Peter and Rebecca Symington began to acquire land at Huon Lane in the 1870's. The property was named Teviotdale but the reason behind the name is unknown. The homestead is situated on the Murray Valley Highway on allotment 1 of section 4 of the Parish of Beethang. Facing east from a sloping hillside, Teviotdale overlooked William Symington's property, Berringa Park. Teviotdale is described in the inventory of  Peter Symington's assets which was prepared for Probate on his death in 1916: freehold Land containing 321 acres Parish of Beethang, allotment 6 Section 3; allotments 1 and 3 of Section 4 parish of Beethang, 50 acres of which were under crop on the halves system with improvements thereon as follows: weatherboard house, 5 rooms, kitchen and bathroom, 1 old shed, 1 separator shed. 

FIRE AND TEMPEST

Teviotdale was exposed to fire and tempest. The house was destroyed in a tornado in 1912.

Albury Banner and Wodonga Express Friday 6 January 1905 page 39

MITTA MITTA 

At about 4 o’clock last Sunday afternoon a bush fire broke out in Mr. J. Symington’s paddock on the Mitta Mitta. It rapidly spread into Mr. Peter Symington’s property and burnt everything before it with the exception of the homestead which on three different occasions was alight, and with difficulty was saved. Mr. P. Symington was a heavy loser. From here it extended up to Huon Lane Gap and over the hills into Mr. J. Coulston’s property in the Kiewa Valley, burning a lot of fencing and a few sheep. The fire was got under way early on Monday morning and only for the wind changing it would have been impossible to have prevented it from extending to the Kiewa River a distance of about 5 miles further on.

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 6 January 1905, page 2

HEAT, AND BUSH FIRES. GREAT DEVASTATION. SEVERAL LIVES LOST.

Throughout Victoria and New South Wales the heat was terrific, and the devastation wrought by the bush fires was unprecedented since settlement commenced. Up to Friday, the heat in this district, although severe, was endurable, but that day the temperature jumped to 115 — a record not previously reached in Wodonga. 

Mr Peter Symington, of Huon Lane, who, with his wife, was away in Tasmania on a holiday, has also lost practically the whole of his grass and fencing, but the homestead was spared. Mr Joseph Coulston, his neighbor (sic), suffered similarly.

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 4 February 1910 page 2

A bush fire which started in Mr. W. Davies-Griffith’s paddock, near Kiewa, on Monday devastated a considerable area of rough country on the ranges between Kiewa and Huon Lane. Mr P. Symington lost a good deal of grass. The fire was visible from Wodonga on Monday night.

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 4 February 1910, page 2

A bush fire which started in Mr W. Davies-Griffith's paddock, near Kiewa, on Monday devastated a considerable area of rough country on the ranges between Kiewa and Huon Lane. Mr P. Symington lost a good deal of grass. The fire was visible from Wodonga on Monday night.

TEVIOTDALE DESTROYED IN A STORM

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 5 July 1912 page 2

The storm on Tuesday evening was very destructive at Huon. Mr. Peter Symington’s house was almost completely wrecked, only one room being left standing, while Mr. Muller’s house was unroofed. Mr. Muller and family have had to use a tarpaulin belonging to the Railway Department.

The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times Friday 5 July 1912 page 3

TORNADO NEAR HUON.    

MR. SYMINGTON’S HOUSE BLOWN DOWN.

On Tuesday evening a tornado raged between Tangambalanga and Huon. It traversed two strips, each a couple of chains wide. Mr. Symington’s house was blown down, with the exception of the kitchen, in which Mrs. Symington and two members of the family were seated. The roof was torn from Mr. Mullins’ kitchen, trees were uprooted, and the whole track levelled. Between the two strips a coach with five passengers journeyed in perfect safety.

Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times Tuesday 9 July 1912, page 2

Wreckage from Mr. Peter Symington's home at Huon Lane, was carried over one and a half miles by the recent tornado, while the roof disappeared entirely.

Mrs P. Symington "Teviotdale" Huon

Hawthorn 2.7.09

Dear Mother,

I hope you will like this photo of me. 

Aunt says it is just like me.

I hope also that you like my dress.

Love,

Nellie

From the left: Peter Symington, Doug, Jessie, Rebecca, Bob Ward standing at rear; the woman in front of him is Nellie or Edie Ward; Emma Ward (Rebecca’s sister), Nellie, Alfred Ward, Peter Symington

VICTORIA ELECTORAL ROLL

1921, 1922 at Huon Lane

Peter James Symington, labourer and his wife Nellie Sarah

Rebecca Symington "home duties"

Vera May Symington, waitress

Victor Douglas Symington grazier

In 1921 Edith Rebecca Trumbull Darton was at Berringa Park

1924, 1925 Constance Minnie Symington, wife of Doug, is at Teviotdale

SALE OF TEVIOTDALE

The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express Friday 16 June 1933 page 45

GIPPSLAND AND NORTHERN CO-OP. CO. LTD.

PROPERTY SALES

The Gippsland and Northern Coop Co. Ltd: (Tallangatta branch) report having completed the following important and extensive property sales since 1st January, 1933

 A/c V. D. Symington, of Huon. - 1495 acres to T. Macaulay, of Kew.