Local Government
Cockburn
Region
Metropolitan
Location
425 Rockingham Rd Spearwood
Location Details
Construction Date
Constructed from 1900
Demolition Year
1996Statutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 10 Apr 2014 | Category D |
Category D |
|
Statement of Significance
Thorsager House (site) is associated with prominent local family, the Thorsagers.
Physical Description
Thorsager House was demolished in December 1996.
This small weatherboard house was set behind a large weeping willow tree on a Rockingham Road block. The cottage was constructed from weatherboard and had extensions in fibreboard. It had three bedrooms under a steeply pitched corrugated iron roof with a central chimney. The red painted roof had deteriorated and had been patched over time. There was a verandah protecting the front of the house with wooden supporting posts and a timber floor. To the rear of the former house is a large swamp, part of the Beeliar Wetlands Chain.
History
Niels Thorsager was one of the early pioneers in the Spearwood area. After buying a block of land he sent home for his intended wife Frederikke. She arrived in 1898 by ship. Unfortunately she arrived early with no one to greet her. Her first thoughts were to continue on to Adelaide where she had relatives, but friends convinced her to try and find Niels first.
Successfully reunited, Frederikke and Niels prepared for their wedding which was held four days later. The reception was held at the Coogee Hall. Soon after she was living in the weatherboard cottage now known as Thorsager House.
Niels Thorsager was employed as a post cutter and then worked long hours labouring on his home block. He had to clear the block of trees and limestone and build wells for water. The stone trenched from his block was carted to Rockingham Road to be used as a road base. The Thorsager family went on to contribute much to the growing community spirit in Spearwood.
References
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCWA Database No. 10198 | State Heritage Office | ||
| M Berson; "The Making of a Community". | City of Cockburn | 1978 | |
| Register National Estate | |||
| National Trust Australia (WA) Documentation | National Trust WA |