Villa Carlotta

Statement of Significance

• Villa Carlotta is aesthetically significant as an almost vernacular builder’s' version of the Federation Queen Anne style widely adopted throughout Australia in the first decade of the twentieth century, and particularly in Western Australia where much building took place
following the gold rush.
• The place has a landmark quality created by the tower and the large mature Morton Bay Fig tree on the direct line of the axis of the entrance hall and thus a significant remnant of the original garden plan.
• Villa Carlotta is indicative of changing patterns of residence and social life in Western Australia, as representative of the growth of Busselton when the port town began to develop from a purely regional centre into a holiday resort and retirement town.
• The variety of changing uses of the place, from private home, to convent, school, and holiday accommodation is indicative of the vigorous growth of Busselton and the multiple social and economic factors in its history.
• The place has close associations with individuals, particularly owners and occupants, including its builder Frank Backhouse, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission, and the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who played a part in the history and growth of Busselton.
• Villa Carlotta is valued by the local community as contributing to Busselton’s identity and the community’s sense of place, and as an element in the current tourism economy, based on the character of the region. It is very well known by the older residents.

Physical Description

Villa Carlotta is clearly seen from the road and is approached via a circular drive. The main building comprises the original home, the convent and subsequent additions. Other buildings on the block on the site are residential units associated with the guest house function.
The main building comprises the original 1896-97 house, the 1904 convent, a number of framed extensions and a new brick dining room. The home was a one-storey building with a two-level tower over the entry.
The style of architecture best fits Federation Queen Anne exhibiting an asymmetrical plan, complex roof form, tower, and wide verandah with decorative timber posts and brackets.
Fabric of the 1897 house is clear on the east and west where little change has taken place to the form of the building, apart from the 1904 convent additions to the west. Original tuck-pointed brickwork in stretcher bond is maintained at the entrance and to the verandah on the east and west.
The whole roof is clad with corrugated sheet metal and the roof gable to the south-east of the roof retains decorative timberwork lost to the two gables on the north.
The 1904 additions were placed on the west, possibly replacing some of the verandah. The extent of the remaining fabric of this extension is clear on. Although the north face of this extension is ashlar inscribed cement rendered, it is probable that this face was originally tuck pointed as the east wall adjacent to the verandah is tuck pointed and the
join between render and pointing suggests render is a later application.

History

Villa Carlotta ('Ithaca') was completed in 1897 for Francis (Frank) Herbert Backhouse (1863-1933) and his wife Margaret Weir (1879-1911) as a family home for his wife and four children.
Frank Backhouse was born in Brisbane in 1863 and came to Western Australia in 1893. He worked as a consulting engineer in Perth for some months before taking on a position with WA Goldfields Ltd., an English company in Coolgardie. The job required that he travel extensively throughout the colony, and it was during this time that he built Ithaca, and he built six other cottages in Carey Street, Busselton known as "Backhouse Town".
The property was purchased by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in 1904 who converted the house into a convent and school. The house was extended at this time in order to provide additional sleeping space for the convent. The nuns lived in the house and taught classes in a temporary classroom on the property which had been relocated to the present school site in 1951. The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions transferred the house to the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart on 5 August 1922. The Josephite Sisters took over the convent, school and nineteen boarders.
In 1951, the Josephite Sisters moved to a remodeled residence in Kent Street opposite the presbytery and church. Prior to being sold in 1952, Ithaca was used by the Church as a religious holiday (‘Bushies’) centre for children and as a holiday house for the Josephite Sisters.
The property was sold to a Mr. Rushton in 1952 and it is believed he renamed the house Villa Carlotta. Mr. Rushton ran the property as a private hotel. Since that time the place has continued to be used for that purpose and has been adapted and modified in response to changing needs and expectations of guests

Integrity/Authenticity

Though no longer used as a house, the original use of the place is reasonably apparent. The place retains a moderate degree of integrity.
The place retains a moderate degree of authenticity.

Condition

Good

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.