White Feb2024)
Doncaster: A Short History - Eric Collyer - DTHS Publication
Plaque on wall of Schramms Cottage
