Pigeon Grove Homestead

Statement of Significance

The place has historic value for its association with the Guerin family who built the original cottage on this site and were significant members of the Vasse community in the mid and late 19th century. The place has historic value for its association with the development of the Wonnerup area for farming in the 19th century. There is some potential for the earliest portions of the building to reveal evidence of early forms of construction on rural properties. The place has social value for its contribution to the community sense of place for its longevity in the streetscape.

Physical Description

Pigeon Grove presents as a complex of single storey structures of a range of materials and styles. The earliest portion of the residence is the 'L' shaped portion to the east. It has a hipped roof with verandahs supported on simple timber posts, all clad with corrugated metal sheeting. A large chimney is located in the centre of the roof. The doors and windows are in a range of styles reflecting differing periods of development. It is not possible to determine the material used in the construction of the walls in this earliest portion of the residence although it is likely that portions of the wattle and daub construction remain. The place is located within an expansive and well‐maintained landscape.

History

The land was originally part of the grant made to the Chapman brothers in 1832, as part of Inlet Park. On the death of Henry Chapman in 1859, his widow was anxious to have some neighbours nearby and the land was given to Sergeant Roger Guerin (1806-1878), who was in charge of soldiers in the district. The barracks were located to the south west of this site as seen in an 1850 plan. Roger Guerin and his wife Eleanor Dorinda Berckelman (1810-1878) were married in 1830 and raised their family of eight children on the farm. Many of these children remained in the Busselton region and contributed to the community. The property was used for horse breeding and the family were successful in horse races during the 1860s. Roger Guerin is also recorded as using Ticket-of-Leave labour in the 1860s which is likely to refer to works at Pigeon Grove. When the house was first built, it had only three rooms and a surrounding verandah all constructed from mud and rushes. The house was named “Pigeon Grove” because of the abundance of bronze‐wing pigeons in the area. At about the turn of the century, “Pigeon Grove” became part of the Pries Estate owing to a default of mortgage payment and from that time on was leased to a number of different people among who were the Spurges, who started the first cheese factory in WA. Due to a lack of milk within a reasonable distance, the factory failed and the equipment was sold to a Nannup resident. Other lessees were Mr. Hugh Brockman, whose third daughter was born there, the Finlays, Savages, Kershaws, Boyles and others. Later it was sold to Mr. Jeff Wilkinson. Most of those who lived there were dairy farmers. The Vasse Estuary Grazing Company took over the estate in 1967. From the 1980s onwards there have been many programs of additions and alterations in a similar style to the original building. The enclosure of the verandahs has limited the understanding of the original residence.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low Degree/Low Degree Integrity Notes: The place has a low degree of integrity. Authenticity Notes: The place was extensively altered and added to during the 1980s concealing the extent of the original fabric. The place has a low degree of authenticity.

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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