Old Bridge House Site and Garden

Statement of Significance

Bridge House (Site and Garden) is of significance: • For its association with an early wayside service, offering food and accommodation for travellers on the road from Busselton to Karridale. • As the site of a house associated with a number of early settlers of the Margaret River area.

Physical Description

The site of Bridge House is located on a small area of level ground immediately adjacent to the high southern embankment of the Margaret River, and in close proximity to the original (and current) bridge.The original house has been demolished and the only associated remains are the extensive, informal cottage gardens. These have been progressively developed since the early 1920s, when the place was occupied by Alfred and Dorothy Peirce, but there are believed to be some trees and possibly roses dating from the earlier periods of occupation.There are two later houses on the allotment, located further up the slope from the original house site.

History

Tenders for the first bridge over the Margaret River (in the area known as Ferndene, later Burnside) were called in 1877 and the new bridge was built in the following year, replacing the previous rocky ford.Old Bridge House on Caves Road was built c1880 in order to cater for the increase in traffic through the area as Karridale developed in relation to the timber industry. According to the Margaret River & Districts Historical Society to the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River it was constructed by Mr Brooks (builder) on behalf of Fanny Brockman (nee Bussell).Later on, Stewart Keenan rented the house (before building his own home, Glenbourne, in 1888) and in 1885 it was reported that this was “the usual stopping place between Augusta and the Vasse” for travellers along this road, with Mrs Keenan noted “for her unvarying kindness and attention to travellers.”In 1889, with increasing traffic through to the timber mills at Karridale, Keenan applied for a liquor licence for the house at the bridge: As regards the wayside house at the Margaret Bridge, it would supply a great want. There is already a good deal of traffic to Augusta, and there is no stopping-place, where travellers can rest for the night, and find refreshment for themselves and their horses. Such a house would, break the journey into two comfortable days travelling. I sincerely trust in the interest of those travelling this road, that Mr. Keenan, the proprietor of the house, may have his license granted him. It does not seem that a liquor licence was issued, but a wayside service continued to operate here, offering livery stables and meals for travellers. It was at about this time that Tom and Elizabeth Higgins took over the lease (as later referred to in a 1947 newspaper article): Tommy Higgins had the Ferndene house, a slab hut (still there) by the bridge, a convenient place to rest the horses overnight between the Vasse and Karridale. When the new inland road from Busselton to Karridale was opened in 1894 (now the Bussell Highway), attracting much of the through traffic, the Higgins’ took opportunity to move their business to the upper Margaret (at what is now the Margaret River townsite). There they managed M.C. Davies’ livery stables and built a new accommodation house (Place # MR(T)-02, Bridgefield, Site and Monuments).Throughout this time, Bridge House remained part of the Walcliffe estate, which in 1902 was sold to A C Loaring and N McLeod.In 1921 the Bridge House site was taken over by Albert Loaring’s daughter, Dorothy Evelyn, on her marriage to Alfred Peirce. According to family history the couple initially had to camp at the site as the old house had been vacant for some time and was covered by blackberries.A new family home was later built on higher ground and the old slab cottage finally fell down in c.1957.Dorothy was a keen gardener and progressively developed a large cottage garden around Bridge House, which continues to be maintained by her daughters. Oral history suggests that this includes some elements (including roses) that are believed to date from the early period of development of Bridge House. A second modern house was constructed in c.1987.A detailed history of Bridge House and the current garden has recently been compiled in A Garden on the Margaret: the path to Old Bridge House by Gillian Lilleyman (2011).

Integrity/Authenticity

Low: The use has been altered and the original use cannot be readily discerned. Low: The place has been considerably altered, with the loss of significant fabric. The original intent/character is no longer clearly evident.

Condition

N/A – Historic site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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