Coach House, Wooroloo

Physical Description

Coach House, Wooroloo is a small white two room cottage set in an open field and facing Great Eastern Highway, formerly the Guildford to Northam Road. A small verandah extends from the roof on all four elevations. The timber frame, mud brick walls and cement floor, door fittings and timber ceiling are thought to be original. The original roof was replaced with fibrous cement tile in the 1980s and security grills have been fitted to the windows. Some repair work to the interior walls has been undertaken. There are two large trees located at the front and rear of the cottage. Trees line the fence of the property facing onto the Great Eastern Highway, and the remainder of the surrounding field is relatively flat and clear of trees. Further investigation may determine the likelihood for archaeological deposits to be present across the landscape, associated with the cottage and former buildings.

History

The Guildford to Northam road was surveyed by Assistant Surveyor Philip Chauncy in 1847. Shortly after, a government well (Keaginine Well) was sunk near the intersection between Worriloo (Wooroloo) Brook and the road to provide water to travellers along the road. The name Wooroloo, taken from the Aboriginal word ‘Worrilow’ for water pools, was one of several names used for the area, but had been widely accepted by the 1890s. In 1875 a 100-acre reserve was established in Wooroloo as a gazetted stopping place for stage coach teams. With the exception of the inns and coach houses located along the Northam road and the York road, and some timber working in the region, there was limited settlement in the district until the construction of the Eastern Railway in the 1880s. William Byfield established a grazing property on the Guildford to Northam road shortly after. Coach House, Wooroloo is located within Avon Location 1678, the allotment of land purchased by William Byfield. The presence of a building on the property is not noted on the description of the place. The property was soon transferred to William’s brother James, owner of Byfield Mill. The late nineteenth century survey plans of Wooroloo illustrate the isolation of William Byfield’s property, with the nearest settlements located in the small developing township around the mill, the station and the Eastern Railway line. Although the Eastern Railway would have reduced the amount of traffic along the Northam road from 1890s, the road was still a necessary thoroughfare for some transport. However, the reduced amount of traffic may have been the reason for the turnover of owners through the next decade. Between 1897 and 1910 Avon Location 1678 was repeatedly sold and was not retained by any one owner for longer than three years. By 1953, Malcom Murray owned approximately 703 acres of land along Great Eastern Highway, including the coach house and additional lots to the north and east. In the late 1950s the majority of the property was sold to the Lake Way Station Pty Limited, of the WA Turf Club. In 1969 the 703 acre property was sold to Williams Investments Pty Ltd, the company of Perth businessman Ray Williams. Ray Williams established the Bodeguero Stud in Wooroloo, founding the successful breeding of Andalusian horses in Australia. In 1974, the hotel El Caballo Blanco was opened, featuring performances by the famous ‘Spanish Dancing Horses’ from Bodeguero Stud. El Caballo Blanco continues to operate as a resort and events venue. Coach House, Wooroloo is now owned by the Shire of Northam.

Archaeology

Further investigation may determine the likelihood for archaeological deposits to be present across the landscape, associated with the cottage and former buildings.

Condition

fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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