Former Tapley farm complex
Description
The former farm complex comprises an eight-roomed house, garden and extensive outbuildings including a barn, loft, carriage shed and harness room. The house is behind the present Hotel facing South Road. It is reported that the basic plan of the house remains evident, although a bread oven has been removed, a verandah erected and enclosed, and four sets of French doors replaced by sash windows.
The harness room reportedly contains two rooms, being set over a substantial basement, cellar and quarry over three levels. The harness room was associated with the early Victoria Inn, and is reputed to have been a receiving point for smuggled spirits from Kangaroo Island. A series of trap doors and the reported remains of sailing ship rigging and splicing equipment in the basement may support this claim.
History
The construction date and builder of the main residence are unknown.
These buildings survive from the farming activities of the Tapley family who arrived in SA in 1838, and after whom the locality is named. Thomas Tapley was an early settler in the area, establishing the Victoria Hotel. In 1844 he was farming a large holding and by 1849 the Tapleys held 716 acres. "The Old Colonist" in 1851 noted the farm of Mr Tapley consisted of about 7 or 8 Sections and a "good house of apparently recent erection, and a garden". The house was extensively altered and extended c. 1939 by Architect C.A. Smith.