Pre-Emptive Right Properties

On 11 March, 1852 squatters within the Settled Districts, which included the Cranbourne area, were told that they could secure the pre-emptive right to the homestead blocks on which they had carried out improvements. Many took advantage of this and, when they could, secured land adjoining their PR block.

Within the present study area, only one PR property was obtained. Butchart and Blois of Tomaque/Tongola secured 200 acres in Crown Allotment 30, Parish of Lyndhurst. This PR allotment was located to the north-east of the Skye township, and was approved on 16 June 1853.1 Little remains on this PR site today, (located at 410 Hall Road, Skye) to suggest earlier pastoral usage. However, some landscape features, such as the Hawthorn hedges opposite the present 20th century farmhouse, may relate to the first wave of settlement. An archaeological investigation of the site might reveal evidence of building ruins or sub-surface deposits of archaeological value.

Willoby's Langwarrin PR was located in the Parish of Sherwood, outside the present study area, while the Carrup Carrup PR was also located outside the study area in the Parish of Tyabb.2