Quinns Beach House and Shack

Statement of Significance

Quinns Beach House and Shack, 68 Ocean Drive has historic significance as an intact example of a prefabricated house typical of those constructed in the Wanneroo area during the 1950s and 1960s.
The shack has historic significance representing basic accommodation used by fishermen in the
district.

Physical Description

The house and shack are located at Lot 113, 68 Ocean Drive, Quinns Rocks. The lot is situated on
the eastern side of Ocean Drive on the beachfront with expansive views of the coastline within the
City of Wanneroo's Coastal Ward. The house faces west and is setback approximately 60 metres
from the road and the shed is located at the rear of the property.
The single storey timber framed fibrous cement clad house is set on limestone foundations and has a
corrugated asbestos clad slightly pitched skillion roof. The entrance comprises a pair of timber framed
glazed doors which have side and top windows and open onto a concrete floored verandah.
Internally the house is substantially intact and comprises a living area, kitchen, two bedrooms,
bathroom and laundry. The hallway features timber panelling and the original fittings in the kitchen
and bathroom are extant.
The timber framed shack situated at the rear of the house is clad with weatherboards and fibrous
cement flat sheets. Some modifications have been made to the former fisherman's shack.

History

The suburb of Quinns Rocks probably takes its name from the offshore reef first noted during a
coastline survey by Surveyor James Cowle in 1867. Although spelt with a double 'n', the rocks are
thought to have been named after Robert Quin who emigrated to Western Australia in 1863, and was
appointed as an Assistant Surveyor on his arrival. Quin died in July 1886. The general area of the
coast opposite the rocks was referred to as Quinns Rocks by the Wanneroo Road Board when they
requested the survey of a road to that place in November 1925. Later the place also came tp be
called 'Wanneroo Beach'. Quinns Rocks was declared a townsite in 1962.
The house at 68 Ocean Drive was erected in 1955 by Alco from an Alco Pre-cut Holiday Home
package as a demonstration home and was made by the Australian Lumber Co Pty Ltd Melville WA.
Subsequently, a number of similar houses were also erected in the area.
The property is currently (2004) owned by the original owner, David Watkins. Mr Watkins re-located
his former fishing shack in the 1950s from Marmion to the rear of the site/house to be converted into a
shed.
Note: Fishing shacks had been built on a narrow strip of Reserve land vested for public use. During
the 1950s the owners were ordered under an amended Land Act to remove their structures. To
provide alternative sites the Town Planning Department approved the subdivision of 100 lots. Some of
the people who had fishing shacks near the beachfront purchased some of these blocks and a few of
the fishing shacks were relocated and converted into garages.
BA59/0314 (D Watkins) and wrokshop BA60/0451

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.