More Info →'Willowbank' homestead, River Road, Fitzherbert

Willowbank was the home of the J O Batchelar family, who farmed the river flats just over the Fitzherbert Bridge. the house was built in 1880 - 1881 and this photograph shows it after it was altered and enlarged in 1908. The house was owned by the Batchelar family until 1926, when it was purchased by the Government as the site of the new Massey Agricultural College, which commenced operations in this building in 1928.