Our Story
The Edenvale Heritage Precinct is associated with the McLarty family, a prominent pioneering family in Western Australia.
Edward McLarty, son of pioneer farmers John and Mary McLarty, who arrived in the colony in 1839 from Campbelltown, Scotland, was born in Pinjarra and established strong agricultural and political roots in the area serving on the Murray Roads Board in 1877 and holding the position for nearly 40 years. He was later also elected to the State Legislative Council and held a seat there from 1894 to 1916.
Edward and Mary Jane McLarty and children
The McLarty Family operated Pinjarra’s first butcher shop from a small building that remains on site today and ran a coach service from Perth to Busselton twice a week during the years 1886 to 1893.
In 1888, wanting a more substantial residence for his wife and seven children, Edward McLarty built the Edenvale Homestead, with this Victorian style homestead standing today for over 130 years and being an award winning heritage listed home of national significance.
The family Homestead was also home to Sir Duncan Ross McLarty (known as Ross), the youngest child of Edward and Mary-Jane McLarty, and former Western Australia Premier from 1947 to 1953. In 1953 he was knighted for his services to the State
Sir Ross McLarty went on to raise his family in the Edenvale Homestead and was a source of employment for many locals until his death in 1962.
Sir Ross McLarty
In 1977, Edenvale was put on the market and the local community formed a committee to save the precinct and received Commonwealth funding towards the purchase and some restoration works. Edenvale was restored for community use and opened to the public in 1982.
Today, the Edenvale Heritage Precinct is celebrated as a heritage, arts and cultural landmark, a fun and creative place for people of all backgrounds and a place living its history through its story telling, exhibitions and focus on keeping traditions alive.
The Village is home to passionate people, volunteers and organisations with the following located within the Precinct:
