Phoebe Abbey's House

Statement of Significance

•The place and has historic value for its associations with the Abbeys who were early Colonial arrivals and farmers in the district. It is associated with Christopher Weetman, an early master builder. • The building demonstrates physically the approximate boundary of the Busselton town site and the farming districts in the 1860s. • The building and the site have potential to reveal evidence of past practices in the building fabric and archaeological finds. The place is valued by the community as a prominent landmark that contributes to the community sense of place since the mid 19th century

Physical Description

The cottage was originally located amidst more extensive paddocks which were subsequently subdivided with the land being sold off for development with the current configuration being retained as a setting for the place. As a result, the cottage is located closed to the eastern boundary of the site and is well set back from Seymour Street to the north and Abbey Street to the west. Both the east and south boundaries back onto development. Phoebe Abbey’s House is a single storey limestone cottage constructed in two phases, the earliest section dating from c.1865 with the second phase following shortly thereafter, and demonstrates similar design features. The place was further extended in the 1970s with a timber framed addition at the western end but this has since been removed and the place has reverted to its original form as a linear range. Although the place is in poor condition the original design intent of the place is still clearly discernible. The house utilises a simple plan form with three room to the stone section and a further two rooms in the rear lean-to. A verandah extends across the full extent of the façade

History

The name of the Abbey family has been closely associated with the Busselton region since the mid-19th century. Irish migrants, Thomas Abbey (c1811-1869) and his wife Mary Ann (c1820-1893) arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1841. Thomas aged 30 was described in the ship’s passenger list as a labourer and Mary Ann, aged 20, as a servant. Thomas Abbey Snr obtained his first freehold title to Sussex location 24 in 1851. This land is the site of the ‘Newtown House’ which is located on the western side of Bussell Highway near the junction of Caves Road. One of the sons, John Abbey, married Ellen Weetman (1848-1915) in 1870, and the family history prepared by the Busselton Historical Society states that John took over the Weetman property one mile from Busselton Post Office and ¼ mile from the main road. This location is consistent with the location of the property known as, ‘Phoebe Abbey’s House’. Ellen Weetman was the daughter of English immigrants Christopher Weetman (c1822-1867) and Judith, née Ryan (c1817-1878). The couple had arrived in the colony in 1855 on board the Berkshire. Christopher Weetman described his occupation as a mason and master bricklayer and he is recorded as engaging 2 ticket-of-leave convicts in 1863 and 1866. Christopher Weetman supervised the volunteer labour which constructed St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kent Street, Busselton. It is presumed he undertook other building work in the district. He built the residence now known as ‘Phoebe Abbey’s House’ and lived there with his wife, and two daughters, Ellen and Jane until his death in 1867.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/Moderate

Condition

Poor

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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