Stamford Park

In 1868 James Quirk sold his 424 acre property bounded by Stud Road, Wellington Road and Dandenong Creek to Frederick Row for one pound and ten shillings an acre.

Frederick Row was a wealthy wool broker who was moving up in colonial society. He bought the property with the intention of turning it into a country estate. He named it Stamford Park after an estate of the same name owned by the Row Family in Linconshire, England. The present grand homestead on the property was built in 1882 by his son, Edward Row.

The home became the focus for Melbourne’s wealthy and well-connected people during Christmas and the spring racing season. The famous actress, Nellie Stewart, was a frequent guest and later married Frederick Row’s youngest son, Richard. Leading members of Melbourne society including the Governor, Lord Hopetoun, were also guests at Stamford Park.

A Walk Around Stamford Park

Michael Stevens lived at Stamford Park with his uncle, Alfred (“Bro”) Stevens, in 1955 and 1956 and was a frequent visitor up until his uncle’s death in 1987. In this article he takes us on a guided tour of the property as it was in those days.

IN THE FRONT DOOR

The front door opened onto the verandah that faced to the north-west. As you came in, the first room on the right was the sitting room (shown as Lounge on the plan) which was also known as the yellow room.

Above the grey marble fire place there was a Frederick McCubbin painting, “Sawing the Logs”. At either end of the mantle piece there was one of a pair of blue and gold jardinieres. A yellow boxer couch, armchair and a standard lamp as well as a claw-footed pedestal table were the only furniture. On the wall beside the door there was a small Arthur Streeton painting. This room was hardly ever used. The next room on the right (labelled as Library) was Miss Mary Gunn’s room

Opposite her room the corridor ran to the east. Michael’s room was the first on the right and the next room along on the right was the bathroom.

Alfred (“Bro”) Stevens’ study (which also doubled as a living room) was opposite Michael’s. It was known as the green room because it had been painted in hunter green. Bro made sure that the fire was burning continually in this room throughout the cold months. There was a television set, Bro’s desk, a book shelf, a sideboard for his whisky, a red leather couch and two fiddle-back chairs. One wall was covered with pictures of his race horses. The next room along was Bro’s bedroom, and the large room with bay windows next to that was Mac’s room.

The corridor led into the large dining room. Above the blacky-grey mantle piece there was a painting of roses. A large oval dining table that could easily seat 16 people dominated the room. There was also a small table by the window where Bro and Michael sat for breakfast and lunch.

Outside the dining room was a structure that Michael thinks had been built in the time of the Drummonds. It served as a kitchen. (This addition has been removed during the Council’s refurbishment.) Beyond that on the south was a boiler and laundry. A small room with chapel-like windows was used as a meat room.

AROUND THE QUADRANGLE

On the south side of the main house was a quadrangle in which there was a circular garden bed. In the garden there was a magnolia tree surrounded by roses and peonies. On the west side of the quadrangle there was a toilet and two rooms for staff. Michael recalls Bill Munn living in one and Ned Mulquinney in the other. One day when Michael was cleaning the guttering above these rooms he noticed markings scratched on the lead flashing around the base of the chimney. Closer examination revealed the name of a man written in an old-fashioned flourishing style together with the words “Plasterer, Richmond 1882″.

The three rooms on the eastern side of the quadrangle were the old kitchen (which contained a slow combustion wood stove, a table and a kitchen cabinet) and two rooms for staff. Michael remembers Miss Stevens using one of these in the time she was housekeeper.

At the back verandah were two pencil pines and there was a tank for fresh water in the eastern corner.

THE GARDENS

To the south of the quadrangle there was a large vegetable garden that produced more than enough for the household so visitors usually went away with a box of produce.

To the east of that was the large garage, with the milking bails and feed shed on the south side of that. The milk separator was in the corner of the garage. Further along were the fowl sheds. Nearby there were two quince trees, an apple, a pear and a bay tree. Michael recalled looking out of the garage window at the apple tree while turning the wheel of the milk separator.

AT THE FRONT

At the front of the house, that is, the north-west side, Bill Munn usually planted pansies in the beds bordering the verandah. There were three large trees: a Moreton Bay fig, a willow and what Michael remembered them calling a monkey nut tree. The willow tree (which is no longer there) stood in front of the sitting room and there was a bird bath beneath it. Cement figures of two small boys stood on either side of the verandah steps. Further to the west could be seen a few old elm trees that were the remnants of the avenue of trees that had run down towards the original entrance off Wellington Road.

The present entrance from Stud Road was lined with cypress trees planted in the Drummonds’ time. The entrance gates flanked by walls faced with Castlemaine slate were also a Drummond project.

Interviewed by Bryan Power

First published in the November 2000 edition of the Rowville-Lysterfield Community News.

A Walk Around Stamford Park
Michael Stevens lived at Stamford Park with his uncle, Alfred (“Bro”) Stevens, in 1955 and 1956 and was a frequent visitor up until his uncle’s death in 1987. In this article he takes us on a guided tour of the property as it was in those days.
IN THE FRONT DOOR
The front door opened onto the verandah that faced to the north-west. As you came in, the first room on the right was the sitting room (shown as Lounge on the plan) which was also known as the yellow room.
Above the grey marble fire place there was a Frederick McCubbin painting, “Sawing the Logs”. At either end of the mantle piece there was one of a pair of blue and gold jardinieres. A yellow boxer couch, armchair and a standard lamp as well as a claw-footed pedestal table were the only furniture. On the wall beside the door there was a small Arthur Streeton painting. This room was hardly ever used. The next room on the right (labelled as Library) was Miss Mary Gunn’s room
Opposite her room the corridor ran to the east. Michael’s room was the first on the right and the next room along on the right was the bathroom.
Alfred (“Bro”) Stevens’ study (which also doubled as a living room) was opposite Michael’s. It was known as the green room because it had been painted in hunter green. Bro made sure that the fire was burning continually in this room throughout the cold months. There was a television set, Bro’s desk, a book shelf, a sideboard for his whisky, a red leather couch and two fiddle-back chairs. One wall was covered with pictures of his race horses. The next room along was Bro’s bedroom, and the large room with bay windows next to that was Mac’s room.
The corridor led into the large dining room. Above the blacky-grey mantle piece there was a painting of roses. A large oval dining table that could easily seat 16 people dominated the room. There was also a small table by the window where Bro and Michael sat for breakfast and lunch.
Outside the dining room was a structure that Michael thinks had been built in the time of the Drummonds. It served as a kitchen. (This addition has been removed during the Council’s refurbishment.) Beyond that on the south was a boiler and laundry. A small room with chapel-like windows was used as a meat room.
AROUND THE QUADRANGLE
On the south side of the main house was a quadrangle in which there was a circular garden bed. In the garden there was a magnolia tree surrounded by roses and peonies. On the west side of the quadrangle there was a toilet and two rooms for staff. Michael recalls Bill Munn living in one and Ned Mulquinney in the other. One day when Michael was cleaning the guttering above these rooms he noticed markings scratched on the lead flashing around the base of the chimney. Closer examination revealed the name of a man written in an old-fashioned flourishing style together with the words “Plasterer, Richmond 1882″.
The three rooms on the eastern side of the quadrangle were the old kitchen (which contained a slow combustion wood stove, a table and a kitchen cabinet) and two rooms for staff. Michael remembers Miss Stevens using one of these in the time she was housekeeper.
At the back verandah were two pencil pines and there was a tank for fresh water in the eastern corner.
THE GARDENS
To the south of the quadrangle there was a large vegetable garden that produced more than enough for the household so visitors usually went away with a box of produce.
To the east of that was the large garage, with the milking bails and feed shed on the south side of that. The milk separator was in the corner of the garage. Further along were the fowl sheds. Nearby there were two quince trees, an apple, a pear and a bay tree. Michael recalled looking out of the garage window at the apple tree while turning the wheel of the milk separator.
AT THE FRONT
At the front of the house, that is, the north-west side, Bill Munn usually planted pansies in the beds bordering the verandah. There were three large trees: a Moreton Bay fig, a willow and what Michael remembered them calling a monkey nut tree. The willow tree (which is no longer there) stood in front of the sitting room and there was a bird bath beneath it. Cement figures of two small boys stood on either side of the verandah steps. Further to the west could be seen a few old elm trees that were the remnants of the avenue of trees that had run down towards the original entrance off Wellington Road.
The present entrance from Stud Road was lined with cypress trees planted in the Drummonds’ time. The entrance gates flanked by walls faced with Castlemaine slate were also a Drummond project.