Emily Irene Nethercote (nee Peck) and husband Arthur Nethercote in front of their 'Airlie Vale' homestead circa November 1969. Photograph courtesy of Dick Nethercote. |
The Nethercote family, comprising of Arthur and Emily Irene (nee Peck) and their children George, Gwen and Thomas Vivian (Viv), first moved from Hawthorn to Vermont in August 1920 when George's father, Arthur (Bert) purchased 'Weston Favell', a home built circa 1883 which had been developed into a flower farm from 1888 to 1920 by its previous owners, the Plumridge family. At the time, Boronia Road was still known as L.L. Vale Road in honour of the nearby model farm 'L.L. Vale' owned by prominent medico and parliamentarian, Dr. Louis Lawrence Smith.
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George, Bert, Emily, Gwen, and Thomas Vivian (Viv) Nethercote. Photograph courtesy of Tim Shambrook and Nethercote family. |
During the 1920s, Arthur and his wife Emily lived at 'Weston Favell' whilst their eldest son, George, was engaged in wheat farming in the Victorian Mallee. However, after wheat prices reached an all time low in the early 1930s, George was forced to abandon this enterprise and return to Vermont to rebuild his life, which he begun by establishing a successful poultry farm on 9 acres of his parent's property. This meant that by the early 1930s, the Goodwin's original property of 25 acres was now subdivided into three parcels; 'Weston Favell' on 5 acres, George Nethercote's poultry farm 'Airlie Vale' on 9 acres and the Hall family's orchard on the remaining 11 acres bounded to the east by the Dandenong Creek.
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Gwen Nethercote's horse, 'Lady', Christmas holidays 1950-1951. Photograph courtesy of Dick Nethercote. |
Dick Nethercote at 'Airlie Vale' 1941. Photograph courtesy of Dick Nethercote. |
Dick Nethercote at 'Airlie Vale' May 1940. Photograph courtesy of Dick Nethercote. |
George and Dick Nethercote at 'Airlie Vale' 18th June 1940. Photograph courtesy of Dick Nethercote. |
Parish of Nunawading Map 1864. |
Parish of Nunawading Map 1878. |
'Nethercote’ property sign situated near the entrance gate to the property at 142 Boronia Road, Vermont. Source: E. Kielnhofer.
Uniting Vermont Residents With Their Local HistoryPlease fell free to contact us with any memories of Vermont and the surrounding area that you wish to share, or with any feedback on the website.
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