Colonial buildings of Rottnest Island
Encyclopedia
Rottnest Island
was first settled by European colonists in 1830 following their arrival at Western Australia
and the Swan River Colony
. Soon after, construction of a variety of private and public buildings commenced, many of which were built with aboriginal convict labour and which remain today. This is a list of extant Colonial buildings of Rottnest Island, constructed between 1830 and 1896.
The first European settler on the island was Robert Thomson, who established a modest farm for hay production, as well as a salt collection enterprise. In August 1838, a Corporal Welch was sent to Rottnest with 10 aboriginal prisoners. The following year, Thomson had his whaleboat stolen, supposedly by several of the inmates, and after complaints, Governor
John Hutt
decided to resume all land grants previously made on the island. Henry Vincent, a gaoler at the Fremantle prison
was subsequently sent to the island as its first superintendent. Vincent went on to personally build or oversee the construction of many of the buildings listed. Building materials were mostly locally quarried limestone as well as timber from the local pine (callitris preissii
) and featured distinctive rough plastered walls.
Situated immediately above the Visitors Centre off the main jetty, the structure was built as the residence for the Superintendent of Rottnest Island. It was closed in 1904 and in 1913 divided into two cottages for use by government officials.
In 1848 Governor
Charles Fitzgerald
expressed an interest in a summer residence on Rottnest. He resided temporarily in the First Superintendent's House. His successor, Sir Arthur Kennedy authorised funding for the construction of an official residence and works commenced in 1858. Architect Richard Roach Jewell
as Superintendent of Public Works and Towns, designed the two-storey building which was completed and occupied in 1864.
The residence was converted to holiday accommodation in 1919 and in 1953 it opened as a hotel with a liquor license. It has been known variously as the "Rottnest Hotel", "Quokka Arms" and today as "Hotel Rottnest".
Major modifications and extensions to the buildings have been made over the years, including the addition of several short-stay units for tourists and a modern bar/restaurant facility. The major architectural features of the residence are still clearly prominent.
Rottnest was used as a penal establishment for Aboriginal people between 1838 and 1931, except for the period 1849 to 1855. The "Quod" (meaning quadrangle or prison) replaced an earlier structure which was destroyed by a major fire in 1856. The only entrance faced east, towards to the Superintendent's office. Rooms on either side of the entrance housed prison warders.
In 1883 a commission was setup to look at conditions for aboriginal prisoners. The superintendent William Jackson said
Frederick Vosper
, owner of the local Sunday Times newspaper visited the prison in 1899 and described it
The prison closed in 1904 and in 1911 it was modified for holiday accommodation. Further modifications were made in 1986 when it became the Rottnest Lodge.
This is one of the few colonial buildings on Rottnest Island not constructed by Henry Vincent. John Watson built the structure and became the reformatory superintendent for all of its 20-years of operations to 1901.
The reformatory buildings are now used as holiday accommodation as part of the Rottnest Lodge.
Wadjemup Lighthouse
Built 1849 and 1896.
The current lighthouse stands on the site of a much smaller lighthouse built in 1849. Foundations of the original structure are nearby.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is located off the coast of Western Australia, near Fremantle. It is called Wadjemup by the Noongar people, meaning "place across the water". The island is long, and at its widest point with a total land area of . It is classified as an A Class Reserve and is managed by the...
was first settled by European colonists in 1830 following their arrival at Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and the Swan River Colony
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
. Soon after, construction of a variety of private and public buildings commenced, many of which were built with aboriginal convict labour and which remain today. This is a list of extant Colonial buildings of Rottnest Island, constructed between 1830 and 1896.
The first European settler on the island was Robert Thomson, who established a modest farm for hay production, as well as a salt collection enterprise. In August 1838, a Corporal Welch was sent to Rottnest with 10 aboriginal prisoners. The following year, Thomson had his whaleboat stolen, supposedly by several of the inmates, and after complaints, Governor
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
John Hutt
John Hutt
John Hutt was Governor of Western Australia from 1839 to 1846.Born in London on 24 July 1795, John Hutt was the fourth of 13 children of Richard Hutt of Appley Towers, Ryde, Isle of Wight. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, and in 1815 inherited Appley Towers...
decided to resume all land grants previously made on the island. Henry Vincent, a gaoler at the Fremantle prison
Fremantle Prison
Fremantle Prison is a former Australian prison located in The Terrace, Fremantle, in Western Australia. The site includes the prison, gatehouse, perimeter walls, cottages, tunnels, and prisoner art...
was subsequently sent to the island as its first superintendent. Vincent went on to personally build or oversee the construction of many of the buildings listed. Building materials were mostly locally quarried limestone as well as timber from the local pine (callitris preissii
Callitris preissii
Callitris preissii is a species of conifer in the Cupressaceae family, found only in Australia.Common Names: Rottnest Island pine , Murray pine, maroong, Southern Cypress pine, or Slender Cypress pine -External Links:...
) and featured distinctive rough plastered walls.
First Superintendent's House
Built c.1841.Situated immediately above the Visitors Centre off the main jetty, the structure was built as the residence for the Superintendent of Rottnest Island. It was closed in 1904 and in 1913 divided into two cottages for use by government officials.
Governor's Residence
Built 1858-64.In 1848 Governor
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
Charles Fitzgerald
Charles Fitzgerald
Captain Charles Fitzgerald was the Governor of The Gambia from 1844 until 1847, then Governor of Western Australia from 1848 to 1855....
expressed an interest in a summer residence on Rottnest. He resided temporarily in the First Superintendent's House. His successor, Sir Arthur Kennedy authorised funding for the construction of an official residence and works commenced in 1858. Architect Richard Roach Jewell
Richard Roach Jewell
Richard Roach Jewell was an architect who designed many of the important public buildings in Perth during the latter half of the nineteenth century....
as Superintendent of Public Works and Towns, designed the two-storey building which was completed and occupied in 1864.
The residence was converted to holiday accommodation in 1919 and in 1953 it opened as a hotel with a liquor license. It has been known variously as the "Rottnest Hotel", "Quokka Arms" and today as "Hotel Rottnest".
Major modifications and extensions to the buildings have been made over the years, including the addition of several short-stay units for tourists and a modern bar/restaurant facility. The major architectural features of the residence are still clearly prominent.
Native Prison
Built 1863-64.Rottnest was used as a penal establishment for Aboriginal people between 1838 and 1931, except for the period 1849 to 1855. The "Quod" (meaning quadrangle or prison) replaced an earlier structure which was destroyed by a major fire in 1856. The only entrance faced east, towards to the Superintendent's office. Rooms on either side of the entrance housed prison warders.
In 1883 a commission was setup to look at conditions for aboriginal prisoners. The superintendent William Jackson said
There are 36 cells... I have had five natives in a 6 x 10 cell, but as a general rule there are only four.
Frederick Vosper
Frederick Vosper
Frederick Charles Burleigh Vosper was an Australian newspaper journalist and proprietor, and politician. He was well known for his ardent views and support of Australian republicanism, federalism and trade unionism.-Early life:...
, owner of the local Sunday Times newspaper visited the prison in 1899 and described it
The prison buildings are in the form of an octagon, of which about six sides are occupied by cells opening on a common courtyard, the remaining two consisting of offices, kitchen, etc. ... Around the interior of the octagonal courtyard runs a narrow verandah, with a boarded floor, which boards look like as if they had not been scrubbed or washed for a geological epoch. The cells are wretched little cubicles, apparently about 6ft. x 8ft. in extent, which are lighted only by a grating in the cell door, and one in the wall over it. The cubic air space must be very small not more than 300ft. I should think and in there, black prisoners sleep on the bare boards, having a rug provided to cover them. ... I was informed by Dr. Hope that the rule is to put three men in a cell.
The prison closed in 1904 and in 1911 it was modified for holiday accommodation. Further modifications were made in 1986 when it became the Rottnest Lodge.
Boy's Reformatory
Built 1880-81.This is one of the few colonial buildings on Rottnest Island not constructed by Henry Vincent. John Watson built the structure and became the reformatory superintendent for all of its 20-years of operations to 1901.
The reformatory buildings are now used as holiday accommodation as part of the Rottnest Lodge.
Wadjemup LighthouseWadjemup LighthouseCompleted in 1849, the original Wadjemup Lighthouse was Western Australia's first stone lighthouse and was built to provide a safer sailing passage for ships to Fremantle Port and the Swan River Colony....
Built 1849 and 1896.The current lighthouse stands on the site of a much smaller lighthouse built in 1849. Foundations of the original structure are nearby.