Bell Cottage ruin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bell Cottage |
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Bell Cottage ruin in February 2020
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| Alternative names | Woodbine |
| General information | |
| Type | Ruined cottage |
| Architectural style | Victorian Georgian |
| Location | 371 Mandurah Road, East Rockingham, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°15′45″S 115°46′53″E / 32.26250°S 115.78139°E |
| Official name | Bell Cottage (ruin), Rockingham |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 27 September 2002 |
| Reference no. | 2329 |
| Construction started | 1868 |
The Bell Cottage ruin is an old house in East Rockingham, Western Australia. It is listed on the State Register of Heritage Places, which means it's an important historical site. This cottage was built in the Victorian Georgian style. It stands on land that was one of the first pieces of land given out in the Rockingham area. This makes it one of the oldest buildings there. The cottage is linked to the Bell family, especially James and Jane Bell, who were early settlers in the region.
Bell Cottage is part of the East Rockingham Heritage Precinct. This area includes other important historical places. Some of these are the Chesterfield Inn, Hymus House, and Day Cottage.
The Bell Family's New Home
In 1854 or 1855, James Bell (born 1821, died 1911) bought 20 acres of land. He bought it from Henry Mead, who owned land nearby. James Bell was a boat builder and a ship's carpenter. Before this, he lived in Mandurah and had been farming since 1847.
James Bell moved to the new land with his wife, Jane Elizabeth Bell (born 1823, died 1909), and their four children. They later had eight children in total. The land had some trees and a swamp at the back. James first built a small hut at the back of the property. He also planted fruit trees and grew vegetables.
The hut was in a swampy area, which made it cold and wet in winter. It was also too small for their growing family of ten people. So, in the late 1860s, James Bell built Bell Cottage. The whole property was called Woodbine. He used local limestone and jarrah wood to build the cottage. These materials were common in the area. The cottage was built in the popular Victorian Georgian style. After finishing the cottage, James Bell also built a stone barn on the property.
James Bell became well-known in the area. He helped warn people during the Fenian escape from Fremantle Gaol. He also built the first school in the region. The Bell family became important in local businesses and helped develop the community. Two of their children, James Junior and Fanny, helped start the Rockingham Hotel.
What Happened to Bell Cottage?
After James and Jane Bell passed away, their son John Bell inherited the property. John Bell died in 1936. Then, Bell Cottage was taken over by Joseph Stokes, who lived next door. Stokes rented out the cottage, and it started to fall apart.
Later, the Western Australian State Government bought the land. This was because they planned to expand the Kwinana industrial area and build a railway yard. However, the railway yard was never built. In 1996, the land was sold back to private owners. The area was fenced off, and the cottage became even more ruined.
We don't know much about the cottage's history after the Bell family owned it. It is thought that not many people lived there, and it wasn't changed much. In the 1990s, people tried to fix up the cottage, but it didn't work out. In 2018, money was set aside to dig up the site and learn more about its past.
Why Bell Cottage is Important
Bell Cottage is part of the East Rockingham Heritage Precinct. This area includes other places listed on the State Register of Heritage Places. These are the Chesterfield Inn, Hymus House, Day Cottage, and the Mead Homestead. It also includes places on the local heritage list, like the East Rockingham Cemetery. Bell Cottage was added to the State Register of Heritage Places on 27 September 2002. This means it is officially recognized as an important historical site that needs to be protected.
