The Rocks, Albany facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Rocks |
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The Rocks, view from bottom entry gate
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| General information | |
| Type | Heritage listed building |
| Location | Albany, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°01′27″S 117°52′38″E / 35.02414°S 117.87717°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 1 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 28 |
The Rocks, also known as Government House or Government Cottage, is a historic home in Albany. This town is in the Great Southern part of Western Australia.
This special building has a long history. It has been a family home, a place for important visitors, a hospital, and even a school hostel. Today, it is a popular place for tourists to stay.
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Discovering The Rocks
The Rocks was built in 1882. It was made for William Grills Knight and his family. Mr. Knight was a well-known person in Albany. He later became the Mayor of the City of Albany. He was Mayor from 1886 to 1888.
His family lived in the house until 1910. His daughter, Mary Knight, was the last family member to own it. The building was then sold to Mr. Dymes. He later sold it to Mr. Butcher in 1910. Mr. Butcher made many improvements to the house.
A Special Location
The Rocks sits on a large piece of land. It has beautiful, well-kept gardens. The property is about 8,196 square meters (88,221 square feet). It is located on the side of Mount Melville. From here, you can see amazing views. You can look out over the town of Albany. You can also see Princess Royal Harbour.
From Summer House to Hospital
In 1912, the Government of Western Australia bought The Rocks. They wanted to use it as a summer home. Important government visitors, called vice regal dignitaries, would stay there.
During World War I, the house helped wounded soldiers. It was used as a place for them to recover. This continued until 1921. After that, the government used it again for special visits.
By 1937, the Governor no longer needed the building. So, it was used for many different things. It became a school for a while. It also served as a hospital for mothers and general patients. During World War II, it was again used by soldiers returning from war. In 1941, it became a private hospital once more.
A Girls' Hostel and Heritage Site
In 1944, The Rocks became a private home again. Then, in 1950, it changed its purpose. It became a hostel for girls. These girls attended Albany Senior High School. About 30 girls lived there at first. Later, this number grew to 40 girls. The Country Women's Association helped manage the hostel.
The building was recognized as important in 1977. The National Trust officially classified it. In 1980, it was added to the Register of the National Estate. This list includes important heritage places. In the early 1990s, it was briefly used as a hospital again.
The Rocks Today: A Historic Stay
Today, The Rocks is used for tourist accommodation. It is a five-star heritage place to stay in Western Australia. The house shows a special type of architecture. It is typical of large homes built in Albany during that time.
The house has a Federation filigree style. This means it has fancy, decorative details. It has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. There is also a billiard room and a library. The library has a Victorian style. The floors are made of strong jarrah wood.
In 2005, the building received a grant of A$50,000. This money came from the state government. It helped pay for important repair work. For example, old aluminum windows and doors were replaced. New ones with jarrah frames were put in.
