“Pigeon Bank” - Kangaroo Ground
In 1849, John Barr joined Francis Rogerson in raising the 288 pound asking price for the one hundred and sixty acre quarter- section opposite the Kangaroo Ground School. Having made the purchase, the pair tossed a coin to see who would take the high ground and who the low. Rogerson won, and chose the mainly treeless lower eighty acres. His partner, John Barr, unhappy at the result, is said to have offered his friend – a younger man and better axe man – a bottle of whisky to exchange blocks. The deal was sealed, and John Barr took possession of his choice, naming it ‘Mains Hill’. Rogerson bestowed on his, the name, ‘Pigeon Bank’, after the many bronze-wing pigeons attracted to it by the seed dropped from its abundant wattles. The name Bank was commonly used in Scotland.
Like so many of the Scottish settlers of Kangaroo Ground Francis used local materials to provide the basis of the structure that today is ‘Pigeon Bank’. Initially a bark two roomed hut was constructed from saplings, bark and shingles cut on the property. This simple basic hut still survives to this day and is the centre piece of the 14 room home on the site.’ Pigeon Bank’ and its two roomed hut is all that survives of the many similar (20 or so) huts that were built between 1841 and 1851.
In 1874 additional rooms and a verandah were added to the east side of the Bark Hut with a doorway leading to these rooms. They were constructed by the more traditional method of Lava plaster, doorways; cornice etc.A well was dug on the northern side some 40 feet from the house to catch rainwater. The kitchen was still a separate structure removed from the main building located on the western side of the well and close to it...
In 1900 there was a flurry of building/additions resulting in additional 10 rooms being added. The eastern rooms from 1874 were then converted to more formal rooms being a parlor and dining room with a passage running down the northern side to connect the original bark hut and provide access to the outside kitchen. The 1900 additions resulted in 7 bedrooms, an internal bathroom, pantry and office. The outside kitchen was extended and modernized and the wash house was incorporated under the same roof line. All of these alterations were carried out by Ewen Hugh Cameron M.P, notable Victorian farmer and politician, who resided at ‘Pigeon Bank’ from 1874 to 1916. During this time many notable guests visited ‘Pigeon Bank’ including the then premier of Victoria, Thomas Bent, artist Longstaff, Lord Hopetoun and opera singer Dame Nelly Melba. It was also during this time ‘Pigeon Bank’ had an excellent farming record, three times consecutive winner of the Agricultural Society award for best kept farm in the district.
In the early 1930’s new owners Mr. & Mrs. Mathews demolished the exterior kitchen and moved it and the wash house closer to the house; they also joined some bedrooms together to increase the size of each room. The covered walkway that connected the house with the kitchen/washhouse was demolished. The dairy remained close to the house with a ramp leading up from the western side due to the slight slope.
1951 to 1953 Senator Guthrie incorporated the kitchen/washhouse under the same roof line as the remainder of the house. Due to his illness and being confined to a wheelchair he installed ramps wherever steps were, removed 2 bedrooms and the office and replaced them with a magnificent sunroom with large picture frame windows overlooking the Yarra Valley. Upon first inspection of the completed sunroom it is said he went into a violent rage as the floor was so low he could not enjoy the view from his wheelchair. A second floor was constructed on top of the original to raise the floor height some 3 feet to allow the Senator to enjoy the view.
In 1968 ‘Pigeon Bank’ returned to the Cameron family when Mrs. Vera Jackson and her husband bought the property. Over the years ‘Pigeon Bank’ has changed hands several times, with each new owner adding their personal touches.
Many thanks to Mick Woiwod and the Andrew Ross Museum for the research for this site
Further Reading:
Woiwood, Mick, "Kangaroo Ground, The Highland Taken", Tarcoola Press, 1994.