Westbrook Homestead

Statement of Significance

Westbrook Homestead is associated with the historical development of Busselton, particularly the period of consolidation when the community had to survive the initial struggle of establishing farms in an unknown land and interacting with the local Aboriginal community. These interactions often saw gross misunderstandings on both sides.
At the time Dawson purchased the ‘Westbrook’ property, the community had weathered hard times and was expanding outwards, permitting the settlers to move away from the confines of the initial settlement.

The design of Westbrook Homestead shows the growing awareness of the early settlers to design for the climate rather than continue to use design styles which were more appropriate for a colder climate. Westbrook Homestead shows the move towards an ‘Australian’ style of architecture. Its surrounding verandahs served not only as a cooling
device but were essential for the protection of soft brickwork during winter rains.

The detached kitchen is an important remnant of the historical evolution of the Australian house.

Westbrook Homestead is closely associated with Elijah Dawson who was one of the first settlers in the Busselton area. Dawson was a valuable assistant not only to Captain Molloy, but also to the Bussell family. He assisted both families in the establishment of their properties at the Vasse, before establishing his own farms at Wonnerup and then Westbrook Homestead. He was an important figure in the local community, holding the post of Constable for over ten years.

• Westbrook Homestead has the potential to yield valuable archaeological evidence that could provide detailed information about how early settlers lived and farmed in the Busselton area during the second half of the 19th century. This evidence may exist beneath the floorboards of the building itself, in the immediate vicinity of the building and around the remainder of the property.

• Westbrook Homestead contributes to the Busselton community’s sense of place as it is recognised as an important component of the area’s historical development. The place embodies the past endeavours of early settlers in overcoming hardships and consolidating
their properties, thus enabling the community to move forward into economic prosperity. This feeling is enhanced by the place’s association with Elijah Dawson who is considered to be an important early settler. The property was also the home of Michael Dawson and
was associated with John Lloyd. It is one of the better cared for places in the area and people have a high regard for the property.

Physical Description

Westbrook Homestead is a simple Victorian Georgian building, constructed of soft-fired bricks, laid using English bond coursing, with a verandah to all four sides. The hip and verandah roofs are covered with terracotta marseilles tiles.

The exterior of the building features soft brick walls on an ironstone foundation. The wide verandah roof is supported on timber posts and has a timber floor. A scalloped timber valance below the line of the main roof probably belongs to the period when the roof was covered with shingles. Two plain brick chimneystacks are located at either end of the roof.

The front of the house faces north and the main door is flanked by two windows on the western side and one window on the eastern side. The four-panel front door has a fanlight of coloured glass and the original rim lock is still in situ. Brick arches have been used for the window and door openings.

The western verandah area has been enclosed with vertical timber boards at the front and asbestos cement sheets on the side. This enclosure has resulted in three rooms with an extension at the rear containing a toilet and bathroom. All of the windows are timber with double hung sashes of six panes.

The building is surrounded by open farmland that is used for sheep grazing. North of the house are a number of old fruit trees, while at the rear of the house is a very old fig tree. South and east of the house are more recent farm buildings. At the rear of the house (south side) is an old slab kitchen with a shed attached to its southern side.

History

Westbrook Homestead was constructed between 1863 and 1866 for the Dawson family. Elijah Dawson arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1830 aboard the Warrior.

Dawson had served with Captain John Molloy as a corporal during the Battle of Waterloo. When Molloy decided to emigrate, Dawson elected to follow him and signed on as an indentured servant for five years. Prior to leaving England he married Ann Wakeham.

Dawson purchased Sussex Location 12 (600 acres) from Thomas Turner on 20 April 1846 for £120 and named the property ‘Westbrook Homestead’. The house was apparently a wattle and daub structure with a thatched roof and nine rooms. There was also a cellar which was used for storage.

The existing brick building, Westbrook Homestead, was constructed shortly after the first cottage. The wattle and daub building was then used for storage and a kitchen was located there. The family prospered, raising cattle, cultivating crops and planting three acres of vines. One vine remains from this vineyard, on the northern side of the detached
kitchen.

The wattle and daub structure apparently burnt down sometime during the 1850s or 1860s and a new kitchen was constructed behind the brick building. The timber used in the construction of the house is also pit sawn, indicating it was cut prior to 1859. This places the construction of Westbrook Homestead in the late 1850s or early 1860s. The
bricks in the construction are believed to have been fired on the site.

The house design shows the trend that was beginning to appear in West Australian architecture during the 1850s/1860s. This trend saw the move away from the transplanted English cottage, that the settlers were most familiar, to a building with verandahs, indicating the settlers’ growing awareness of the need to adapt to their new country.

The Dawsons sold Westbrook Homestead to William Dias Taylor in December 1906. Prior to the transfer, the roof was re-clad with corrugated galvanised iron and the main roof rafters, which had begun to spread, were realigned. The Taylor family then took up residence in the homestead.

Further works were undertaken including strengthening of the roof, some wallpapering, and the replacement of a set of windows on the back verandah by French doors and the building of a new dairy was undertaken by Faulkingham and Sons in 1938.

More extensive work was carried out on the roof in 1957 when it, and the verandah were completely removed to enable the walls to be tied back together. All of the roof timbers were returned to their original locations, as were the verandah timbers. The roof was re-clad with clay tiles due to the prohibitive cost of installing shingles. Under- floor ventilation was installed to the verandah foundations and a new timber floor installed.

As part of the extensive repairs to the roof, Taylor also enclosed the western verandah creating two additional rooms to the side of the house with a laundry towards the rear.

Taylor sold the property to his nephew, Mr D.E. Feutrill in 1964. The Feutrill family carried out further alterations, the most important being construction of a kitchen in 1968 at the rear of the house. At a later stage they also upgraded the old laundry, changing it to a toilet and bathroom and adding a laundry onto the southern end of the new bathroom. Around 1978 the corrugated galvanized steel shed was added onto the southern side of the kitchen.

Integrity/Authenticity

High Degree/High Degree
Integrity Notes: The place retains a high degree of integrity although there have been some modifications to the place.
Authenticity Notes: The place retains a high degree of authenticity.

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.