PERCYDALE-Originally known as Fiddlers Creek. Gold found on Fiddlers Creek as early as December 1854. Further large rushes occurred in 1856, and in the late 1860s and early 1870s. In 1880 the population was 180 Europeans and 40 Chinese.
Blog posts concerning Percydale:
- Grantsvale, Fiddler’s Creek (Percydale) : 1869 description
- Chinese New Year 1870
Daly’s Cottage
Daly’s Cottage was erected for James Daly in 1864. There were subsequent additions and alterations.
The 1993/94 Avoca Shire Heritage Study assessed Daly’s Cottage as being of State significance.
Documentation is at File No: P2, page 295 of 356, volume 3
TITLE DETAILS: No section, Allotment 25B and 25C TOWN/DISTRICT: Percydale
ADDRESS: Percydale Rd
From the Heritage Study:
Daly's cottage is one of the earliest complex of farm buildings to survive in the Shire and illustrates the typical evolution of farm structures over time. The buildings reflect the use of local materials and illustrate a variety of construction techniques. Daly's cottage is valued highly by the local community for its association with the vanished township of Percydale. It is also cherished for its aesthetic appeal.
HISTORY
John Daly migrated from Kilfinane, Ireland in 1854. It is likely he spent some time on the goldfields before finding work at the Mountain Creek Station. During this period he married and lived in Turpin's Lane about ten kilometres from Avoca. The Daly's eldest son, Patrick, was born on 28 March 1861 and three years later, in 1864, the Daly family moved to Percydale.
John Daly made application for the land in 1865 and by 16 August 1875 he completed his payments and became the owner of forty acres to the west of the township of Percydale. Patrick Daly recalled that back portion of the house was built first in 1864 and this was where the family lived until the 1870s when the front two rooms were built. It is said that these rooms were constructed from a fiddle back gum tree and the old stump of the tree can still be seen directly opposite the dwelling. The roof was of bark.
John Daly died in 1902, the farm became the property of Patrick Daly. When Patrick died in 1929 the place passed to his son Roy Daly who had been born in the cottage on 10 June 1899. Roy Daly sold the property to his cousin who died unmarried and left it to a friend, Frank Bulleen. Other occupants of the house include Mrs Elizabeth Austin who lived in the cottage for a period during the early part of World War Two, and Reuben and Annie Bennett.
Note: Although the study refers to John, it would seem that the father of Patrick Daly (1861-1929) was James Daly (abt.1826-1903)
Roses for sale – now sold out 2018: For Sale: Rose bushes propagated from cuttings taken during pruning of the roses along the front fence of Daly’s Cottage
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percydale,_Victoria