The Scott house was an early farmstead in the Ihumatao area, Mangere, Auckland. It was contemporary to the Westney house excavated by CFG Heritage in 2005, and was part of the same ongoing archaeological work in this area. Historic records and buildings archaeology indicate that the original farmstead cottage was built in the 1860s, with additions made in the 1870s, 1910s and 1940s.
Excavation around the house revealed the remnants of ditch and bank fences which had enclosed the house and extended into surrounding paddocks. These were commonly used by early settlers to create animal enclosures and to divide and demarcate land. Other features around the house included two brick-lined wells within five metres of each other. One had clearly been filled in with the clay removed when the second was dug – probably the first was not deep enough and a second had to be dug. Postholes revealed that structures had stood around the wells, probably to support a roof and windlass.
Other features in the yard included ceramic drains and shell and brick paths which could be related to the different phases of the house development that had been defined by the buildings archaeology.
Investigations of this farmstead have complemented those conducted at the neighbouring Westney farmstead. Analysis and comparison of the two contemporary farmsteads has provided an insight into the rural life and economy of early European settlers in this region.
