The Grange was a historic home, located at 804 or 808 Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill, Victoria in the gold rush City of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The house no longer exists, and the only indication of its existence is an eponymous court development where the subdivided property is now occupied by houses and townhouses.

Soldiers Hill, which was named after the Colonial Forces of Australia stationed there prior to the Eureka Rebellion in 1854, was one of the first planned suburbs of Ballarat and was considered one of Ballarat's premier addresses. Soldiers Hill "...has a substantially intact Victorian era architectural character, with many of its buildings featuring an abundance of period detail including distinctive decorative cast iron ornament."Soldiers Hill, Victoria

The Grange was weatherboard, built on brick piers standing on large bluestone foundations. It featured decorative scalloped woodwork along the eaves; decorative lattice on the entrance porch; extensive lattice work on the verandah, which stretched across the northern and western sides of the house; and a slate roof. The house had five bedrooms, a "middle room" which had a variety of uses, and a "breakfast room" which was the dining room and the place the family gathered. The formal lounge room was used as a "receiving room’ rather than somewhere that had general family use.

Separate to the house was a stand-alone building known as the "groom’s room". There was no indication of stables or other facilities for horses when the Darling family moved there in 1908.Mary & Peter Morcom, grandchildren of owner, Alfred Thomas Darling

History

John Taylor

The original purchaser from the Crown of the land that The Grange was to stand on was made in August, 1862 by J. Taylor who bought two adjoining allotmentsTownship Plan, Township of Ballarat North, Allotments 11 & 12, Section 1, Parish of Ballarat, County of Grenville which combined to an area of 1 acre 3 roods and 8 perches, with a 265 feet west facing frontage on Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill. These allotments, 11 & 12, had a depth of 265 feet from Lydiard Street.

This was part of significant sales of Crown land in Soldiers Hill, and the land for what were to be a number of gracious heritage homes, such as Eyres House, Trelawny, Linlithgow, and many more, was purchased during these early 1860s sales.

As J. Taylor or John Taylor seems to have been quite a common name in Ballarat during this period, it is difficult to specifically identify him. Mrs. John Taylor had a daughter in October 1863, at Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill, but it has not been possible to clarify her relatives.The Star (Ballarat) Mon 5 October 1863 Page 2 Family Notices

Other purchasers of land during the Crown Land Sales at Soldiers Hill during this time were generally quite eminent Ballarat citizens, so it seems reasonable to assume that "J.Taylor" was also. To be able to pay £90 for the purchase of land was a significant amount at this time.

In July 1863, a year after purchasing the land, John Taylor, butcher, raised a substantial mortgage of £1,200, using the land as part surety.Transfer of Land Act 1862 Application No.52618

A month later, he paid Walter Elliott £13 for a 15’ wide driveway to provide direct access for his property to Gregory Street,August 1963 Part Allotment 2 Sec Ballarat. Crown Grant to Walter Elliott of Allotment 2 Sec 1 fronting Gregory Street and this driveway continued to provide access up until 1973 when the property was subdivided.

By 1865, Taylor was in major financial difficulties and an indenture over all his assets was granted to two of his creditors, William Baron Lethbridge, and to William Eaglestone, who had rights to the adjoining property that faced Gregory and Ligar Streets.The Ballarat Star Thu 26 December 1865 page 3

James & Andrew Bridges White

John Taylor had raised a mortgage in 1863 on the property through a number of parties, including James White and his brother, Andrew Bridges White, who were financial merchants in Geelong, Victoria. In part satisfaction of the money owing by Taylor to the White Brothers, the property was sold to them, subject to the mortgage, for £200. £200 being deducted from the money owing, and it seems that Taylor still owed £82/12/6 to the Whites.Transfer of Land Act 1862 Application No.52618

The White brothers, operating as the firm Messrs. Holmes, White & Co., had substantial holdings, including a run, "Glenhu", estimated at 2,800 acres in the East WimmeraGeelong Advertiser Fri 1 January 1864 Sale of Unoccupied Runs and an estate of 29,602 acres in the County of Borung.The Australasian Sat 25 October 1879 Page 20 Land Tax Court The firm “… established one of the largest squatting and mercantile houses in the Western District …”.Geelong Advertiser Sat 26 April 1879 Page 3

The White's firm, Holmes, White & Co., also held the title to a "stone store" in Lydiard Street in Ballarat West which was occupied by Taylor, and valued at £600 approx.Ballarat Rate Book VPRS 7260/P1/0001

Bank of Victoria

In October. 1878, brothers Andrew Bridges White ( 1821–1879) & James White sold the property to Bank of Victoria,Transfer of Land Act 1862 Application No.52618 probably to realise the value of their mortgage.

Andrew Bridges White (~1821-1879) died the following year in April 1879, aged 58.Australia Death Index Reg. Year 1879 Reg. No. 4816 An agency arrangement and failure of the Scottish bank, the City of Glasgow BankGeelong Advertiser Wed 11 December 1878 Page 3 FAILURE OF HOLMES< WHITE< AND CO “… embarrassed the firm, and the anxiety caused by this event no doubt hastened Mr White's death.”.Geelong Advertiser Sat 26 April 1879 Page 3 His estate was valued for probate at “… not exceeding £3.10.0 …”.PROV The Will of Andrew Bridges White VPRS 28/P2 unit 103, item 20/500 It would seem a reasonable assumption that this amazing collapse in his financial position was due to the impact of the ill-advised Scottish agency arrangementThe Argus (Melbourne Vic.) Sat 4 October Page 8 Advertising Strangely, not many months later in October 1879, his firm, which had been in liquidation since November 1878, was appealing against a Land Tax assessment on “… their estate of 29,602 acres …”The Australasian (Melbourne Vic.) Sat 25 October 1879 Page 20 LAND TAX COURT However, this may have been an attempt to lessen the firm's debts.

The Bank of Victoria held the property for 12 months and then sold The Grange to Joseph Forshaw.

Joseph Forshaw

Englishman, Joseph Forshaw (~1831–1905) was a well-known investor, President of the Ballarat Gas Company, and a director of various leading mining companies in the Ballarat area.The Argus, 12 Sep. 1906 In October 1879 he purchased the property from the Bank of Victoria for £475 and owned The Grange up until his death in September 1906.

In the 1880s Soldiers Hill had become a favoured place of residence for Ballarat's middle and upper classes with the city readily accessed by tramway.

Joseph and his brother John Forshaw, were both miners, and had initially gone from England to Canada and the United States to try their luck, before deciding to come to Australia. They sailed from Liverpool, England on the "Miles Barton" and arrived in Melbourne, Victoria in July 1853.Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923 British 1853The Ballarat Star Fri 12 October 1888 Page 4 BALLARAT CHRONICLES AND PICTURES As with many immigrants of that period, it is likely they was motivated by the lure of the Victorian gold rush, and Joseph's time in Ballarat would seem to provide some confirmation.

In 1862 he married Mary Jane Birt (1844–1924) in Ballarat.Australia, Marriage Index, 1788–1950 Reg. Year 1862 Reg. No. 333 She was from Neath in Glamorgan, Wales and, with her parents and siblings, had also immigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in June 1849 on the British Empire.Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839–1923 Mrs. Forshaw ran a school at the house.

Joseph Forshaw was a well known Ballarat investor, and chairman of the Ballarat Gas Works right up until his death in 1905,The Argus Tue 12 September 1905 Page 6 Country News His neighbours, father and son Samuel and Samuel Ernest Figgis, who resided at nearby "Trelawny" in Havelock Street, Soldiers Hill, held similar senior positions in the Ballarat Gas Company.

Joseph Forshaw had also been a director and chairman of a number of Ballarat gold mining companies, including the Robin Hood; the New Lothair, United Hand In Hand and Band of Hope, and Great Gulf gold mining companies.The Star Tue 16 April 1861 Page 4 AdvertisingThe Ballarat Courier Wed 29 March 1876 Page 3 NEW LOTHAIR COMPANYThe Ballarat Courier Tue 1 February 1870 Page 4 UNITED HAND IN HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANYThe Ballarat Star Fri 15 October 889 Page 2 GREAT GULF COMPANY

Additionally, he was a director of the Ballarat Banking Company,The Ballarat Star Sat 3 August 1889 Page 4 THE BALLARAT BANKING COMPANY committee member of the Ballarat Permanent Building & Investment Society,The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865–1924) BALLARAT PERMANENT BUILDING AND INVESTMENT SOCIETY and was involved in various charitable activities. He was also a Life Member of the venerable Ballarat Mechanics Institute.The Ballarat Star Mon 1 March 1889 Page 2 NEWS AND NOTES

Forshaw and his wife Mary had seven children, four girls and three boys,Margaret Jane Fortshaw (1863–?), Emma Forshaw (1864–1959), Annie Forshaw (1867–1911), Charles Edward Forshaw (189–1944), Alice Forshaw (1871–1964), George Forshaw (1875–1952), William Joseph Forshaw (1878–1949) when they moved into "The Grange", and had another child, Florence "Florrie" Blanche Forshaw, born in 1888,Birth Reg.year 1888 Reg. no, 414 whilst residents there.

In 1880, Forshaw purchased part of the remainder of the allotment that accessed Gregory StreetVolume 1611 Folio 044 Crown Allotment 2 Section One Parish of Ballaarat County of Grenville and adjoined the driveway that had been added to "The Grange" by John Taylor in 1863.

The Soldiers Hill tramway opened on 27 December 1888 as a one car horse drawn service travelling along Lydiard Street and Macarthur Street and terminating at Gregory Street, a very short walk from "The Grange". This must have added significantly to the value of the property.Trams in Ballarat

In September, 1905, Joseph Forshaw died and his funeral was held from his home at "The Grange"The Ballarat Star Tue 12 Sept 1905 Page 2 Family Notices

Mary Jane Forshaw (Birt)

Probate of Joseph Forshaw's will was granted in October 1905 to his widow Mary Jane Forshaw. He left real estate to the value of £1,000 and personal property of £11,210, which included quite a lot of shares.. He bequeathed his “… dwelling house and land situate in Lydiard Street North … unto my dear wife Mary Jane …”.The Will of Joseph Forshaw; Joseph FORSHAW. Date of grant: 9 October 1905; Date of death: 11 September 1905; Occupation: Gent; Residence: Ballarat Additionally, she was left the house's furniture, which amounted to £188.1.0.

A little more than a year after the death of her husband, Mary Jane Forshaw put "The Grange" up for auction, including “… the whole of her well selected household furniture and effects …” as she had decided to leave Ballarat for Melbourne.The Ballarat Star Tue 12 February 1907 Page 9 Advertising

Alfred Thomas Darling

Alfred Thomas Darling (~1885–1932),Australian Death Index 1787–1985 Reg. Year 1905 Reg. No. 8240 General merchant & Grazier, bought the property from Mary Jane Forshaw in October 1908 for £850.Transfer of Land Act 1862 Application No.52618