Interview Recording
Interview Transcript
Neville McKinnell interviewed on 16 August 2024 by Jean Elder
Synopsis
The McKinnell family has proudly maintained a connection to one of Tasmania’s most remarkable country houses, Clarendon, for over 70 years. Located near Evandale in northern Tasmania, this heritage-listed property was established by James Cox in the 1830s and fully developed by the mid-19th century, set against a breathtaking landscape.
Having lived at Clarendon since his birth in 1953, Neville McKinnell shares his memories of growing up there, along with stories from his late father, Donald, who became the farm manager in 1946. At that time, Clarendon was owned by Walter and Kathleen Menzies, who ran a successful horse stud.
As a young boy, Neville remembers the house being nearly empty, with his family living only on the main floor. Their furnishings were provided by Menzies’ furniture business, Henry Bills and Co. Despite the sparse surroundings, Neville enjoyed an adventurous upbringing, exploring the farm and the surrounding countryside. The walled garden was home to their dogs and a pet sheep, and it provided vegetables for the family. He considers his mother’s observation of the patterns of nature in her plantings on the lawns in front of the house.
The Menzies lived in Launceston but visited regularly for picnics in the adjoining parkland, where kangaroos and deer roamed freely. By that time, parts of the grounds had been transformed into fenced yards for horses, with sheds built and outbuildings adapted for the stud grooms’ accommodation.
Neville and his family were the last occupants of Clarendon prior to its gifting to the National Trust following the death of Walter Menzies in 1962. The connection to place was not lost and firstly Don, and now Neville, farm on an adjoining property.