Bovell's Cottage

Statement of Significance

The cottage is a fine example of a single-storey rural cottage in Victorian Georgian style executed in stone and shingles. • The cottage is closely associated with Joseph Bovell, one of the settlers of the south-west region, in the 1850s who was influential in the settlement and development of Busselton. • The construction of the place may have the potential to reveal evidence of past building practices. • The continuity of Bovell's Cottage in the streetscape close to the Busselton townsite since the late 19th century contributes to the community's sense of place.

Physical Description

Bovell’s Cottage is sited in a garden setting and the building is framed by plantings of Peppermint Trees. It was a single storey building, but now has loft accommodation. The ground floor is constructed in limestone and the steeply pitched roof is covered in shingles once more, having been sheeted with corrugated iron for a considerable period following the removal of the original shingles. The verandah is supported on stop‐chamfered posts. Windows are double hung sashes with slim glazing bars and timber lintels. The floors are of pitsawn timber. The loft has been converted to accommodation and a stair added to the western end of the house

History

Irish born Joseph Bovell (1839-1903) arrived in Western Australia on 20 October 1859 aboard the 'West Australian' with his wife Elizabeth Burnside and their son William. The couple had six more children after arriving in the Swan River Colony. Joseph Bovell was employed in the Police Force for several years before settling in Busselton and becoming the proprietor of the Ship Hotel in the late 1870s. He appears to be a man of diverse business interests as he was part owner of a cutter 'Paragon' which is likely to have been used for trading along the coast. Joseph Bovell purchased the parcel of land which included the future site of Bovell's Cottage in 1879. A small item in the The West Australian on 15 August 1882 records the near completion of Bovell’s cottage. It was described as a 'five-roomed cottage, with a hall throughout … [which] will be the best house of its class in the district, the rooms being all of a good size and lofty, - a great thing in our semi-tropical district'. The cottage remained in the Bovell family after the deaths of Joseph and Elizabeth (Jane) in the 1900s. Their daughter May Ann (1864-1921) operated the place as a guest house until her death in 1921. The property was subsequently transferred to bootmaker Thomas Prosser and his wife Elizabeth Helen, nee Jarvis. Elizabeth Prosser lived on in the house following Thomas's death in 1946, until her death in 1958.Elizabeth's sister, Alice May Jarvis who designated her occupation as dressmaker was bequeathed the property and she lived there until at least the 1970s. The property was bequeathed to her nephew Melville Jarvis following Alice Jarvis's death in 1981. It is noted in previous research that the house was used as holiday accommodation during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1997, it was transferred to a new owner who converted the property for use as an office premises. It is probable that it was during this time that the loft was converted to accommodation space and the external stairs were added. Aerial photographs confirm that the stairs were constructed between 1992 and 2001 and the corrugated iron roof was replaced with shingles. Since that time the place has undergone minimal external changes

Integrity/Authenticity

The place remains in use as a residence and retains a high degree of integrity. The place retains much of its exterior form and fabric and therefore retains a moderate to high degree of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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