Busselton's Westbrook Homestead given heritage listing

16/5/99
An historic home in the Busselton area dating back to the 1860s is to have its heritage values protected.
Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said Westbrook Homestead was one of the few remaining houses in the Busselton region from that era.
Built by early settler Elijah Dawson, a veteran of the famous Battle of Waterloo, it was closely linked to the development and history of the Busselton region.
Westbrook would be added to the Heritage Council of Western Australia's interim register of heritage places.
Mr Kierath said Westbrook was built at a time when the initial settlement of Busselton was expanding significantly.
"In the early days, the pioneering community had struggled to survive the challenges of farming in an unknown land and dealing with the Aboriginal population," he said.
"At the time Westbrook was built, the community had weathered the hard times and was expanding away from the initial settlements.
"Westbrook is a significant heritage building and has retained high levels of integrity and authenticity, which is unusual in a building of this age."
Mr Kierath said Busselton was first settled by the Bussell family in 1834 and was declared a town in 1839.
Elijah Dawson arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1830 aboard the Warrior. Dawson had served with Captain John Molloy as a corporal during the Battle of Waterloo and decided to follow him to Australia as his indentured servant.
The Dawsons settled in Augusta with the Molloys but in 1834, moved with the Bussell family to the Vasse area.
Mr Kierath said Dawson was eventually appointed Constable for Busselton and bought the property on which Westbrook was built in 1846.
The current homestead, a single-storey brick and tile residence in the Victorian Georgian style, is believed to have been built between 1863 and 1866.
"The house is a good example of the trend away from the transplanted English cottage," Mr Kierath said.
"With its surrounding verandahs, it indicates the settlers' growing awareness of the need to adapt to their new country and its hot climate.
"The construction of a detached kitchen was also common at this time, with settlers discovering that kitchen fires could quickly spread to the rest of the house."
Westbrook was sold by the Dawsons to William Dias Taylor in 1906 and a dairy was built on the property in about 1920.
Mr Taylor sold the property to his nephew, Mr D E Feutrill, in 1964, and it is currently occupied by Feutrill's son and daughter-in-law.
Mr Kierath said Westbrook was in excellent condition considering its age and had obviously been well cared for.
"Very few buildings of this vintage have survived in the Busselton district with this level of integrity and authenticity," he said.
"Westbrook has great significance for the Busselton community through its links with pioneers such as Elijah Dawson and its role in the early history of the region."
Media contact: Steve Manchee (08) 9213 6400