Wedderburn Park 1842

Wedderburn Park was granted to Dr John Ferguson in 1842, the doctor for Australind’s WA Land Company scheme, and the State’s first surgeon.

He named the property ‘Wedderburn’ after his wife Isabella’s forebears. Development of the farm was primarily due to one of Ferguson’s indentured servants, Alexander McAndrew. McAndrew acquired the property in 1846 and, in turn, leased it to Thomas Hayward (of Bundidup) and Mrs Rose.

During the 1850s, the property was occupied by John Crampton (1831-1906). John Crampton had arrived in the colony in 1842 and settled with his parents in Australind before taking up Wedderburn for 15 years. Crampton went on to establish ViewBank, north of the Brunswick River.

McAndrew died in 1899, and the property was transferred to Edwin Rose (1863-1948), who married Janet Clark in 1902.

The current homestead is the second on the property and was built c. 1910 by Edwin Rose, of Parkfield, for his family, which consisted of his wife and two daughters.

Nothing remains of the original cottage, built in a hollow on the property by Dr Ferguson.

Edwin Rose was an MLC, JP and member of the Brunswick Road Board, and he held other voluntary community positions. The 1910 homestead hosted many social gatherings in the district, and in 1913, it accommodated the Governor during a visit.

The farm was acquired by Albert Jesse Talbot (known as Tommy) in 1923-27. In 1952, considerable alterations were undertaken at the homestead, including the removal of the prominent tower and roof gable.

A fourth generation of the Talbot family currently occupies the homestead.

The property is not open to the public, except for the annual Lights on the Hill event.