Fernbrook

Statement of Significance

The place has historic value for the continuous occupation of four generations of the Dawson family. Historic value also exists through its association with the Dawson family and key individuals who are significant in the development of the area.

The site has potential for archaeological finds as it has been continuously occupied for farming purposes since 1889 and may reveal evidence of past practices.

Fernbrook has social value for its consistent use as a farmhouse in a rural landscape since its construction c1889 and for the ongoing use of the place as a residence for the Dawson family.

Physical Description

A simple single storey brick and iron cottage with a pitched roof extended as a verandah over the front elevation. The symetrical front elevation features a centrally placed door with multi paned timber sash windows either side. The verandah roof is supported on timber posts and a brick chimney is located on the side elevation.

The property exhibits several other buildings including a detached, timber structure consisting of two mill cottages that were transported to the place several years ago (reputedly from Yelverton Mill) and sited at the rear of the existing house as a means of providing additional residential accommodation for the family. The relocated structures now cover the foundations of the former cookhouse; originally a separate kitchen built at the same time as the house and later burnt down. A laundry constructed on the external wall on the east side of the house is no longer extant. Remaining structures at Fernbrook include a detached WC as well as a number of sheds placed some distance from the house.

The Fernbrook landscape contains a number of mature plantings. A large Palm Tree at the rear of the house (specimen unknown), a Camellia bush (sasangua), a Mulberry tree, a Carob tree (ceratonia siliqua) plus a large Peppermint tree (Agonis flexuosa), which was planted near the front verandah to allow the family some protection from the wind when
making use of the area, all appear significant.

The most important specimen appears to be a heritage rose, that according to previous research, was planted when the house was first built. The pale pink cabbage rose is growing close to the fence on the boundary with Rendezvous Road. Paperbark trees line a winter creek on the southern boundary of the house block.

History

The place known as Fernbrook consists of a largely intact late 19th century brick cottage constructed on the property on land taken up by John Dawson. According to previous research John Joseph Dawson paid £25 for the 40 acre block on a Land Grant made available in 1889 and constructed the house with Mr Finlayson who was a local builder.

John Joseph Dawson’s father was an early settler in Vasse. John Dawson (snr) had travelled from England arriving in Fremantle in 1830. He built a cottage at Dunsborough in the 1840s (near Fred Seymour’s house) however the place was later destroyed by fire. He moved to Newtown c1850 to a property he named ‘Newbury’; married Mary Dooley
and together they had two sons and a number of daughters. John Joseph, the older son, married Rebecca Roberts and together they bore eleven children. John Joseph built Fernbrook on property taken up at Vasse in 1889 and as well as establishing the place as a farm, worked at the Yelverton Mill. He was known to have owned the first Model T Ford in the area and together with his brother Edward discovered ‘Ngilgi’, the renowned Yallingup Caves.

John Joseph Dawson died in 1934. His youngest son, Kenneth Charles was born in 1907 and remained at Fernbrook until his death in 1989.

The property has remained in the ownership and occupancy by four successive generations of descendants of the Dawson family.

(Note; John Joseph Dawson was not related to Elijah Dawson of Westbrook)

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.