Historical information

This colour photograph, along with 11 others, was taken inside the residence and outbuildings of the Lochaber property at Harvest Home Road, Epping.

Lochaber, for many years the home of the Smith family, takes its name from the Lochaber Hills of Inverness in Scotland. Robert Smith, who purchased the property on 10th March, 1884, was born at Annat by the Lochaber Hills.

The Smith family first arrived in Australia in 1854 aboard the Oliver Lang. Thomas Smith, Robert’s father, bought Rosehill at Mernda in 1869. After moving from Rosehill to Lochaber, Robert cut and sold red gum firewood to pay for the farm. Later he commenced dairying and cropping hay being carted and sold at the Haymarket on the corner of Flemington Road and Royal Parade, Carlton. Maize and mangles were also grown. Cows were hand milked in the bluestone shed which held twenty cows at a time - ten along each side.

One of Robert’s two sons, Roy, served with the AIF during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross at Passchardale. In 1919 he married Grace Bower and bought fifty acres opposite Lochaber which he named Karagala after the ship which brought him after the war. On his father’s death in 1933 Roy, Grace and their family moved back to Lochaber. The property was finally sold in 1942 when Roy volunteered for civilian war service, later serving in New Guinea. From 1930 to 1943 Roy had also served as a Councillor for the Shire of Whittlesea and was President from 1935-1939.

Although nothing is known of the property before the Smith family purchased it in 1884 the house and barn design and construction appear to be earlier and suggest a German influence.
(Ref: City of Whittlesea Heritage Study)

Significance

Historical building of the City of Whittlesea.

Physical description

Colour photograph printed on Kodak Professional Paper, 3 of 12

Inscriptions & markings

Annotation reverse: 2895-9