Stranmore

Statement of Significance

Stranmore has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: The place has been a popular hostel and holiday resort along the Kalgan River including being the location of the Kalgan district lawn tennis court as well as a successful farming property. The place is associated with the Napthali family who ran the popular Stranmore Hostel from c1920-1931 and made the place a popular meeting and social place for the local community and surrounding districts. The place is associated with Mr and Mrs H C Poole and family who were long term owners and who transformed the place from the hostel into a successful farming property and were active and valued members of the local community. The place represents the enduring position that Albany has held as a popular and desirable seaside and holiday resort destination which resulted in the many purpose built hotels and hostels as well as the conversion of many private house into guest houses and hostels to meet the demand both in the town and in the outlying districts. The place is associated with Campbell Taylor who was a descendant of Patrick Taylor who was one of the earliest settlers to the Kalgan area at Candyup.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Set high on a hill overlooking the Kalgan River, elevated from ground level • Double hipped roof • Fibreboard and timber walls • Verandah under separate roof enclosed at one end • Cement verandah with lattice balustrading • Wooden framed windows and doors Some obvious modifications include: • Extensions to the rear but in keeping with original construction materials

History

Stranmore was built around the time of the beginning of World War I for Campbell Taylor who was a descendant of Patrick Taylor who was one of the earliest settlers to the Kalgan area at Candyup. From c1920-1931 the Napthali family were living at the cottage which was now called Stranmore and was run by the Napthali’s as a hostel/holiday resort destination on the Kalgan River. The ferry would stop at Stranmore – also referred to as Stranmore Hostel - which provided its own cows, a tennis court as well as fishing and boating activities. The Napthalis made the tennis lawn court in 1926 for the local community’s tennis tournaments as well as for the hostel guests. The place was also a popular location for meetings of the local settlers’ associations. The next owners were Mr and Mrs H C Poole. The Pooles knew the Napthalis as they were living in Kalgan before moving to Stranmore in 1931 which they renamed Benhaven and transformed it into a successful farming property. Poole came to WA from England in 1912 and was a civil engineer. After arriving in Albany he became the Town Clerk-Engineer with Albany Road Board and was involved in the installation of the Kalgan telephone line before going into farming in the Kalgan area. Originally built with four rooms, Poole added a fibreboard and timber extension to provide two extra bedrooms for the family which included sons John and Edgar and daughters Mary, Honor and Edith. At Benhaven, Poole found great success with his potatoes, fodders and vegetables. In 1953, the Pooles retired from active public life and a social was organised by the local community at Benhaven: Afternoon tea was served by a committee of ladies of the district, and many happy memories were recalled as the guests sat around on the spacious verandahs of "Ben Haven" overlooking the reaches of the Kalgan and Oyster Harbour. (Albany Advertiser 24 April 1953) Other subsequent occupants have also given the house a name including Ballindean.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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