The White House

Statement of Significance

The White House has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: The place is associated with Sir Richard Spencer who acquired the land, not far from his farm on Strawberry Hill, in 1834 and had this house built for his daughter Emma (Emily) by George Checker, his boatman, coach driver and stockman. The place, a mud brick cottage, is believed to be first house to be built in the Middleton Beach area. The place was constructed using available materials from the early years of British settlement using mud bricks made on the property, and Oregon pine and Canadian Maple trusses from a decommissioned ship. It is an early and rare place that relates to the Aboriginal people of Albany post-British settlement having been associated with the early ‘Native Children and Half Cast Children’s Asylum’ established in the 1860s by Archdeacon Wollaston and run by the Anglican Church. The place was later associated with the Thompson family from Manjimup who owned the house for 90 years, between c1897-1987, Mr Alec Thompson being the leader of the WA Country Party in 1930 as well as a master builder involved in the building of the London Hotel in Albany and the Esplanade Hotel in Perth. The place was used in the 1850s by the local police station for horse related activities.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • The house is set in a secluded position, off the main thoroughfare • Original building made from mud bricks, made on the property • Apparently double brick, possibly with a cavity and with some interesting patterns at windows and doors • Oregon pine and Canadian maple used for trusses and other building elements • Four room structure of original building – large kitchen/dining room and two bedrooms • Outside wash area • Corrugated iron roof – double hipped, linked with a flat section • Single chimney remains from early day Some obvious modifications include: • An agglomeration of largely fibro extensions, additions, and modifications over time

History

It is thought that this was the first house to be built in the Middleton Beach area. The original mud brick cottage, which is reported to still be intact underneath a number of asbestos and fibro extensions, is said to have been built c1836 on land acquired by Sir Richard Spencer in 1834. The house was built for his daughter Emma (or Emily) by George Checker, who was Spencer's boatman, coach driver and stockman. The cottage was constructed from mud bricks made on the property, with Oregon pine and Canadian Maple trusses made from timber off a decommissioned ship. It seems that in the 1850s the police station used part of the property for horse related activities. The building has also been associated with early "Native Children and Half Caste Children's Asylum" run by the Anglican Church c1860's. An extract from Robert Stephens' personal notebook (Albany Local Studies Collection) describes how "Archdeacon Wollaston.... with funds received from missionary organisations in England and a grant from the WA Governor, he built a substantial schoolhouse with attached dormitory. It seems the schoolroom was not used as no teacher would live in such a remote spot. During the 1960s the place was renamed Fernhill. Records indicated that the Thompson family from Manjimup owned the house for 90 years, between c1897-1987. Mr Alec Thompson was the leader of the WA Country Party in 1930. He was a master builder and was also involved in the building of the London Hotel in Albany and the Esplanade Hotel in Perth. There have been a number of changes and additions made to the house, but it seems that the original rooms are still intact, having been enclosed by the additional layers of building. In recent times the building was converted into a duplex set up.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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