Local Government
Karratha
Region
Pilbara
Cossack
The whole of the land contained within the area bounded by Wickham Street, Dampier Street, Pearl Street, Ward Street, Pilot Street, Perseverance Street, Settlers Beach Road to the Cemetery at Lots 422 & 433, and the foreshore to the high water mark (including the Land Backed Wharf).
Tien Tsin; Port Walcott; Butcher's Inlet
Karratha
Pilbara
Constructed from 1860, Constructed from 1890
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
Heritage Agreement | Variation | 10 Oct 2017 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
Heritage Agreement | YES | 27 Aug 1996 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
State Register | Registered | 21 Apr 2006 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
(no listings) |
Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Category | ||||
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 01 Sep 2013 | Category A | |
Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register | Permanent | |||
Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 07 Jun 1977 | ||
Register of the National Estate | Registered | 27 Mar 2001 |
The HCWA Statement of Significance for the Cossack Townsite Precinct, states “that the precinct comprising a number of buildings constructed of local materials and archaeological sites dating from the 1870s, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: the precinct was a frontier settlement established in 1863, the first port in the North West of Australia and home to Western Australia’s first pearling industry; the precinct is a nationally significant archaeological site that has the potential to contribute to a wider cultural understanding of the cultural heritage of the State through use as a research site; the precinct contains evidence of the impact of European settlement on Aboriginal communities; the precinct was important to the establishment and sustainability of Roebourne and the spread of settlement into the hinterland; the precinct is testimony to the rigors of frontier life and contains major evidence of the response of European settlers to a remote environment characterised by scarcity, climatic extremes and the hazards of cyclones and tidal surges; the precinct provides evidence of an early multicultural society and the accommodation of the cultural diversity of European, Afghan, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Filipino and Aboriginal people; the precinct is associated with outstanding figures in the early development of the Pilbara region, including explorer F T Gregory, the Padbury, Wellard, Broadhurst, Withnell and Sholl families, and Cossack identities such as the Halls and Muramats; and, the precinct contains a notable group of public buildings, designed during George Temple Poole’s term as Chief Architect of the Public Works Department.”
The most immediate aspects of Cossack Precinct are the remains of built structures in the townsite, including the Court House and Bond Store, Post and Telegraph Office, Police Station and Jail, Customs House, Galbraith’s Building, and land-backed wharf. These are concentrated along the historic Strand, Perseverance St and Pearl Street. Much of the old townsite is either ruined or removed, and revealed only as archaeological sites (below). The Asian settlement is strung out along the road towards the cemetery, and characterised by market gardens and the remains of habitation and commerce, with distinctive imported Asian objects. The Aboriginal historical campsites, and Afghan camps, are located along the western extent of the raised peninsula and characterised by dense deposits from occupations, camps, working areas and market gardens. The various yards and wells that once sustained the settlement are located along the western extent of the raised peninsula. The remains of the tramway to Roebourne (late 1880s) are revealed through a raised embankment. Butchers Inlet contains the remains of various abandoned and wrecked vessels, chain piles, vessel parts and stone ballast piles. It constitutes one of the richest concentrations of maritime archaeological heritage in the State.
The town was established in 1863. At this time it was called Tien Tsin, after the barque of the same name which was commissioned by Walter Padbury to deliver his stock. It was renamed Cossack in 1871, after Sir Frederick Weld visited on the Cossack. Cossack, and the Upper Landing, were significant sites for the arrival of early settlers, such as Padbury. However, it suffered from being separated from the mainland at high tide and from the shallow waters of Butchers Inlet. Cossack was the home of the pearling fleet, established in the 1860s and was a significant setting for the pearling industry decades before it was established at Broome. The pearling fleet relied on Aboriginal and Asian workers and this is remembered in the Aboriginal camps and Asian settlement at Cossack, located between the Police Station and the Cemetery. The gold rushes of the late 1880s saw many new immigrants arrive through Cossack. At this time the settlement was linked to Roebourne with the Tramway. Despite this, the town was slowly eclipsed by Point Samson, with the establishment of the jetty there. In the twentieth century, activities at Cossack included commerce, as seen at Muramats Store, and the turtle processing enterprise based out of the Customs Building. The heritage values of the town were increasingly recognised in the later twentieth century, with national, state and local heritage listings. Today the site is managed by the Shire of Roebourne as a tourist destination.
The townsite that extended from the distinctive Nanny Goat Hill to the Cemetery (with separate Chinese and Japanese sections), and the inlet, is largely an archaeological site, with some key work having been conducted.
Varies from none to complete
Varies from archaeological site/ruin to intact
Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
---|---|---|---|
George Temple Poole | Architect | - | - |
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
---|---|---|---|
De La Rue, K. | Pearl Shell and Pastures: the Story of Cossack and Roebourne | 1979 |
Ref Number | Description |
---|---|
09 | Municipal Inventory |
Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
---|---|---|---|
12083 | Bajinhurrba (Cossack) | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 2024 |
11613 | Archaeology of Asian sites in Cossack, W.A. | Electronic | 1996 |
3306 | Cossack conservation and management plan. | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1989 |
4673 | Cossack : first port in the North West of Western Australia. | Report | 2000 |
529 | Preliminary historical research on Cossack | Report | 1990 |
2565 | Cossack : land of the silver sea. | Book | 1997 |
5964 | Cossack; Roebourne; Lazarette site; Jarman Island Lighthouse; Roebourne Gaol. | Video | 1991 |
4912 | Cossack : the cultural significance of the lazaret. | Heritage Study {Other} | 1992 |
9550 | Cossack: draft master plan. | Report | 2007 |
3307 | Cossack Historic Gateway to the Pilbara | Video | 1991 |
402 | Cossack historic town : a unique heritage tourism experience. | Report | 1992 |
7192 | 3 projects : Cossack and Jarman Island. | Report | 2004 |
11670 | Palm Trees, Market Gardens and China-Towns: Asian migrant contribution to the development of the Pilbara 1870 - 1930 | Electronic | 2001 |
11612 | Cossack & Jarman Island Western Australia: Archaeology report | Electronic | 2006 |
47 | Archival research into British trademarks | Report | 1993 |
9153 | Cyclone Claire Jaunary 2006 and Cyclone Glenda March 2006 as filmed by Lyn Ling, caretaker at Cossack Backpackers. | Video | 2006 |
531 | An archaeological zoning plan for Cossack | Report | 1990 |
1784 | An archaeological survey of the Asian quarter of Cossack. | Report | 1988 |
108 | An archaeological survey of Cossack | Heritage Study {Other} | 1991 |
1789 | Cossack : a conservation study of existing buildings. | Heritage Study {Other} | 1986 |
2209 | Pearl shells pastures and misfits : an account of the restoration of the Bondstore and Customs House at Cossack Western Australia by six Aboriginals and one European. | Report | 1983 |
4337 | The future conservation and development of Cossack. | Report | 1999 |
10189 | First port in the Northwest: a maritime archaeological survey of Cossack 25 - 30 June 2012 | Heritage Study {Other} | 2012 |
1478 | Cossack: a policy for its conservation. | Heritage Study {Other} | 1996 |
6540 | Cossack conservation and management plan : photographs. | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1992 |
9619 | A pearling master's journey: in the wake of the schooner 'Mist'. | Book | 2008 |
1796 | Cossack townsite study and management plan. (Draft) | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1987 |
3249 | Evaluating the tourism development potential of Cossack (draft). | Report | 1994 |
9760 | The archaeology of market capitalism: a Western Australian perspective. | Book | 2011 |
7290 | Cossack gold : the chronicles of an early goldfields warden. | Book | 1984 |
9415 | Cossack heritage walk. Archaeological investigations and input. | Electronic | 2002 |
11947 | Cossack cultural landscape management plan DRAFT | Heritage Study {Other} | 2019 |
5869 | Historic town of Cossack : sustainable management study - 2001 and beyond. | Report | 2001 |
9413 | Preliminary results of WA Heritage Week public excavation at Union Bank site at Cossack, Pilbara. | Electronic | 2008 |
7722 | Notes on the history of Cossack. | Other | 1956 |
4982 | Cossack : kiosk renovations . | Report | 1999 |
8419 | Cossack : concept stage draft master plan. | Book | 2006 |
4405 | Cossack Town Planning and Management Plan-Draft for Public Comment | Report | 1999 |
1783 | Cossack : an archaeological survey from Pearl Street to Chinatown. | Report | 1990 |
9414 | Cossack sustainable development an alternative strategy. | Electronic | 2005 |
1788 | Cossack Taskforce Report. | Report | 1986 |
1785 | Cossack conservation and management plan. | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1987 |
3198 | Cossack Conservation and Management Plan : Hall Photograph Collection. | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1992 |
7243 | Cossack : statement of cultural significance. | Heritage Study {Other} | 1993 |
3197 | Cossack conservation and management plan. | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1992 |
4911 | Cossack : conservation and management plan : bibliography (draft). | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1992 |
Precinct or Streetscape
Epoch | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Original Use | RESIDENTIAL | Single storey residence |
Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Courthouse |
Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Customs House\Bond Store |
Original Use | INDUSTRIAL\MANUFACTURING | Other |
Present Use | EDUCATIONAL | Other |
Type | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Wall | STONE | Local Stone |
General | Specific |
---|---|
OCCUPATIONS | Mining {incl. mineral processing} |
OCCUPATIONS | Fishing & other maritime industry |
PEOPLE | Early settlers |
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
PEOPLE | Aboriginal people |
PEOPLE | Famous & infamous people |
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.