Places of Interest in The Basin

Site of house and cultivation associated with the first known freehold land in The Basin. Title acquired in 1867 by William Watson.

1866 map showing allotments A and 72A in The Basin. The Basin roundabout is located at the bottom left. Pavitt Lane is at the top. The road running up the LH side was never proclaimed except at the top where it is now Liverpool Road. On the RH side is now Sheffield Road. Note homestead & cultivation at top RH corner.
William Peverill Watson was granted title to Crown Allotment A in 1867 and this was the first freehold land in The Basin.
William Turner Jnr. held a lease to Allotment 72A in 1867 but had his licence cancelled for being involved in “illicit distillation”.
William Hall Watson held a lease in 1870 and David Dobson was granted title in 1872.

Click to Expand Map

Map copyright Titles Office.

This site may also have been the location of the first house in The Basin built by William Turner in 1851.
See also Places of Interest No. 4.
In 2002, land owned by the Salvation Army.

Site of Bayswater House, the original Home of J. J. Miller.
In 2002, original house no longer exists and is residential property.

Bayswater House
Circa 1920
(Click to Expand)

John James Miller
Circa 1890
(Click to Expand)

Melrose House, the second home of J. J. Miller. The house has been restored to its original state and in 2002 is managed by the City of Knox.

Site claimed by descendants of William Turner to be the location of the first known house in The Basin built by William Turner in 1851. It is most likely that Turner may not have built his house here, but in the location of Places of Interest No. 1.
In 2002, part of Salvation Army land.

William Turner's House.
Circa 1860
(Click to Expand)

William Turner
Circa 1870
(Click to Expand)

Site of Como House, second house of early settler William Chandler and family. House now demolished.
In 2002, residential property

Como House.
Circa 1913
(Click to Expand)

William Chandler.
Circa 1890
(Click to Expand)

Kate Chandler.
Circa 1890
(Click to Expand)

Site of Ferndale Homestead, built by early settler James Griffiths. Destroyed in 1962 bushfires.
In 2002, the site is partly private land and partly National Park.

Ferndale
Circa 1913
(Click to Expand)

James & Emily Griffiths
Circa 1880
(Click to Expand)

Site of house and property called Fern Glen built in the 1880's. This house was destroyed by a flood in 1891.
In 1892, a mansion called Invermay was erected here by Sir Matthew Davies.
In 1898, the house was renamed Doongalla when purchased by a Miss Simson.
Doongalla was destroyed by a bushfire in 1932.
In 2002, site is part of Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Doongalla
Circa 1920
(Click to Expand)

Land purchased by early settler Samuel Collier in 1871.
In 2002, the Colchester Estate.

Site of Wicks Homestead. Built in 1877. Destroyed by fire in 1962.
In 2002, residential land.

Wicks Homestead.
Circa 1920
(Click to Expand)

Site of Clevedon House. Home of Charles Chandler, brother of early settler William Chandler.
Destroyed by fire in 1972. In 2002, part of Clevedon Camp.

Clevedon House
Circa 1940
(Click to Expand)