Ascot House

The land on which 'Ascot' and 'Archina' were built formed part of a land grant to Annette McGee in 1849. 'Ascot', a two storey late victorian mansion, was erected c. 1888 by P. W. Nicholle, a building contractor, and was a home for missionaries for several years. In 1899 it was occupied by W. Thow, Chief mechanical engineer of the railways.

Father Archibald Shaw bought 'Ascot' and neighbouring 'Archina' in 1907 to use as the base for his work as procurator for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and as a rest house. He set up a large factory for the Maritime Wireless Company behind the house, supplying wireless sets to the Papua Islands and to the Mawson Antarctic expedition. The company began to decline, poor business organization, outdated equipment and Father Shaw's poor health were all contributing factors. World War I helped the plant as they expanded into gun repairs and other army materials, however it continued to decline, and after a financial expert was sent from Rome, he sold the site to the Commonwealth in 1916. The day after the negotiations and sale in Melbourne, we was found unconscious and died soon after. 

It was then was operated by the Navy. In 1924, the area was set up by the RAAF as an experimental station for the Wackett Widgeon planes, and Ascot was used by the RAAF as the design office and residence.