Historical information

Information supplied by Stephen Trembath.
Warwick Farm was established by my late grand parents Polly (nee Mary Ann Cole) and George Barratt and their 5 children George Jnr, William, James, John (my maternal Grand Father) and Teddy.
Their story is told in a book "The wine of Courage" written in 1977 by N.M. Roberts ISBN 0 7223 1003.
Their story started when their bank closed their doors on 13 April 1893 and they lost their cafe business in South Melbourne. Two days later, they were ready to head for a new start in Queensland when they saw in the morning paper that the Dandenong Ranges had been thrown open to land release to people. A few days later, having been granted land they headed to Ferntree Gully. From there they walked to the new holding in what would become Olinda. Then George with his sons help had to build a shelter for the family for the night. They chose to name the property "Warwick Farm".
Work on the house started a few days later with help from neighbours Mr. Dodd, Mr Beattie, the O'Sheas and others.
Come November, Ruby was born. Then bushfire burnt down the newly built house. Back to a bark hut until another house could be built.
The new house became a guest house at the suggestion of a neighbour, when George couldn't sell timber and was waiting for crops. The first guests visited in 1898 and another baby, Percival, was born.
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It was George's son Jim, who was a skilled carpenter and axeman who extended the home to take from 12 to 30 guests.
In 1950 Warwick Farm became the home of distinguished writer and journalist C.E.Sayers for a number of years.

Physical description

Photo Series Pictorial Postcard # 981 showing the property Warwick Farm on Olinda Road.

Inscriptions & markings

Printed on back:
PHOTO SERIES Pictorial Postcards.
Published by S. Jamieson Bros. Alphington Vic. Phone Northcote 60