Current owners and entrepreneurs, David Doepel and Barbara Connell are dedicated to revitalising Melville Park.
They have re-established the farm, growing heirloom vegetables and herbs, plus grazing cattle and dairy cows whilst caring for the Brunswick River riparian zone. Other initiatives include establishing a cheese factory and distillery.
The historic barn will soon become the barrel ageing room for a new distillery. Here they will feature Calvados-style apple brandy, whiskey, and a traditional vodka from on-farm-grown sugar beets and potatoes.
The produce-driven Farm Shop is open every Saturday morning. Melville Park also regularly hosts markets and events.
Brunswick was one of the first farming districts of the Western Australia colony. Melville Park was settled shortly after 1849 by the Flaherty family and then taken over by Alfred Moore.
There were many landowners, including (1880) David Eedle, then his son-in-law Robert Heppingstone; (1882) James Moore of Bunbury, then his brother Arthur; (1890) John James Sharp of Brunswick; (1900) Samuel Peter Mackay of Roebourne; (1912) William Grant Forrest of Perth; (1922) Arthur George Heppingstone of Brunswick; (1923) William Charles Hill of Guildford and, in 1926, John Shine.
The Edwardian/Federation Melville Park homestead was built by Sam McKay, who also constructed the impressive two-storey barn to store hay above the horses.
For a time, from 1894 to 1919, the State Farm rented Melville Park.
In 1948, the homestead was extensively renovated, including replacing the bull-nose iron roof with tiles.
