Historical information
A photograph showing Carome homestead in Mernda dated 1972.
CAROME
In 1840 Arthur Sergeantson purchased Section 19, Parish of Morang, a total of 842 acres. He named the property `Sergeantson Hall’ but the portion between the Plenty Road and Plenty River soon became known as Carome, the name of a flour mill he established in 1841.
In 1843 Sergeantson leased the mill to a miller named Anderson, who operated it until 1850. Anderson was followed by Robert Charles.
The present dwelling date back to at least 1850, and possibly earlier.
In 1857 Sergeantson’s remaining 411 acres and Carome Mill were purchased by Abraham Willis and William Hardesty, who refurbished and upgraded the mill at the enormous cost of 1,200 Pounds.
In 1868 the Mill was destroyed by fire.
Willis continued farming at Carome until 1899 when he leased the farm to his son Robert and retired to Carlton.
Little of the Mill remains. It was set just downstream from the deep rocky waterhole which formed a natural dam. Local folklore has it that this waterhole was used for water games by the Aborigines. Europeans certainly swim there now, and locals refer to this area as Power's hole, named after the previous owners the Power family. Such a prominent waterhole is likely to have been well known to the Aborigines.
(Reference: City of Whittlesea Heritage Study)
Physical description
Colour photograph.
Inscriptions & markings
Printed on Kodak Professional Endura Paper.
