History of the Mont De Lancey property
When The Land Act of 1865 released virgin bushland beyond the city of Melbourne for settlement, the rich red land of the country beyond the small Lilydale township was settled by the first of Wandin's pioneer families. Whilst some of the new arrivals were experienced farmers others took up the challenge of carving a living from the bush with little or no agricultural experience, and brought the skills of their former lives to the new settlement.
Henry Sebire was born 1828 in the Parish of St Sampson in Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, and was a stonemason by trade. In October 1849, aged 21yrs, he sailed from Plymouth in the barque 'Maitland' and arrived in Victoria in January 1850. In 1856 he married Martha Rihoy who was also from Guernsey and they settled in Melbourne where Henry worked at his trade in for some 17 years.
In 1867 Henry, Martha and their four young children came to Wandin where Henry selected 80 acres of bush land at the corner of Hunter and Wellington Roads and began to clear the land by hand. A condition of his lease to clear and cultivate one-tenth of the allotment within one year was rigidly enforced. A small wooden house and fences were built.
In 1873, having complied with the conditions of his lease, Henry made application to purchase the land at a cost of one pound per acre. Rent paid previously was deducted from the purchase price. Raspberries were planted in the early years as they provided a quick return, and fruit trees that take several years to produce a crop were planted later.
In the 1880's Henry began to build a permanent, more substantial home, making bricks from clay on the property and quarrying stone from the hill for the foundations. The house stands today as solid as ever, on a hill overlooking the surrounding farmlands.
Henry and Martha's French speaking background is reflected in the name they chose for their home; Mont for its high outlook and De Lancey for a lane in their former homeland, Guernsey.
One of Henry and Martha's six sons, a grandson and a great grandson continued to farm the property. In 1993 members of the Sebire family generously donated the homestead and part of the property to be developed as a community based project.
In the 1880's Henry began to build a permanent, more substantial home, making bricks from clay on the property and quarrying stone from the hill for the foundations.
Photographic Competition at Mont De Lancey
During October Mont De Lancey will be host to a photographic Competition and Exhibition. This will be a major arts event in the Yarra Valley, with a prize pool totalling arond $5,000 across a broad range of categories. Read more here.
15th Acquisitive Art Show
September 12th to October 3rd
Read more here.
Eastern Woodturners Inc
Meetings at Mont De Lancey on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, starting at 7.00pm. Visitors and New members are most welcome.
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# 11 - NATIONALITY OF SETTLERS The majority of these first settlers hailed originally from the mother country, the British Isles and included Messrs Hunter, Hogg, Downham, Henderson, Howell, Holter, Johnston, Baker, Briggs, Thompson, Read, Clegg, Cashin, Payne, Anker, Hand, Duck, Parkyn and Bailey. Several families, comprising those of Messrs Rouget, Gaudion, Sebire and Le Page came from Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, while Mr John Burgi's birthplace was in the Alpine hills of Switzerland, the Isle of Man being represented by Mr Quayle.
MONT DE LANCEY
71 Wellington Road, Wandin,
PO Box 316, Wandin, Victoria, 3139
Tel: +61 3 5964 2088
Fax: +61 3 5964 3855
Weds to Sun 10:00am to 5:00pm