Melville Park 1849

Melville Park is one of the earliest farming properties in the Brunswick area, with a rich history dating back to the 1840s.

Early settler Edward Flaherty is believed to have been the first to establish a home on the land. The property passed through several hands, including a lease by the Agricultural Department, in conjunction with the State Farm, from 1907 to 1911. The Shine family had the longest association with Melville Park, owning it from 1926 until 2006.

At the back of the house stands a two-storey brick barn, built to store hay above horse stables. Dates scratched into the exterior — “1865” and “1895” — are still visible today. In 1889, the property was advertised as a “splendid farm” featuring a six-room brick house, stables, stockyards, and river frontage.

Renovations over the years included replacing the original bull-nose iron roof with tiles in 1948 and a full restoration in 2012, which added a new verandah and roof.

Today, Melville Park remains a working farm. Its Farm Shop is open every Saturday, offering fresh, seasonal produce straight from the paddocks, continuing the property’s long tradition of local agriculture.